The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

The Independent Voice of Southern Methodist University Since 1915

The Daily Campus

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SMU’s Joe Hoselton is the reigning Miss. Gay US of A

SMU’s Joe Hoselton is the reigning Miss. Gay US of A

Logo TV’s “RuPaul Drag Race” is currently in its seventh season. However, the show is receiving critics in the drag community. Some believe it does not show the reality of a professional drag queen.

Joe Hoselton started performing in drag 10 years ago. His stage name is Jenna Skyy. Jenna is the reigning Miss. Gay US of A. The pageant is one of the top drag competitions in the country. Hoselton believes the franchise is similar to Donald Trump’s Miss USA.

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Joe Hoselton as Jenna Skyy. Courtesy of Twitter

“Pageantry has been an evolution to represent the culture of drag and give a standard. It is changing today because of Instagram, Facebook, RuPaul Drag Race,” said Hoselton.

Hoselton believes that the TV show and social media allows performers to become instant celebrities without doing the work. For Hoselton, winning the national pageant was a result of dedication. He won Miss Dallas, Miss Texas, and Miss US of A consecutively.

Hoselton remembers winning clearly.

“To hear her say winner of evening gown, best talent, best overall production of the evening and the new Miss. Gay U-S of A was just surreal,” said Hoselton.

However, Hoselton did not always know that he wanted to be a drag queen. When he started working at SMU thirteen years ago, he became inspired.

As the Meadows Director of Graduate Admissions, Hoselton believes SMU students have the same excitement that he had in college. Hoselton loves his job because it allows him to help future students achieve their dreams.

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Joe Hoselton, Meadows Director of Graduate Admissions. Courtesy of SMU

“We are not training you for jobs that currently exist,” said Hoselton. “We are training you to be a leader in the field and invent your job, invent your path.”

When preparing for a drag pageant or performance, Hoselton remembers his career goals.

“I want to contribute things so that maybe one day I can be the Madonna’s of the drag world like the Madonna’s that I’ve aspired to be,” said Hoselton. “Those legendary leading ladies that have inspired me.”

Hoselton tries to ignore opinions on social media in order to stay focused. He performs weekly at the Rose Room, a staple in the Dallas drag scene.

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