Baltimore’s Joey Fink Crowned the Winner at NJB 2023
“I am going to catch up on sleep.”Joey Fink had just been crowned the winner at the annual NJB Pageant, held at the Edlavitch DCJCC on Sunday, Aug. 13.Also, he added, “I’m going to go to Vida Gym, clearly.”A three-month membership to Vida Fitness was one of his prizes, along with a $200 bar tab at Pitchers.Fink bested three other worthy contestants — Avi Alpert, Michael Greenberg, and Micah Feinstein — for the title, which is presented by NJB+ D.C., a social organization for the LGBTQ Jewish community.As Pitbull’s “Timber” shook the Edlavitch’s Trish Vradenburg Stage, family, friends, and members of the DC Queer Jewish community chatted, hugged, and held up cut-outs of the four contestants’ faces.The event was hosted by local drag sensation Vagenesis — who described their name as “if you took the first book of the Bible and threw a big vagina at it” — with characteristic wit, charisma, and a run of dazzling gowns.Stories of first love, the Jewish community, and sex puns dominated the pageant’s first round as Avi, Michael, Micah and Joey answered questions posed by Vagenesis.Doused in neon purple stage lights, Fink sang Remember That We Suffered from the TV series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Greenberg performed an original comedy set, Alpert’s drag persona Averia lip synced to Noa Kirel’s Unicorn, and Feinstein roused the crowd with Wonderwall by Oasis.While the votes were tallied, Vagenesis announced raffle prize winners, including bar tabs to JR.’s and the Little Gay Pub, Skip the Line passes to Trade, gift cards to Crazy Aunt Helen’s and Bite the Fruit, and a date night charcuterie board.Amid a thunderous audience drum roll, surrounded by previous winners, Fink was crowned winner and Greenberg was named runner up.