By Charlie Kolodziej
Winners across 46 categories took home awards at the second annual Gaggys on Oct. 9 at Fantasy Nightclub, 3641 N Halsted St. Created and hosted by nightlife legends Alexandrea Diamond, Abhijeet, Bambi Banks-Couleé, and Lucy Stoole, the Gaggys celebrates the best in Chicago’s drag and queer nightlife scene.
The night featured performances from this year’s Entertainer of the Year (EOY) nominees Irregular Girl, Kitty Banks, Sativa Diamond, Neutral Gena, Pixel, and Vanda LaRose, as well as a performance from last year’s EOY winner, Chicago drag icon, Ariana L. Gato.
The event also featured a red carpet and live event coverage from Chicago’s own Anya K. Thunderkat and TiKi Vonté.
“It’s really one of the only times a year where everyone from nightlife gets together,” said Chicago queen and attendee Molly Jolly Christmas, “It’s just a big celebration of the community.”
In addition to the categories, three special awards named in honor of Chicago legends were also awarded to members of the Chicago queer nightlife community that have made the scene what it is today. Presented by DJ Miss Twink USA, the Frankie Knuckles Vanguard Award was given to Ariel Zetina for her contributions to Chicago House music. The Lady of Tajma Hall of Fame Award for Icons in the Community went to Mimi Marks and Ms. Ruff n Stuff, and the Jojo Baby Life of the Party Award went to Lucy Stoole.
Sativa Diamond took home the coveted Gaggy for Entertainer of the Year. Pixel and Yur Unkle were awarded Best Drag Queen and Best Drag King respectively.
The categories this year also celebrated the people behind the glittery stage, with nominees taking home awards in the categories of Best Flyer, Best Wig Stylist and Best Bar Staff. See the list below for a full lineup of nominees and winners in each category.
1. Best Bar
• Charlie’s Chicago
• Roscoe’s Tavern
• Scarlet Bar
2. Best Club
• Fantasy Nightclub
• Hydrate Nightclub
• Never Have I Ever
• Podlasie
• Splash
3. Best Bar Staff
• Fantasy Nightclub
• Hydrate Nightclub
• Roscoe’s Tavern
• Scarlet Bar
• Splash
4. Best Bartender
• Robert (Fantasy Nightclub)
• Squeaky Banks (My Buddy’s)
• Reggay Boots (Charlie’s Chieago)
• Jason Castillo (Splash)
• Brandon Orta (Charlie’s Chicago)
5. Best Flyer
• Austin Stone (Boots)
• Gae Monde (BUMP.)
• Wady Guzman (Freshman 15)
• Emilly Burlew (Queen!)
• Dylan Bragassa (Gag!)
• Sundae (Various Flyers)
6. Best Photographer / Videographer
• Nathan Hoyle
• Secret Queen
• Ty Yamamoto
• Carter Oselett
• Gori Black
7. Best Party Girl
• Dorian Lavon Davis
• Ash Wednesday
• Haya Hart
• Synthetic
• Viktoria Kay Frost
8. Best Party
• Boots
• Funkstick
• Queen!
• Super Sapphie.
• Very That
9. Best Variety Show
• Kiss n Tell Cabaret
• The High Hall
• Hunter’s Cabaret
• Spjörk’s Circus
• Burlesque Royale
10. Best Bingo/Karaoke
• Anything Goes Karaoke
• Let’s Roulette Karaoke
• My Buddy’s Bingo
• Let’s Roulette Karaoke
• My Buddy’s Bingo
• WHIM Bingo
11. Best Drag Brunch
• EggsYZ
• Lark
• Lost Never Found
• Flip Phone
• Drag Me To the River
12. Best Weekday Drag Show
• Power Up
• Rated Q
• Snatched
• Survivor Chicago
• Spjörk’s Circus
13. Best Drag Competition
• Freshman 15
• Survivor Chicago
• Our New Bff
• Roscoe’s Drag Race
14. Best Drag Show
• Friday Night Lights
• Gag!
• Queeriod
• Ran Thru
• Strapped
• Xtra!
