The Queen (1968) is a groundbreaking documentary directed by Frank Simon that offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the Miss All-America Camp Beauty Pageant, one of the earliest national drag competitions in the United States. Filmed in New York City, the documentary captures the glamour, tension, and fierce personalities behind the event, providing rare insight into drag culture during a time when LGBTQ+ visibility was virtually nonexistent in mainstream media.
At the center of the film is Flawless Sabrina (Jack Doroshow), who not only organizes the pageant but also guides the contestants—many of them young, ambitious drag queens from across the country—through rehearsals, rivalries, and the climactic crowning moment. Among the standout participants is a then-unknown Crystal LaBeija, whose impassioned post-pageant monologue would go on to become a foundational moment in queer and ballroom history.
Bold, unfiltered, and decades ahead of its time, The Queen is not just a portrait of drag—it’s a vital document of queer resistance, community, and expression at the dawn of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Measuring 20 x 30 inches (Double Crown), Rolled, Single Sided and listed in Very Fine condition with some minor handling wear.
