Alyssa Edwards is crowned Miss Gay America 2010 by MGA 2008 Mikaila Kay (left) and MGA 2009 Victoria DePaula (back, wearing crown) Sunday evening in St. Louis. Photo by Gabe Hartwig

Here she is: Miss Gay America Alyssa Edwards.

Edwards, first alternate to Miss Gay Heartland America 2009, was crowned Miss Gay America 2010 on Sunday evening at the Millennium Hotel in downtown St. Louis, bringing to an end four nights of hours-long competition.

Alyssa Edwards

“This has been an exceptional week of competition for Miss Gay America 2010,” said Terry Eason of L&T Entertainment, which owns the MGA pageant system. It’s the second year the event has been held in St. Louis.

Fifty female impersonators — winners of various regional preliminaries across the United States — brought gowns, wigs, makeup, backup dancers and their A-games to St. Louis to compete in the 38th annual pageant. Preliminary rounds of competition on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday narrowed the field to 10 contestants, who competed Sunday evening in evening gown, onstage question and talent categories. A revue show featuring former titleholders was held on Saturday evening.

“The top 10 is one of the best that’s ever been chosen,” said Miss Gay America 1989 Vicki Vincent, of St. Louis, as she introduced the contestants who would proceed to the finals on Sunday.

The top 10:

• Sally Sparkles, Miss Southern Elegance America 2009
• Jessica Jade, Miss Gay D.C. America 2009
• Coco Montrese, Miss Heart of America 2009
• Alyssa Edwards, Miss Gay Heartland America 2009
• China Collins, first alternate to Miss Gay Mid East America 2009
• Tatiyanna Voché, Miss Gay Mid East America 2009
• Monica Moore, Miss Gay Florida America 2009
• Kristina Kelly, Miss Gay Mid-Atlantic America 2009
• Tajma Stetson, first alternate to Miss Gay Missouri America 2009
• Symphony Alexander Love, Miss Gay Ohio America 2009

The winners:

• Fourth alternate to Miss Gay America 2010: Kristina Kelly
• Third alternate to Miss Gay America 2010: Sally Sparkles
• Second alternate to Miss Gay America 2010: Jessica Jade
• First alternate to Miss Gay America 2010: Coco Montrese

The winner of the pageant gets a crown, cash prizes, appearance fees, a monthly salary and gifts from sponsors. Miss Gay America is charged with administrative duties for the pageant system during the year of her reign.

Contestants in the Miss Gay America pageant system are biological men, and surgical enhancements or alterations below the neck are prohibited.

Read our interview last week with Miss Gay America 2009 Victoria DePaula

Browse a gallery of photos by John L. White from Sunday’s competition