Released June 27, 2025
Distributed by World of Wonder
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ (4.5/5)
By Valerie Milano
Palm Springs, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/28/25 – The Little Pageant That Could is a heartfelt, humorous, and deeply resonant documentary that pays tribute to a drag show with a mission—and the community that made it legendary. Directed by acclaimed journalist and filmmaker John Carlos Frey, the film tells the unlikely but inspiring story of the Best in Drag Show, a grassroots fundraiser that began in a Los Angeles living room during the height of the AIDS crisis and evolved into a $6 million juggernaut of camp, compassion, and cultural impact.
The Little Pageant That Could is a heartfelt, humorous, and deeply resonant documentary that pays tribute to a drag show with a mission—and the community that made it legendary. Directed by acclaimed journalist and filmmaker John Carlos Frey, the film tells the unlikely but inspiring story of the Best in Drag Show, a grassroots fundraiser that began in a Los Angeles living room during the height of the AIDS crisis and evolved into a $6 million juggernaut of camp, compassion, and cultural impact
Frey assembles a rich mix of archival footage, present-day interviews, and behind-the-scenes moments. The documentary features emotional testimonies from longtime volunteers, performers, and beneficiaries of the show’s proceeds. Their stories speak to the power of chosen family, activism through art, and the enduring spirit of a community devastated but never defeated by the AIDS epidemic.
There are also appearances and endorsements from a surprising array of A-list celebrities—some of whom participated or attended the show over the years—lending star power without overshadowing the grassroots heart of the story.
World of Wonder’s signature style is on full display: high-gloss production value, vibrant editing, and a keen sense of cultural storytelling. But Frey, known for investigative documentaries, ensures the film never loses sight of the show’s origins in crisis. The film makes clear that drag here was not just entertainment; it was protest, care work, and an act of radical joy.
Unlike many documentaries that frame the AIDS crisis in terms of loss alone, The Little Pageant That Could spotlights what was built in response. It joins the ranks of documentaries like How to Survive a Plague and The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, but with more rhinestones and a lot more laughter. It’s both a time capsule and a call to action—reminding us of the power of performance to spark change.
Verdict
The Little Pageant That Could is a glittering, gutsy reminder that even the most fabulous things can have humble—and heroic—beginnings. It’s a documentary that entertains, educates, and uplifts, making it one of 2025’s must-see LGBTQ+ films.
Now streaming on WOW Presents Plus.
Best For:
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Fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race, LGBTQ+ history, and social justice documentaries
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Anyone who lived through or wants to better understand the AIDS crisis
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Lovers of drag, glitter, and community storytelling
Trigger Warnings:
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Discussion of AIDS epidemic, death, and healthcare discrimination
About The Little Pageant That Could
The Little Pageant That Could tells the story of the Best in Drag Show, a pageant fundraiser for AIDS support in 1990 that became L.A.’s longest-running drag benefit. Featuring A-list stars, it raised over $6 million, celebrating resilience and the LGBTQ+ community during a transformative era in gay culture.
About World of Wonder
World of Wonder (WOW) has reshaped international pop culture, earning 33 Emmys, inspiring two Oscars, creating global network WOW Presents Plus across 190 territories, and bringing drag culture to the world stage via RuPaul’s Drag Race and DragCon. SVOD WOW Presents Plus, the exclusive home to the global Drag Race franchise and hundreds of WOW Original series, saw 35M hours of content watched in 2023 with 77% subscriber growth in the same year. WOW’s pioneering television portfolio includes other smash-hit franchises like Million Dollar Listing. Their film division WOW Docs produces groundbreaking documentaries including Mapplethorpe: Look at the Pictures, Party Monster, and The Eyes of Tammy Faye. WOW also operates YouTube channel WOWPresents, music label World of Wonder Records, the WOW Podcast Network, and year-round international live events. Co-founders Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato have been profiled in Variety’s Reality TV Impact Report and Hollywood Reporter’s Most Powerful Producers in Unscripted. Honors for their trailblazing work include the IDA Pioneer Award, Realscreen’s Global 100 list, Banff’s Impact Award, and the OUT 100. In 2022, World of Wonder was ranked #2 among film and TV powerhouses in Fast Company’s World’s 50 Most Innovative Companies.
