LAS VEGAS, Nev. — The Directors of the Southern Nevada Association of Pride, Inc. (SNAPI) have announced the appointment of their 2015 Pride Royalty. Joining the Las Vegas Pride Royalty Family this year are two new royalty titles, Miss Orgullo Latino Las Vegas 2015 and Mr. Orgullo Latino Las Vegas 2015.
The title of Miss Las Vegas Pride 2015 has been appointed to Lisa St. Laurent. Lisa, a transgender woman who has resided in Las Vegas for the last 20 years, originally from the east coast. Lisa has been a bartender, show host, and show girl at the Las Vegas Lounge for the past 14 years. Lisa is a very strong supporter of the Trans Community. Lisa has worked with numerous Transgender organizations on various projects and is looking forward to future endeavors as being a strong activist.
Lisa is a former Miss Gay Las Vegas, as well as holding many regional pageant titles including: Miss West Coast Continental and Miss Chicago Continental. After a 9-year hiatus Lisa is back and is looking forward to a year of education, fun and excitement.
The title of Mr. & Mr. Las Vegas Pride 2015 has been appointed to Wayne Meistle and Craig Meland, both residents of Las Vegas for the past 15 years.
“With the legalization of same-sex marriage here in Nevada, it made senses to have a same sex couple represent our organization” said Las Vegas Pride Executive Director Ernie Yuen. “We wanted to create something unique to celebrate our accomplishment, why not have a same sex couple share the title.”
Wayne and Craig have been a couple for the past 13 years. Since moving to Las Vegas, they have been active members of the community supporting Las Vegas Pride and other 501c3’s. Both Wayne and Craig have been judges for the Las Vegas Pride Parade, hosts at the Las Vegas Pride Festival, and graced the pages of Las Vegas Pride’s 30th Anniversary Men of Las Vegas Calendar as calendar men. Wayne and Craig are also very active in the community helping raise money for AFAN’s Black & White Party and the AIDS Walk.
Not being afraid of a camera, Wayne and Craig have become familiar faces in many Las Vegas Pride advertisements for events and activities hosted by Las Vegas Pride.
Yuen comments “Some of the great qualities Wayne and Craig hold are; they are both very nice, always wanting to help out and want to be involved with the Las Vegas LGBT Community”
Wayne and Craig love music, movies and fitness. Wayne is the world’s #1 Madonna Fan (in his opinion) and there is not a roller coaster on this planet that Craig is not afraid to ride. Both men love to spend time out on the town with their friends, as well as spending the occasional quiet night at home with their dog, Alexter.
Wayne and Craig have been engaged since 2010 and now that marriage is legal here in Vegas, they are planning for their wedding in the summer of 2016.
With the inaugural celebration of Orgullo Latino Las Vegas right around the corner, Las Vegas Pride is thrilled to announce the our Mr. and Miss Orgullo Latino Las Vegas 2015.
The title of Miss Orgullo Latino Las Vegas 2015 has been appointed to Miss Chi Chi Dela Cruz.
“This Latin beauty is no stranger to Las Vegas Pride Royalty, she has been our Miss Las Vegas Pride Youth and Miss Las Vegas Pride, she will be the first triple crown holder for our organization” says Yuen.
A Las Vegas native of Mexican decent, Chi Chi has been active in the LGBT community for about 11 years. She will tell you she started at the age of 10. Chi Chi first became involved when she started working at Hamburger Mary’s Las Vegas. Chi Chi quickly became involved with the LGBT Community and was the titleholder of Miss Las Vegas PRIDE Youth 2005. The following year Chi Chi became Miss Las Vegas Pride 2006. Chi Chi has worked in many gay establishments in town for the past 11 years as an entertainer and bartender.
The title of Mr. Orgullo Latino Las Vegas has been appointed to Armando Zelkin Monroy. “Zelkin has always been involved with the LGBT community from; volunteering at The Center, helping with major events like Pride, and always smiling and willing to do whatever needs to be done” says Yuen.
Raised by his mom Zelkin credits his mother for the man that he is today. A Las Vegas native Zelkin enjoys the great outdoors as well as ballroom dancing, where his pure joy is the love for animals. Zelkin inspires to become a veterinarian one day. Zelkin is looking forward to his reign and hopes to inspire others to be proud of their heritage and to get involved with their community.
Coronation will be held on Saturday April 18th, 2015 at Charlie’s Las Vegas. A benefit show will start at 9:30 PM, then the step down of our current PRIDE Royalty Miss Las Vegas Pride 2014, Paloma Makary. and Mr. Las Vegas Pride 2014, Michael Cammarata, followed by the crowning of our new 2015 PRIDE Royalty.
“We are happy to have Lisa, Wayne, Craig, Chi Chi and Zelkin join the Las Vegas PRIDE Royalty Family. I am sure they will be an important part to helping build a stronger LGBT Community through assisting with non-profit fundraising efforts and representing Las Vegas locally and at out-of-state events.” Please join us in congratulating Lisa, Miss Las Vegas Pride 2015, Wayne and Craig, Mr. & Mr. Las Vegas Pride 2015, Chi Chi, Miss Orgullo Latino Las Vegas 2015, and Zelkin, Mr. Orgullo Latin Las Vegas 2015.
For more information about SNAPI or Las Vegas PRIDE, visit www.LasVegasPRIDE.org.