15. Best Newcomer
• Ben Wagner
• Dj Gay Bash
• Kelvin Nicholas
• Sutton Fister
• ADHDJ
16. Best DJ
• 40 Blesstonio
• Dj Cash Era
• De La Fe
• Ron Geronimo
• Jenny Fox
17. Best Wig Stylist
• Aurora Gozmic
• Persephone Brooklyn
• Roma Amor
18. Best Costumer
• Mats
• Trisha Can
• JForPay
19. Best Designer
• D’Cameron May
• Mats
• Trisha Can
• JForPay
• Faye Del Ray
20. Best Drag Photographer
• Steven M. Koch
• Julez Osco
• Ty Yamamoto
21. Best Dressed
• Mats
• Vanity Unfair
• Fantasy Banks
• Finn
• Sangria Whine
22. Best Gogo Dancer
• Ben Krane
• Breon
• Diwa
• Hunter Diamond
• Mark Love
• Mocha Mocha 2.0
23. Best Live Performer
• Ari Gato
• Dear Jamie
• Reggay Boots
• Tirrany Reigns
• Yuiza Beach
24. Best Burlesque Performer (tie)
• Angelicia Maria
• Mocha Mocha 2.0
• Switch The Boi Wonder
• Fallon
25. Best Male Entertainer
• Hunter Diamond
• The Glammonster
• Mark Love
• Jahnathan
• Ceasar Diamond
• Matt Cage
26. Best Showgirl
• Angelicia Maria
• Irregular Girl
• Lilith Babylon
• Opal Cavalli
• Mimi Marks
27. Best Drag Enthusiast
• Dan – Haus Of Prophets
• Yoav Wachs
• Ty Yamamoto
28. Best Gossip
• Helvetikah Black
• Laila McQueen & Ben Trotter (Banks)
• Alexandrea Diamond
29. Most Delusional
• BJ Silly
• Alexandrea Diamond
• Famine D’Supermodel
30. Best Club To Get Head
• Smartbar
• Hydrate Nightclub
• Fantasy Nightclub
31. Fashion Disaster
• BJ Silly
• Malhuert
• Severine
32. Worked It Out On The Remix
• The Dommm & Betty Theft
• Bambi Banks-Couleé & Alexandrea Diamond
• Bambi Banks-Couleé & Ari Gato
• Bambi Banks-Couleé & Stephanie Gato-Girl
33. The Frankie Knuckles Vanguard Award
34. The Lady of Tajma Hall of Fame Award for Icons in the Community
• Mimi Marks and Ms. Ruff n Stuff
35. The Jojo Baby Life of the Party Award
• Lucy Stoole
36. Gaggy Laugh – Stunt Of The Year
• Robbery at Derry Queen’s Watch Party
• Danika Blake “Productions”
• Alexandrea Diamond quitting F15 vs Survivor
• Amira Slick as the Taco Bell Robin Hood
37. Best Lipsyncer
• Serena Filerce
• Stephanie Gato Girl
• Kara Mel D’Ville
38. Best Makeup
• Dani Pax
• Fallon
• Kitty Banks
• Serena Filerce
• Siichele
• Vanity Unfair
39. Best Host
• Spjörk
• Bella DeBalle
• Sapphire Feliciano
• Serena Filerce
• Neutral Gena
40. Best Host Duo/Collective
• Irregular Girl + Siichelle
• Kitty Banks + Ziggy Banks
• Vanda LaRose + Judith Priest
• Hosts of Gag!
41. Best Conceptual Artist
• Boo Boo Kitty Fuck
• Monsieur Bombastic
• True Romance
• Stephanie Gato Girl
• Lezbian Minnelli
42. Best Club Kid
• Finn
• Mats
• Boo Boo Kitty Fuck
• Fantasy Banks
• Hex
43. Best Comedian
• Masha Potato
• Neutral Gena
• Spjork
• Ari Gato
• Delta Badhand
44. Best Dancer
• Angelica Grace
• Pixel
• Sativa Diamond
• Spiral
• WHIM Bingo
11. Best Drag Brunch
• EggsYZ
• Lark
• Lost Never Found
• Flip Phone
• Drag Me To the River
12. Best Weekday Drag Show
• Power Up
• Rated Q
• Snatched
• Survivor Chicago
• Spjörk’s Circus
13. Best Drag Competition
• Freshman 15
• Survivor Chicago
• Our New Bff
• Roscoe’s Drag Race
14. Best Drag Show
• Friday Night Lights
• Gag!
• Queeriod
• Ran Thru
• Strapped
• Xtra!
