MUSIC
Sexuality Voiced Authentically
Tove Lo’s frank embrace of her desire for men and women
BY STEVE ERICKSON
Swedish singer Tove Lo
was a star in the US briefly
when her debut single
“Habits (Stay High)” got
to #3 in 2014. That song, which
describes a woman numbing herself
with casual sex, drinking,
and drugs to get over heartbreak,
set up the template for Tove Lo’s
persona. Her 2017 song “Bitches”
served as unoffi cial competition
for Rita Ora’s “Girls.” Both singers
are bisexual. But while Ora’s song
Tove Lo’s latest album is “Sunshine Kitty.”
➤ TOVE LO, continued on p.35
NIGHTLIFE
Hard Rock Hosts Miss’d America
Carson Kressley returns to Atlantic City for competition
BY KELSY CHAUVIN
The sequins were shining bright at
the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic
City September 21 when the new
Miss’d America took her crown. Sapphira
Cristal topped six other spectacular drag
queens for the title of Miss’d America 2020, at
last taking center stage after seven prior attempts.
Queen Sapphira Cristal (“Sa-feera Kris-tall”),
30, wowed the panel of judges with her gowns,
hair, makeup, and performances. But it was
her live singing of classical opera that riveted
the Atlantic City audience, leaving most guests
thrilled by her vocal range and sheer talent.
Originally from Houston, Cristal performs
mainly in New York City, Philadelphia, and
Boston, though she travels often and has held
several drag titles, including Queen of Boston
Pride. She devotes time to fundraising and to
youth-empowerment programs, and said her
personal credo is: “There is no better exercise
for the heart than to reach down to lift someone
up.”
First runner-up was New York City-based
Nicole Onoscopi, a self-proclaimed “wholesome
campy comedy queen” who sings and lip syncs
and also took home the fi rst-ever Miss’d Popularity
crown. The second-runner-up title went
to the Countess Mascara, best known for her
drag-hosting gigs around New York, South Florida,
KELSY CHAUVIN
to t
Sapphira Cristal, Miss’d America 2020.
and beyond.
The full two-hour program kicked off with
a Catwoman-styled performance by reigning
Miss’d America 2019 Adriana Trenta that initially
went off the rails due to technical problems.
Carson Kressley, the night’s tireless host,
ISLAND RECORDS
swooped in to lead a short laughter-fi lled break
while using a push broom to clean off part of
the runway.
“Glitter is like drag herpes — it never really
goes away,” he wisecrack.
With the problems resolved, Trenta seamlessly
returned to the stage in a do-over performance
that dazzled.
With Kressley clearly at the helm, the pageant
began in earnest with judges scoring talent,
evening gown, and question-and-answer
rounds. Among the 10 local judges, this year’s
panel included 1984 Miss America Suzette
Charles, activist, author, and Philadelphia Gay
News publisher Mark Segal, Philadelphia Eagles
sales director Lynnette Comacho, Woody’s Bar
Philadelphia owner Michael Weiss, and Hard
Rock Atlantic City president Joe Lupo.
This year’s pageant was the fi rst in the new
Hard Rock Sound-Waves ballroom venue, after
fi ve years at the Borgata Hotel, Casino & Spa
(where Lupo once oversaw operations).
Along with the new stage and an almostfull
house came the welcome addition of a live
stream of the pageant at MissAmerica.org , a
fi rst for the annual competition.
For a mid-show break, singer and dancer
Frankie Z took over the stage with his dance
team.
One of the evening’s most memorable mo-
➤ MISS’D AMERICA, continued on p.39
September 26 - October 9 34 , 2019 | GayCityNews.com
/MissAmerica.org
/GayCityNews.com