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Arguably the most anticipated part of the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekender, the Miss Exotic World competition is the highest honor in the world of burlesque. The competition has been going on since 1990 and was started as a way to attract attendees to the Burlesque Hall of Fame Museum (formerly known as the Exotic World Museum). Over the years it has gotten bigger, fancier, and sparklier. This year was no exception.

Though the audience had already been watching burlesque for hours, they were chomping at the bit as hosts Lili La Scala and Kingfish announced that the time had come for the Miss Exotic World competition to begin. The first performer to come out was April O’Peele, who did a classic burlesque number in a sparkly white outfit. Next, Burgandy Brixx did a Bond girl-esque dance, starting out dressed as a Rolls Royce hood ornament. A wind machine made the whole act feel super glamorous. Then, Ginger Valentine served up another classic number, pretty in a bright pink outfit. Ophelia Flame followed, starting out with some really dramatic backlighting on her feathered outfit. By the end of her act she was using the feathers affixed to her shoulders as fans.

One of my favorite acts of the night came next: the dance Vancouver’s Melody Mangler did to Donovan’s “Season of the Witch.” Mangler came out in a conservative black dress and white bonnet, looking like she had just stepped off the Mayflower. Shortly after the song began she burst out of the clothes — almost in a single motion, it was very quick — revealing a sparkling, fiery outfit. She went on to amaze me with ribbony fans, and graceful, yet fierce, choreography.

The performances continued to rise in intensity as the next act began. The curtains opened to reveal Denver’s Midnite Martini, normally a tiny person, barely five feet tall, in the center of the stage looking as if she was about 25 feet tall. She ripped the bottom of her gown away to reveal that she was straddling a ladder, and then used the ladder as a tool to strip off her stockings. Then she proceeded to grab the silks behind her and start climbing. She wrapped the silks around her and did a number of flips, and turns, showcasing her flexibility. At the end of her act she climbed all the way up to the top of the silks to the ceiling, with no harness or net below her, and then slid down gracefully. It was truly a sight to behold! No wonder she was crowned queen at the end of the night!

Class acts by New York’s Medianoche and Vancouver’s Lola Frost followed. Then, one of my personal favorites, Seattle’s Iva Handfull, took the stage, wearing a fabulous black and white outfit complete with outrageous feathered head dress. Iva’s performance was fierce, as is her trademark. It was like a sexy shot of espresso! New York’s Sydni Deveraux closed out the competition with a glamorous classic burlesque number. Her dress brought to mind Belle from Beauty and the Beast, it was so fluffy and gorgeous. Her fan dance was extremely elegant, and she was beaming during the entire performance.

The judges (Kaitlyn Regehr, Judith Lynn Hanna, Danielle Colby, Michelle L’amour, Lou Lou Roxy, Holly Madison, and Gina Bon Bon) went off to make their decisions, and the audience was treated to a song by Melody Sweets of Absinthe. Then LouLou D’vil, the outgoing queen, winner of Miss Exotic World 2013, gave her step-down performance, looking beautiful as usual. She’s so beautiful, it’s almost hard to look at her.

The hosts came back onstage and revealed the winners for the evening:

Miss Exotic World 2014, Reigning Queen of Burlesque: Midnite Martini (Denver, CO)
1st Runner Up: Medianoche (New York, NY)
2nd Runner Up: Ginger Valentine (Dallas, TX)
Best Boylesque: Mr. Gorgeous (New York, NY)
Best Debut: Bonnie Fox (London, UK)
Best Group: Land of the Sweets (Seattle, WA)
Best Troupe: The Ruby Revue (Dallas, TX)
Most Classic: Missy Lisa (Dallas, TX)
Most Comedic: Kitten n’ Lou (Seattle, WA/New York, NY)
Most Dazzling: Bonnie Fox (London, UK)
Most Innovative: Aurora Galore (London, UK)

Then everyone left and blew the roof off The Orleans at the after party!

Click here for photos of the Tournament of Tease: Best Group and Best Troupe at BHoF 2014!