Miss Conception Celebrates A Quarter-Century of Dazzling Delusion

Esta publicación también está disponible en: English Español

From Humble Beginnings to International Stardom: Miss Conception’s 25-Year Journey

If you’ve never gotten the chance to see Miss Conception – a Puerto Vallarta legend – perform, you’re missing out. She has honed her craft over the past 25 years, and this female delusionist is absolutely amazing. 

Her newest show, which is a tribute to her 25th year performing, the “25th Year Silver Anniversary Spectacular”, can be seen at The Palm Cabaret on Monday at 9 p.m. or Thursday at 7 p.m. (with additional shows in February – please check for times and dates).  You’ll see Miss Conception change – right before your eyes – multiple times into familiar movie, Broadway and television characters.  She’s picked the best of the best over her 25-year-career, and you’ll end up laughing and singing alone to her live vocals. 

MISS Conception's first time in drag
Miss Conception’s first time in drag. Photo provided.

Miss Conception’s journey to stardom wasn’t always destined. Kevin Levesque, Miss Conception, stumbled upon his drag persona at a drunken party. A suggestion by his friends, who said “your name should be “Miss Conception”, resonated with him, and a legend was born.

Kevin’s journey into the world of drag began with a daring leap of faith. His friends Jack and Ben dared him to participate in a drag show, and with a borrowed wig, a cheap dress, and the guidance of his drag mother, Ricky Raunch, he took the stage. That performance marked the beginning of a remarkable career at 19-years-old.

“A friend had dared me to enter a drag show performance,” he said. “I got a wig and had it styled. I bought a dress from the $20 store and drag mother Ricky Raunch stepped up to help after Lena Over was too busy – and that’s how it all started. And I must say, I did really well in that first performance.”

25 years later Miss Conception has become an international superstar, performing an astonishing 300-days-a-year. She spends her winters in residence at The Palm in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and her spring/summers residency in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In between those dates she performs on cruises, traveling all over the world.  

On the high seas, Miss Conception is in demand as a featured performer with Brand G Vacations, Concierge Travel, AquaFest Cruises, and Out Adventures

Kevin’s Life

Kevin’s goal in life was to just perform – he loved being on stage in front of people – and he knew he loved to make them laugh. 

He grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, the son of Trisha and Bob Levesque. His parents, along with his sisters (Kristina and Nicole Levesque), have always been supportive. When he joined a youth hockey league at the age of six, at their urging. But they then supported his decision when he traded in his ice skates for a pair of dance shoes. 

miss conception

As an adult his family has followed his career as a drag queen. His parents came to all his shows and even though his mother passed away during Covid, he continues to have the support of his father and two sisters. He met his soon-to-be husband Kieran Thomas online during Covid – the two will get married in Puerto Vallarta in March, 2025.

When Kevin was 14-years-old, he joined the Mississauga Youth Theatre and landed his first role as Bobby Shaftoe in the production “Babes in Toyland”, with his family watching. 

“At a very young age – maybe when I was seven-years-old – I was always doing performances in my living room,” he said. “My parents wanted me to play hockey, which I did and hated it. After I appeared in the production of Babes in Toyland. I knew, without a doubt, that this would become my passion.”

At the age of 18 he began visiting Toronto’s gay village. Which is when he officially came out of the closet – despite knowing that he was gay since he was probably ten-years-old. 

First Drag Performance

Miss Conception started her career at a bar in Toronto called Zipperz, on May 15, 2000, and she never looked back.  She won her first contest called Zelda’s Drag Idol (2003) and then became the host for eight years. 

In that first performance Miss Conception performed Robyn’s “Show Me Love“ and Celine Dion’s “Declaration of Love.”

Over the years Kevin has accumulated numerous titles including Miss Canada Continental, Smirnoff Twisted, Coors Lite Queen of Halloween, Ontario’s Next Top Drag Queen, Zelda’s Drag Idol, Miss Gay Universe, Miss Gay Toronto, Ticot’s Entertainer of the Year and Weerk.com Award – Queen of the Great White North. 

Miss Conception has appeared in “Queer as Folk,” “Degrassi: The Next Generation,” and was the first ever contestant in drag on “Wipeout Canada.” During her career she opened up shows for the late Leslie Jordan as well as singer Lorna Luft (daughter of Judy Garland) and Jennifer Holliday, a Tony Award winner for “Dream Girls”.

Puerto Vallarta’s Calling

It was by serendipity that Miss Conception’s show ended up in Puerto Vallarta – Kevin had come to Mexico because his friend Cameron asked him to come to attend BeefDip. One evening out they ended up at The Palm Cabaret where Kim Kuzma was performing. She was talking to the audience and asked Kevin where he was from and what he did for a living. 

“I told her I was a drag queen from Toronto,” he said laughing. “The next thing I know she has me on stage and I’m singing ‘Sweet Caroline’. As we were leaving Mark Rome (who was one of the founders of The Palm) was at the door and he told me I had a pretty good voice. I gave him a DVD of my performances and told him I’d love to work there sometime.”

And as they say, the rest is history. Mark followed up and hired Miss Conception for the very next season.

“I was working at a radio station, Proud FM, as a radio talk show host and working as a waiter at Zelda’s Restaurant,” he explained. “I gave my notice and told ‘em I was headed to Mexico to work during the winter season.”

Miss Conception has been in Puerto Vallarta now for 14 seasons, with most of that time spent performing at The Palm CAbaret. Her shows are a mix of her perception of characters from movies, Broadway and TV shows. She transitions from one character to another, singing as she goes.  She has a natural wit and charm about her that connects her immediately to the audience. Her goal is to have them forget the outside world for the hour and 15 minutes and leave them laughing, to forget the crazy world we live in.

“Probably my most favorite show was Villains in the 2022-2023 season,” she said. “It was so much fun.”

The show included her transforming before the audience into villains like Cruella de Vil, Annie Wilkes from Misery, Michael Keaton’s undead Beetlejuice, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters. 

25 Years, One Show

Miss Conception’s 25th Silver Anniversary Spectacular at the Palm includes an amazing number of costume changes – all done in front of the audience – and all live singing. She brings back her favorite character, or as she says the “best of the best” from every show she has ever done over her career.

Throughout the night, each look more dazzling than the last, this show promises to be a feast for the eyes and a journey through the best of drag artistry. Expect a night filled with laughter, music, and awe-inspiring performances as we honor a quarter-century of fabulousness.

You can see Miss Conception perform her amazing costume changes at The Palm Cabaret every Monday (9 p.m.) and Thursday (7 p.m.), through April 4, 2025 (with added shows in February, be sure to check the schedule).

miss conception layout
miss conception layout

Esta publicación también está disponible en: English Español

Advertisement. - Your Ad Can be Seen Here: Contact Gerwin Today! house cleaning services
spot_img

Stay Connected

19,599FansLike
9,270FollowersFollow
2,204FollowersFollow
Advertisement. - Your Ad Can be Seen Here: Contact Gerwin Today! OAPV Newsletter Sign Up

PRINT ISSUE

WP Tumblr Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com