In it’s present incarnation, drag is the medium in which art performance and fashion converge. Holly Brubach, former fashion editor, New York Times. 

Eight contestants, some with only the most tenuous connection to the city by the Shannon, will all be taking to the catwalk to compete for the coveted title. In the tradition of all exploitative beauty pageants there will be a casual wear and evening wear and of course a swim wear round.  

Contestants will also wow the judges with their talent, the more off the wall the better. The beauties who have been shortlisted for the pageant are as diverse as they are drop dead gorgeous. Titney Queers is no stranger to the stage, as the current Rose of Galway Pride her life is already a whirl of social occasions.  She expresses a strong dislike for Corduroy and flannel and has an ambition to cleanse tone and moisturise on a global scale.  Titney will her recreating her show biz extravaganza that clenched her Galway title. 

The gorgeous Renttecca hails from Dublin and adores designer clothes in charity shops. Her ambition is to be the tallest woman in Ireland (7ft) Limerick lovely, Leslie B Ann, fancies herself as Britney Spears, while confused Shyanne wants to be a singer, a sex kitten, a dominatrix or maybe even a nun Miss Lillet Shannon/Banks has a burning passion for Daniel O’Donnell and harbours a longing to the the Limerick equivalent of Jean Butler of River Dance fame.  Miss Lillet is hoping that securing the Miss Limerick title will shoot her to international stardom.

With such a glittering array of talent, what are the judges looking for? Manager Nicole Dunphy explained; "The Alternative Miss Limerick is not just about stunning good looks and talent. It is also about glamour, attitude and the ability to pose. Anyone who loves kids, likes to travel and does a lot of charity work should sprinkle their remarks with sarcasm and lace on the irony." 

The competition is promoted by Yum-Yum, Limerick’s only strictly gay club. Yum-Yum runs every Saturday night in the Glentworth Hotel except for the first Saturday of every month when the Gay Switchboard take over. There is also a Foam Party coming up in the club on Friday December 22.  The Alternative Miss Limerick will be held in the brand spanking new ballroom of the Glentworth Hotel, Glentworth St, Limerick at 9pm on November 25.  Admission is £8 (includes Yum-Yum). Doors open at 8pm.