In a weekend soaked with sequins, talent, and history, Pittsburgh’s own Joey Young sashayed into the national spotlight, placing Top 5 and winning the Interview category at Miss Continental 2026, Joey’s first time competing in the world’s most prestigious drag pageant.
Joey Young is the current reigning Miss Blue Moon here in Pittsburgh, and this spring was crowned Miss Continental Newcomer, a division of the larger Continental Pageantry System, specifically created to spotlight emerging drag entertainers.
The Miss Continental pageant, held annually over Labor Day weekend in Chicago, has made many a drag legacy. With a two-night event structure, the Preliminary Round and the Final Night, fierce queens battled it out for a coveted spot in the final 12. From there, only one would be crowned, but Joey’s star burned bright throughout both nights, capturing the judges’ attention and the hearts of viewers everywhere.
For drag fans in the know, Continental is the pageant. It’s the proving ground where legends are made, from Candis Cayne to Jazell Barbie Royale, Erica Andrews, and beyond. Even queens like Sasha Colby, Brooke Lynn Hytes, and Naysha Lopez have spoken openly about how their time at Continental shaped their artistry long before they made it to RuPaul’s Drag Race.
To place Top 5 at such a pageant and snatch the Interview win is a huge statement. It means that Joey wasn’t just serving looks and stage presence, but brought depth, charisma, and clarity of purpose. The Interview category is often considered the soul of the competition, a moment for the queens to articulate who they are, why they do what they do, and how they envision drag as a force in the world.
Joey spoke with the poise and power of a queen who knows they belong on that stage.
Joey’s performance also shines a spotlight on Pittsburgh’s drag scene, which has been fiercely building a reputation for excellence, creativity, and community. 2025 has been a banner year for Pittsburgh drag, signaling a new chapter for local entertainers, especially for queer artists daring to break molds and reimagine what drag can be.
As fans and fellow performers flooded social media late last night and early this morning with love and awe, it’s clear that this is just the beginning for Joey Young. Whether or not Joey takes the crown in a future year (and let’s be real, they’re a major contender), they’ve already earned a place in Continental history and our hearts.
Long live the Queen. Pittsburgh is watching. The world is next.
