All dressed up and with matching outfits my boyfriend/photographer René and I went to the gala event of the Showqueen Awards 2016 last Sunday on the 5th of June.
After almost nine year since the last edition of this event the new organizers put a new spin on it. Not 
only was this an event to reward only showqueens, but also the LGBT community in Belgium. Showqueen and one of the organizers Selina Pearl made a fabulous entry and presented the whole evening this gala event. Many different categories would receive an award/prizes and in this Pinkbit of Pink In Our Lives we will let you know who won in each category.
A review of the whole night will soon be written by one of my co-writers Christiaan, who joined us at this event. And like the virgin he is regarding to this event, he will give his fresh take on the renewed concept and the performances of the candidates.
There were four main categories for the Showqueens to perform in and 5 extra awards to give within the LGBT
community. The big title of Showqueen of the year 2016 could be won by someone from the first four categories. This has never been in the previous years, so the jury had a big task to fullfill. The jury was: Koen Crucke, Dirk Vervoort, Phillip Michiels, Miss Exclusive Fenne Verrecas, Dragqueen Lady Galore from Holland, jury-president Davy Bamps and Mister Gay Belgium Raf van Puymbroeck.
The winners for this year in each category are:
Best Look-a-like: 
Lex Otica as Cher
Best Newcomer: Sammy Jo
Best Comical Act: 
Duchi Davoj
Best Free Act: 
Miss Pamela Barnes
Best Make-up: 
Sammy Jo
Best Choreo: 
Lola mcQueen
Best Costume: 
Sammy Jo
Best Gay Event: 
Studio 54
Favorite Transgender Girl: 
Sacha Ryan
Best Gay Ambassador: 
Jani Kazaltzis
Favorite Personality Queen: 
Zsa Zsa Lamore
Favorite Showgroup: 
The Shining Divas
Lifetime Achievement Award/THE GOLDEN PEARL: 
Miss Michele of Les Folles De Gand
Which showqueen will be closing the range as Showqueen of the year 2016 after Joan Jullian, Yana International and Roxy Stone? The winner is……
La Tash!!!
Congratulations to all the winners and with every competition everybody have their own favorite, so there will always be joy and tears. But most important is that an event like this put again showqueens on the map and show that men in dresses are not as weird as some people on this planet think.
11th of June 2017 there will be a new edition and if you want to perform next year on stage, which will allow duo’s or groups too for the first time too, sign up at www.showqueenawards.be
Please follow us for more at Facebook, Youtube, Instagram , Twitter or Tumblr
Big kiss,
Lesley Middleton
P.S.: Thanks to the photographers Yasmine Couffez, René Emmerink and Geert De Weser for some of the pictures!!!