Pride 2019: Meet Mr. and Ms. Nashville Pride

Jaxson Stone (right) and Vanity: Mr. and Ms. Nashville Pride 2019Photo: Eric England

Bend the knee. The king and queen — officially Mr. and Ms. Nashville Pride — of this year’s Nashville Pride Festival have been crowned. And both are first-time pageant winners.

Mr. Nashville Pride, Jaxson Stone, a 21-year-old “drag baby,” says he started performing drag less than a year ago, and never expected to win the first pageant he entered.

“I saw people performing at Pride last year, and it just looked so fun,” Jaxson says. “The community is just so supportive that performing was a really easy thing to start doing.”

Vanity — a 26-year-old who’s been performing drag professionally for six years and dressing in drag for 12 years — says earning the Ms. Nashville Pride title means bragging rights for the rest of the year. But it also gives winners the opportunity to meet new people and influence the community. Vanity has entered two pageants before this, but this is the first she’s won.

“It’s the chance to make waves and positive changes,” Vanity says. “I’m really excited for that — being in the Pride Parade and being the center of attention is great, don’t get me wrong. But the best experience is meeting with people and showing them what Pride means.”

Each year, the pageant, which takes place in early June at Play Dance Bar, is judged in three categories: presentation, talent and evening wear. The theme for the presentation category was “Drag Deconstructed.” Jaxson came out in overalls made from heavy-duty industrial tarp with caution signs attached to his outfit. He carried a brick that he “borrowed” from a nearby construction site. Vanity wore a trash-bag dress with “trash accessories,” including a Doritos bag in her hair.

Jaxson spent more than four hours glueing gemstones to a shiny purple suit for the evening-wear part of the competition. His talent was acting as Master Splinter from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. 

“I’m a big child,” Jaxson says. “I like to think I can be edgy, but I’m really just a giant child.”

Vanity performed “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going” from Dreamgirls and wore a nude-illusion gown with gemstones covering her in all the right places. 

“It’s a wonderful experience,” Vanity says. “You feel so much love from everyone — there’s nothing else like it.”

Vanity performs at Play Wednesday through Saturday of every week and at Tribe on Monday nights. Jaxson performs on Thursday nights at Play. Catch them both at the Nashville Pride Parade on June 22.