Hunky Jesus contest makes huge return and our prayers have been answered

This year's Foxy Mary was also crowned, with the winner sending a powerful message.

Events . Written by Alice Linehan.

Winner of the Hunky Jesus contest posing in costume.
Image: Twitter: @SFSisters, photo by Saint Gooch

To celebrate Easter on April 9, over 10,000 people gathered in San Francisco’s Dolores Park for a hot-as-hell Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary costume contest. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is responsible for blessing us with this Sunday service, which beyond the competition, also included an array of performances from local drag acts and artists.

Described to be the annual event’s biggest-ever edition, prayers were answered as 50 contestants, including three ensemble groups, battled it out for the coveted crowns. The 2023 theme was ‘Peep Show’, and audiences were treated to an egg-cellent array of Hunky Jesus interpretations, including Poppers Jesus, Mid-Life Crisis Jesus and Balenciaga Jesus.

 

Taking the top prize in the Hunky Jesus contest, however, was Haus of Jesus, an ensemble cast that nailed their performance on the big stage and fought off stiff competition from the likes of Oily Jesus.

 

In the Foxy Mary category, Free Choice Mary emerged victorious, sending a powerful message with her appearance.

“When the angel came to me, he said, ‘Do you want to have this baby?’ and I said OK,” she stated, impersonating the religious icon.

“He gave me a choice…But a lot of my son’s fans don’t respect that choice for other people.”

 

This sacrilegious party has been a San Franciscan tradition for over 40 years, with the first celebration held in 1979. In those days, it was only “a small community even in Collingwood Park,” but my, how things have changed.

 

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have been organising the event since its (immaculate) conception, with the non-profit using drag and religious imagery to promote LGBTQ+ rights. Its work focuses on exposing bigotry in the face of sexual intolerance and on using humour and satire to discuss issues of gender and morality.

The group has grown throughout the US, Canada and other parts of the world, where its activism has helped to raise money for many LGBTQ+-related causes.

 

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