Jeremy Cross, a.k.a. Jezza Crossfire, is the winner of this year's So You Think You Can Drag.
M&M Productions hosted the sold-out event Saturday (April 5) at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford (15269 104 Ave). Five community leaders dressed in drag to raise money for the charity of their choice and Surrey Pride. Back on Track Recovery, Options Community Services, BC Cancer Foundation, Uniti, and SalalSVSC were the chosen charities.
Cross and the four other community members arrived at the venue a few hours before the gala started to begin their transformation into drag.
The other community members were Rory Morgan from Surrey Board of Trade; White Rock Pride president Rob Christensen; Simon Fraser University executive director Steve Dooley; Surrey Board of Trade chair Rory Morgan; and Kwantlen Polytechnic University director of equity, diversity and inclusion Trina Prince, who all performed to a song.
In preparation for the event, each of the performers was mentored by one local drag queen.
The event included a special performance by last year's winner Cole Izsak, a.k.a. Mayor Lynne Munroe Locke.
After all five performances, the audience voted, and Jezza Crossfire-Jeremy Cross was crowned the winner.
Event MC Myria LeNoir said, "Everyone on the stage tonight is 100 per cent a winner."
Organizers will match Cross’s donations up to $5,000 to Back on Track Recovery, his charity of choice. Any remaining net profits will go toward the 2025 Surrey Pride Festival, planned for June 22 at Surrey Civic Plaza.
M&M Productions was founded by former Surrey Pride president Martin Rooney and drag queen Myria LeNoir.
Next year, the event on April 18 will move into a bigger room at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford that can accommodate 500 people, as this year sold out quickly.
They also want people to participate in next year's So You Think You Can Drag. Those interested can contact Martin Rooney at mandxv@gmail.com.
The gala included a silent auction and live entertainment by the band The Apartment.
