Miami, Fla. – April 9, 2019 – Ultimate Miami, LLC, creator of Miami’s talent competitions showcasing local rising stars in the fields of entertainment and performing arts, crowned Jackie Sanchez as the 2019 Ultimate Miami Comedian (March 29th) and Karla Croqueta as the 2019 Ultimate Miami Drag Queen (March 30th) during the eighth season of the Ultimate Miami series. Winners earned a cash prize of $5,000 and the title of Miami’s Ultimate. The annual event took place at Stage 305 inside Magic City Casino.
“Ultimate Miami 2019 was bursting with talent. 2019 Ultimate Miami Comedian Jackie Sanchez charmed the crowd with her witty, dispirited sense of humor, and 2019 Ultimate Miami Drag Queen Karla Croqueta left the crowd reeling with the immense talent displayed at each opportunity on the stage,” said Scott Savin, Chief Operating Officer of Magic City Casino. “We’re proud to showcase South Florida’s top talent and to serve as a launching pad for these rising stars.”
Jackie Sanchez is the Ultimate Miami Comedian. The 25-year-old self-described hater of most people, lover of all cats, stole the laughs and the title at the Ultimate Miami Comedian competition. This West Palm Beach resident, who only began performing as a comic three years ago, will save her $5,000 prize money to move to Los Angeles next year to focus on her comic career. Sanchez, who won the competition on her 25th birthday, said that the highlight of the evening was when competition judge and radio personality Lucy Lopez complimented her on her material and called her a “crazy talented writer.”
Karla Croqueta is the Ultimate Miami Drag Queen. The 31-year-old bearded drag performer from Hialeah quickly became the crowd favorite the moment she walked on the stage with her beaming confidence and abundance of skills. Croqueta sang live during the talent portion of the competition and played to her Miami audience with her Celia Cruz- inspired gown. True to her name, the drag performer delivered the goods (awe-inspiring performance and an actual tray of croquetas to the judges in her final strut on the runway). Croqueta believes that being unapologetically herself and enjoying every moment of the competition was her key to clenching the Ultimate Miami Drag Queen title and $5,000 prize. She cites that her primary goal after winning the title is to use the Ultimate Miami platform to bridge the gap of diversity that has been missing from Miami’s drag scene.
Each evening of the Ultimate Miami series was highlighted with performances by nationally known entertainers, including comic Steve Trevino and RuPaul’s Drag Race divas Shangela and Miss Vanjie. The weekend’s panel of judges included NBC 6 anchor Roxanne Vargas, SAVE director Tony Lima, comic Marvin Dixon, Power 96.5FM radio personality Lucy Lopez and 610AM WIOD radio personality Manny Muñoz. Ultimate Miami Drag Queen was an official Miami Beach Pride event and kicked off the weeklong Miami Beach Pride festivities.