Video and article by Ella Warren, contributor
After an intense competition of lip-syncing, voguing and death drops, Midas Shepherd won the title of 2026 Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance’s representative.
Four drag performers battled for the crown at Saturday’s Shenandoah Valley Pride Pageant — an annual, all-ages drag show raising money for the alliance’s pride festival in September where the newly-crowned drag king will perform.
Contestants during the fundraiser at the Double Tree by Hilton competed for donations, with one dollar equalling one vote. This year’s event raised $1,366.
“You are all seen… You are all beautiful, and I cannot wait to serve you as Mr. 2026 Shenandoah Valley Pride Alliance,” Shepherd said.
This year’s pageant contestants were first-time performing drag queen Lybra Sastar, Cherri Hysteria of Harrisonburg, drag king Midas Shepherd and Kikiana Blunt.
Each contestant performed two rounds with as many outfit and song changes as they wanted. Contestants were encouraged to select music that represented their interpretation of LGBTQ+ pride.
“[The performers] are given the opportunity to pick their own music that fits them, that shares their inner diva and what makes them… stay true to who they are,” said Jayda Knight, the pageant’s host and SVPA treasurer.
Shepherd chose to perform to “Dance Monkey” by Tones and I in the first round.
“When I was younger, that was a very ‘I see you’ song,” Shepherd said. “I want to make other people feel like they are seen – seen shining, seen for what they can be, see how beautiful they are.”
Audience members determined the winner through a combination of online donations, performance tips, and cash votes in boxes assigned to their candidate of choice. The contestant who raised the most money would win.
Winning the crown meant winning chances to perform at drag shows throughout the year on behalf of the SVPA.
“It helps to be seen and visible in the community and [gives] people a place… to showcase their art,” Jayda Knight said.
The SVPA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to hosting community events for LGBTQ+ members and supporters. The SVPA’s board is made up solely of volunteers.
“We all have day jobs, then we have our gay jobs,” said SVPA President Erin West.
The SVPA collaborates with other LGBTQ+ organizations such as Rhinestone Productions to crown Miss Gay Harrisonburg and host a pride festival. This year’s festival will be held Sept. 20.
“We used to have our festival in June. It was really hot. It was just the locals and the townies around, so we ended up moving it to September… so that the college kids could be a part of the festival,” West said.
The festival will feature performances from “Rupaul’s Drag Race” Season 18 contestant Athena Dion and country artist Shelly Fairchild.
“We’ve got some great headliners coming up this year, and moving forward, who knows who we can get on our stages,” West said.
At the end of the night, reigning champion Brooklyn Knight crowned Shepherd this year’s winner. Shepherd received a rainbow sash and the choice of either the king or queen crown.
The SVPA used to crown a king and queen, but when the pageant became a fundraiser last year, organizers switched to having one gender-neutral winner.
“We try to be inclusive with all arts of drag,” Jayda Knight said. “We try to make [the pageant] bigger and better every year.”
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