Kirby Kolby

Miss Gay America plans a series of performances in Phoenix.

By Laura Latzko

Kirby Kolby

Capturing the Crown

After finally winning Miss Gay America title, Kirby Kolby is coming to Phoenix

After a 10-year hiatus from competing in the Miss Gay America pageant, 2011 was a winning year for female illusionist Mark Smith, who won the national title as Kirby Kolby.

Now the Raleigh, N.C.-based female illusionist is coming to Arizona for the first time for a series of shows with Celia Putty, the 2011 Miss Gay Arizona America, and Barbra Seville, the state titleholder in 2000.

Smith said he first met Putty and Seville at the national pageant in 1996. He competed in the pageant four more times from 1998 to 2001, placing first alternate in 1999 and second alternate in 2000.

But after the 2001 pageant, Smith stopped competing. He said he felt he had presented his best at the national pageant and didn't think he was going to win. He stayed involved in the pageant as a dresser for female illusionists, such as 2011 titleholder Coti Collins.

Smith said he got the urge to return to the pageant system in 2011 and won the Miss Gay D.C. America title and then the national crown.

"I felt that I might as well give it another shot," Smith said. "And luckily, I won on my first time back."

Since then he has been performing at clubs all over the country, as well as continuing as a member of the cast an host of a monthly talent show in Raleigh, where he has been performing since 1994.

As national titleholder, Smith said he plans to be a positive role model.

"I want to inspire female impersonators to be the best that they can be," Smith said. "I also want to motivate others to believe in themselves and want them to be a part of something bigger in this life. Just to make a difference not only in my life, but in others as well."

Smith said he started doing drag on Halloween night in 1989, when he was 19 years old. He said that doing drag has helped him to be less shy and reserved around others.

"I think I continued because I was just immediately drawn to it," Smith said. "It was and is an outlet for me, a way to express myself and be a little more open, since I'm normally a very shy and reserved person."

Smith said Kolby is a classy drag queen who can be sarcastic at times.

"I'd have to say that I've tried to mold the persona of Kirby to the standards that I expect drag to be," Smith said. "I think she's quite sophisticated, and elegant with a bit of an edge at times ... She can be fun and flirty while remaining a lady." -E

VITAL STATISTICS

Kirby Kolby's Phoenix performances

10 p.m. Jan. 11 at Karamba Nightclub for the Golden Wighead Awards
9 p.m. Jan. 13 at Friends for Celia Putty's Freaky Friday
10 p.m. Jan. 14 at The Rock for the Barbra Seville show
7 p.m. Jan. 15 at Crusin 7th for Miss Gay Copper City America