Welcome to Show the Receipts, a series where we ask interesting people to tell us exactly how much it costs to get something done. No matter what the task, we track every single dollar from start to finish. Next up: entering the Miss Fire Island beauty pageant.

Angelique Imperious, 45, is determined to win the title of Ms. Fire Island this year. Last year, when she first entered the pageant, she was one point away from taking home the crown, but this time she is determined to win the $2,000 prize, crown and trophy. Although the costs associated with participating end up exceeding the prize money, “it’s never about the money,” Imperious says. It’s about showcasing her artistry to the community.

Imperious entered the drag scene over 20 years ago, first performing at the now-closed gay nightclub Colosseum in Sarahville, NJ. There, she became a local legend, captivating audiences week after week, and soon entered her first beauty pageant at Den Nightclub in New Brunswick, NJ. Since then, Imperious has competed in over 16 beauty pageants and even hosted one of her own, spending an estimated $80,000 to date.

Imperious will travel to Cherry Grove, Long Island to compete in this year’s 58th Miss Fire Island pageant on August 31st. There, she will have to capture the attention of the judges as she is judged on her gown, makeup, hair, charm, walk and overall appearance. Judges this year include “RuPaul’s Drag Race” favorites Peppermint and Detox, former “Real Housewives of New York City” star Countess Luann De Lesseps and other well-known queer and queer-friendly personalities. The pageant will be hosted by Sasha Colby and Ariel Sinclair.

Still, Fire Island Pines and neighboring Cherry Grove are notoriously some of the most expensive beach vacation destinations for New Yorkers. Hotel rates top $1,500 a night and food and grocery prices are on par with luxury beach resorts across the country. This year, Imperious is self-funding her pageant entry.

Here is the full cost breakdown.

Task: Participation in the beauty pageant “Miss Fire Island”
Work: Head of warehouse company
Location: Cherry Grove, New York
Timeline: 1 night

The receipts

Transport: 170$
Hotel: 1,500 US dollars
Participation fee for the parade: 100 US dollars
Meals: $250
Evening dress with alterations: 1,500 US dollars
Shoes: $50
Wig: $200
Nails: 120$
Form: $242
Jewelry: 202 $
In total: $4,334

How I did it

PS: What was the biggest expense in your pageant?

Angelique Imperious: Definitely the dress. It’s what ties everything together and what can make or break your chances. When I started on the pageant scene, I knew I would have to spend a lot of money on a dress, even if I made it myself and didn’t buy it from a show. What might surprise people who aren’t so familiar with drag is that the makeup is a lot more expensive than you think. Because we end up using so much of it and it has to be high quality for our performances, we’re constantly buying more makeup and looking for brands that do it better.

PS: Can you save money by wearing the same dress or hairstyle to multiple pageants?

AI: Everything has to be new. You never know who the judges are, so it’s difficult to reuse things you use in other pageants. You don’t know which judge saw the garment online or at another performance. As a pageant coordinator myself, I know judges who will call out a queen if they wear something they’ve seen you wear before.

PS: Where were you able to save money?

AI: I always decide very early in the year which pageants I will enter. I knew for a long time that I would enter Miss Fire Island, so I set aside money every month that will fund my participation in that pageant. I always put my necessities first and only after that plan my budget for the pageant. Let’s say I don’t win this year, then I start planning next year right after that. Once you know when you are entering a pageant and when you want to do it, you should start preparing. That’s something my drag mom always taught me: if you want to do something, start preparing now.

PS: Do you think queens with more resources have a better chance of winning the title?

AI: That’s not really what it’s about. It’s about how well you put together your whole package and how well you know your subject matter. I know people who have won a beauty pageant on their first appearance. Michelle Dupree is a very famous queen. When she entered and won a beauty pageant, it was her first appearance. She was up against some huge legends. Anyone can take the crown, but it takes preparation and talent to stand out.

Final thoughts

For Imperious, drag will always be one of the best ways to show who they are on the inside to a community of people who love them for it, and that’s priceless. Imperious says it’s brought her happiness and success for most of her life, and even though she’s now competing in a category for older queens – “45, I’m not afraid to admit it! I’m an Aries!” she says – showing off and drag aren’t going away from her life anytime soon.

Regarding this year’s Miss Fire Island pageant, Imperious says, “I’m excited to win this year. I wish all the other contestants the best of luck. It’s very important to wish other people good luck because we are all a community.”

Shahamat Uddin is a freelance writer who primarily covers queer and South Asian issues, but also related lifestyle topics and entertainment. His family is from Sylhet, Bangladesh, but after growing up in Roswell, Georgia, he now lives in Brooklyn with his cat Butter. Outside of PS, he has also featured in Teen Vogue, Vogue, Vogue India, New York Magazine, Them, The Nation, and more.