18 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE FEBRUARY 11, 1994

ENTERTAINMENT

A talk with Miss Gay Cleveland

Story and photo by Jimmie

It was a warm December day when Jennifer Phillips and I had a three hour talk at the Marriott in Beachwood. The following is some of our incredibly witty banter.

Jimmie: Jenn, give me some history on yourself. Where were you born and raised?

Jennifer Phillips: I was born in Richmond Hts., and I've always pretty much lived in Mentor, Ohio. My parents decided to move to California when I was 9 years old. We lived in Woodland Hills, Beverly Hills, and also in Canoga Park. Once, we came back to Ohio on vacation and my dad called and said, "Don't bother coming back...we're getting a divorce, your mom and I." So we were stuck in Ohio.

So here I am with a $600 outfit everyday going to school. I had very expensive clothes, and I was going to this hillbilly schoolMemorial in Mentor. I was very out of place, and I was teased and tormented terribly. Then all of a sudden all the girls started dressing like me so I became a little trendy. After high school, I moved to North Carolina.

What city in North Carolina? Raleigh-Durham. I had met a few performers down there and a few of them were "transies," so I learned so much make-up wise, drag wise, performance wise. That's really where I got my start.

So how long were you there?

I was there for almost 3 years. And I just got lonely, all that drama. I have a twin in Cleveland and she had a baby, so I felt I needed to be near my family. So I moved back to Cleveland and started performing at

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Numbers, and I thought I was the ticket! I learned so much and that's when I became friends with Paige Turner.

Oh... I love her!

I do too. She's probably one of my favorite entertainers. She taught me so much make-up wise, performance wise, I'll say that. She really kind of got me on my feet. And months later, I did Miss Gay Cleveland and to my biggest surprise, I won! I really didn't think I was going to do well at all.

I think you told me some time ago that no one has ever won it on their first run. Exactly. I think I won almost every category, except for one. I had such a good time on the Cleveland run, with Melissa and Kimberly Adrian, and I like all of them so much. I'm very happy to be Miss Gay Cleveland! I'm proud of that, I really am.

The first time I saw you was at the Interbelt in Akron. I'll never forget it— you were this exotic skinny thing, but you looked fabulous! Then you danced down to the appropriately placed feathers and you had the crowd in a frenzy.

That was when I was really skinny.. now I'm so fat!

Do you work out or anything?

Oh, I'd rather be fat and just wear a bigger feather!

I remember at the North Coast pageant when you came out with next to nothing. You were in great shape then!

Surprisingly enough, I ran every morning for that pageant because I knew I was probably going to get naked in front of 500 people.

That crowd did go wild!

When I went backstage, Kari, my roommate, said "I can't believe the crowd... listen to them." They cheered and got up out

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of their chairs and were screaming. I was really glad I pulled it off, 'cause I thought to myself they were clocking me left to right for a big belly and fat thighs or hair on my bum or something!

So you have a pageant upcoming?

In March, I'm doing the Miss Gay Ohio USA. (You can send donationsmoney orders to Jenni, Box 39, Aurora, OH 44202 in case you miss the event). May 14 will be the 25th anniversary of the Miss Gay Cleveland North Coast. That is when I will give up my

crown.

No! Say it isn't so! Now, you work at Richard Stevens Salon?

Right. I've been a make-up artist with them, and I also do acrylic nails, teach makeup classes, and I'm a fully licensed cosmetologist.

I do a lot of the make up for the "girls" at the bars.

What's the one thing you hate about Cleveland nightlife?

Everyone seems to think you're something

Jennifer Phillips onstage at Numbers

you're not. Just because I give attitude on stage, or I won my first year, or I think I'm so beautiful. I do it as an illusion. In regular life, I'm really a true person. I'm not shady or gossipy. There just seems to be so much shade involved in it! It's just performing.

Do you find that since winning the title people are afraid to approach you or talk to you?

Very much so. And the ones that don't come up to me are the ones that say, "she's rude," or "she's a bitch."

What was one of the oddest situations you've encountered as Jennifer?

One night I was wearing a cotton dress and doing a rare Whitney Houston song. This queen who is a drag chaser something fierce, says to me, "Gowns, gowns, gowns, Miss Thing... always wear a gown! Always be a lady and give them drama." I was like, "No, she is not trying to tell me to wear

a gown, gown, gown on this stage, stage, stage!"

What is it that you have set out to accomplish as Miss Gay Cleveland?

Personally, I wanted to be as nice as I possibly could so people would accept female impersonators more. To legitimize the art of impersonating. I remember seeing an impersonator when I was young and she pulled someone out of the audience and began to simulate sex with him on the stage, and I thought she might as well be a porn star. I feel I need to bring drag to a different level. There's just a certain point where you can go too far.

Do you have someone who designs your gowns for you?

I really don't have them made for me, I like to go out and purchase them. Having them made is so much drama with fittings and selections. I usually buy Lillie Rubin, Gantos, and Cachet.

Who do you respect the most?

Besides you, Jim... Melissa Ross. She has done so much for me. I remember seeing her when I was very young in bars and I was scared of her. She was such a presence, very much like a movie star almost... I was just in awe of her.

Do you think she doesn't get her due respect?

I think she deserves much more. I made sure I said her name loud and clear at the Pride parade. She deserves our utmost respect because she's done so much for the gay community.

What has knowing her done for you? She's told me what I need to do to be a better performer, as a person and physically. She's been so honest with me. Twiggy's the same way, any advice she's ever given me has always worked out. Those two are Cleveland's premiere performers. So let's have some dirt... who are you dating now?

No one. I'm single. Print that! Interested parties can apply to Box 39, Aurora, OH 44202 . . .

Absolutely... and don't forget your contribution check! (A cocktail waitress shows up, then leaves) She is cute although I'd like to fix her makeup. She looks like she has that Helen Keller beauty kit! (laughs)▷

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