Dedicated to the memory
of Ron Storme & Steffan Whitfield

Alternative
Miss London
History
Click here to see the year 2006 event
Click here to see the year 2005 event
Click here to see the year 2004 event
Click here to see the year 2003 event
Click here to see the year 2002 event
Click here to see the year 2001 event
Click here to see the year 2000 event
Click here to see the year 1999 event
Click here to see how it all started

The History of how it all Started . . .
Steffan’s first experience of drag was entering the Night of a thousand frocks at The Hippodrome Leicester Square run by the wonderful Dennis Gilding (Who also ran all the Porchester Balls assisted by Ron Storme). This one off event was never repeated except for a small tribute show at Peter Stringellow’s club in (I think ) 97.

The experience of winning the event so totally changed Steffan’s life that he longed to recreate it for others to experience.

In 1993 Steffan and Vicky Lee were running Bolts at the Hippodrome Leicester Square and had a free hand to arrange what ever entertainment or events they could dream up to fill the Sunday night promotion.

At that time there were about 2000 people coming to the Hippodrome every Sunday and the publicity paid for and generated by the night was on a high. Judges were recruited for the first Steffan Whitfield’s Alternative Miss London.

They included George Melly (raconteur and jazz singer) and Andrew Logan (artist and originator of Alternative Miss World).

The girls that entered the 93/94 contest were great maybe about 15 of them and the winner was Misha who had recently started working at Madam Jo Jo’s.

Steffan and Vicky finished with Bolts at the Hippodrome 14 weeks after it started they had enormous fun despite the hard work pulling each show together and have a host of good stories from these nights.

Ask Vicki about the snake, the 12 strippers or Desiree’s PA. Ask Steffan about the night we turned the Hippodrome’s Star Bar into a steam room and what the papers had to say the next day.

Steffan and Vicky never did get paid by Bolts for all their work over those 14 weeks but what they learnt through the experience was the foundation for The WayOut Club.

Despite no longer having the Hippodrome to play with Steffan was determined to turn the competition into an annual event. In 95 The WayOut Club was big enough to host the event and by then was being held monthly at Circa in Berkley Square (as well as every Saturday in Goodge Street).

Miss Karla was the winner of this the second competition. (No it was not a fix). It was in this competition that Jezebel first came on the scene and went on to work with Vicky Lee as The Vampettes. (Often with Steffan as the third Vampette). Jezebel went onto solo success and now lives in Brighton and has just returned to drag after a short break.

The winners have all moved on. Previous winners of this title are:
Misha 93/95:
who became a headliner at Jo Jo's.
Miss Karla 95/96:
who is now touring her goddess show around the world.
Natalie Thailand 96/97:
who is now modelling and her most recent wok is on a giant billboaard in Times Square in New York.
Oscar Winner 97/98:
who is currently conquering Hollywood.
Miss Eve Bouquet 98/99:
who is now a regular performer at WayOut and the Powder Room and was there on the night to hand over the crown.
Miss Yuri 99/2000
regular visitor to The WayOut Club

The contest continued to be an annual event at The WayOut Club through venue changes and is now one of the busiest night of the year.

For the years 2000 & 2001 the contest was generously sponsored with over £2000 worth of prizes including £200 cash as just part of the first winners prize package. Winners won products or services none worth less than £100.

Contest dedicated to the memory of
Ron Storme in October 2000

In October 2000 the contest was dedicated to the memory of Ron Storme who for nearly 18 years provided parties for the tranny community

It is very appropriate to dedicate the Alternative Miss London Contest to Ron as Steffan first created this competition 9 years ago to re-create a 'Night of a thousand Frocks' at London's Hippodrome back in 1986. This original event was a very special night for Steffan as he won the competition on this his very first night out in Drag. This was also the first time that he met Ron Storme as Ron was one of the organisers and judges of the original 1986 'Night of a thousand Frocks' event.

Steffan said "I want to send Ron all our love and wish him a safe journey on his trip to the Drag Heaven in the sky, He was one of the people who I for one have always admirered and I count him amoungst my heros - now we will remember him every year".

The WayOut Club looks forward to the contest growing bigger and better - who knows one day it may return to the stage of the Hippodrome

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