Miss Queen USA pageant

From left, Miss New York, Miss Oklahoma, Miss Wyoming, Miss West Virginia, Miss Tennessee and Miss California pose for the cameras after the Miss Queen USA pageant at the Circus Disco in Los Angeles on Sunday night. Queen USA calls itself “the premier transgender beauty pageant in the United States.” (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

Aug. 4, 2012 9:06 AM PT

The nation’s premier drag beauty pagent was held in Los Angeles recently. Out of that came a discussion of feminism, feminity, discrimination and opportunity.

Miss West Virginia was the winner of the Miss Queen USA pageant at the Circus Disco in Los Angeles. (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

Contestants show a little leg at the Miss Queen USA pageant. (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

Contestants wait backstage for their turn on the runway during the swimsuit competition at the Miss Queen USA pageant. (Ariana van den Akker / Los Angeles Times)

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Miss Queen USA pageant

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