15. Best Newcomer
• Ben Wagner
• Dj Gay Bash
• Kelvin Nicholas
• Sutton Fister
• ADHDJ
16. Best DJ
• 40 Blesstonio
• Dj Cash Era
• De La Fe
• Ron Geronimo
• Jenny Fox
17. Best Wig Stylist
• Aurora Gozmic
• Persephone Brooklyn
• Roma Amor
18. Best Costumer
• Mats
• Trisha Can
• JForPay
19. Best Designer
• D’Cameron May
• Mats
• Trisha Can
• JForPay
• Faye Del Ray
20. Best Drag Photographer
• Steven M. Koch
• Julez Osco
• Ty Yamamoto
21. Best Dressed
• Mats
• Vanity Unfair
• Fantasy Banks
• Finn
• Sangria Whine
22. Best Gogo Dancer
• Ben Krane
• Breon
• Diwa
• Hunter Diamond
• Mark Love
• Mocha Mocha 2.0
23. Best Live Performer
• Ari Gato
• Dear Jamie
• Reggay Boots
• Tirrany Reigns
• Yuiza Beach
24. Best Burlesque Performer (tie)
• Angelicia Maria
• Mocha Mocha 2.0
• Switch The Boi Wonder
• Fallon
25. Best Male Entertainer
• Hunter Diamond
• The Glammonster
• Mark Love
• Jahnathan
• Ceasar Diamond
• Matt Cage
26. Best Showgirl
• Angelicia Maria
• Irregular Girl
• Lilith Babylon
• Opal Cavalli
• Mimi Marks
27. Best Drag Enthusiast
• Dan – Haus Of Prophets
• Yoav Wachs
• Ty Yamamoto
28. Best Gossip
• Helvetikah Black
• Laila McQueen & Ben Trotter (Banks)
• Alexandrea Diamond
29. Most Delusional
• BJ Silly
• Alexandrea Diamond
• Famine D’Supermodel
30. Best Club To Get Head
• Smartbar
• Hydrate Nightclub
• Fantasy Nightclub
31. Fashion Disaster
• BJ Silly
• Malhuert
• Severine
32. Worked It Out On The Remix
• The Dommm & Betty Theft
• Bambi Banks-Couleé & Alexandrea Diamond
• Bambi Banks-Couleé & Ari Gato
• Bambi Banks-Couleé & Stephanie Gato-Girl
33. The Frankie Knuckles Vanguard Award
34. The Lady of Tajma Hall of Fame Award for Icons in the Community
• Mimi Marks and Ms. Ruff n Stuff
35. The Jojo Baby Life of the Party Award
• Lucy Stoole
36. Gaggy Laugh – Stunt Of The Year
• Robbery at Derry Queen’s Watch Party
• Danika Blake “Productions”
• Alexandrea Diamond quitting F15 vs Survivor
• Amira Slick as the Taco Bell Robin Hood
37. Best Lipsyncer
• Serena Filerce
• Stephanie Gato Girl
• Kara Mel D’Ville
38. Best Makeup
• Dani Pax
• Fallon
• Kitty Banks
• Serena Filerce
• Siichele
• Vanity Unfair
39. Best Host
• Spjörk
• Bella DeBalle
• Sapphire Feliciano
• Serena Filerce
• Neutral Gena
40. Best Host Duo/Collective
• Irregular Girl + Siichelle
• Kitty Banks + Ziggy Banks
• Vanda LaRose + Judith Priest
• Hosts of Gag!
41. Best Conceptual Artist
• Boo Boo Kitty Fuck
• Monsieur Bombastic
• True Romance
• Stephanie Gato Girl
• Lezbian Minnelli
42. Best Club Kid
• Finn
• Mats
• Boo Boo Kitty Fuck
• Fantasy Banks
• Hex
43. Best Comedian
• Masha Potato
• Neutral Gena
• Spjork
• Ari Gato
• Delta Badhand
44. Best Dancer
• Angelica Grace
• Pixel
• Sativa Diamond
• Spiral
• Sasha Sota
45. Best Newcomer King
• Dr. Luv
• Mush
• Koda Pendants
• Dom Draper
• Monsieur Bombastic
46. Best Newcomer Queen
• Lezbian Minnelli
• Amira Slick
• Winter Dior
• The Dommm
• Fantasy Banks
47. Best Drag King
• Luc Ami
• Penis Envy
• Switch The Boi Wonder
• Kerosene
• Luv Ami Stoole
48. Best Drag Queen
• Irregular Girl
• Ramona Slick
• Sativa Diamond
• Secret Queen
• Masha Potato
49. Entertainer of the Year
• Irregular Girl
• Kitty Banks
• Neutral Gena
• Pixel
• Vanda LaRose