Huge, outrageous masks and headdress regalia wowed crowds on Oct. 24 at the 41st annual Fantasy Fest Headdress Ball at Key West’s Coffee Butler Amphitheater.
Produced by the Key West Business Guild, the headdress competition drew more than a dozen entries and offered spectators a blend of entertainment, pageantry and design ingenuity.
Gary Marion, also known as Key West’s iconic drag queen Sushi, took first place for “Martian Day of the Dead.” The ensemble featured a skeletal mask and towering multicolored headdress bedecked with flowers, big-eyed space creatures and grinning green skulls.
Second place went to Guy Hermelin for “DJ Time Warp,” a massive creation topped with a supersized “boombox” and stylized concert speakers.
The third-place winner was Elaine Shelby for “Wicked Dragon Lady,” an exotic entry inspired by her travels to Asian countries.
“The Headdress Ball is Fantasy Fest’s premier LGBTQ event,” said Rob Dougherty, executive director of the guild. “It was an amazing night filled with talent and creativity.”
The event benefits the nonprofit guild and its work in supporting Key West’s gay and gay-friendly enterprises, local community and position as an internationally recognized LGBTQ vacation spot.
