Liza, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna attend Mardi Gras – sort of
A steady drizzle on Tuesday didn’t discourage the hundreds of thousands of locals and tourists in New Orleans from celebrating Mardi Gras.
And if you heard reports of Liza, Lady Gaga or Rihanna being spotted during Mardi Gras, it’s true that they were there. Well, sort of. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then these divas were being thoroughly complimented.
In addition to watching Mardi Gras’s famous Krewe of Zulu and Krewe of Rex parades, and bead tossing from French Quarter balconies, people – gay and straight – have been flocking to the Bourbon Street Awards since 1963. This year’s event filled the street in front of two of New Orleans’s popular gay bars Bourbon Pub & Parade and Oz.
Now sponsored by Oz, the Bourbon Street Awards recognize the creative and often outrageous costumes including Best Drag, Best Leather, Best Group and Best of Show.
This year’s event was hosted by Big Easy’s top drag performers Biana Del Rio and Blanche Debris and awarded $3,000 in prize money.
The Bourbon Street Awards is just one of many gay-led Mardi Gras events that include elaborate balls and an official bead toss.
Information on visiting gay-friendly New Orleans is available at neworleansonline.com.
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