National Entertainer of the Year was created by entrepreneur and activist George Stinson & Ed Lewis - owners of the legendary Connection Complex Nightclub in Louisville, KY.  They drew their inspiration for EOY from "Female Impersonator of the Year" - a one-time pageant event held in Houston, TX in 1985.   Hosted by Ruth Buzzi and Lyle Waggoner, the pageant was released as a cable-tv special and home video program.  The winner of that contest (the late Naomi Sims) has been honored as EOY Emeritus. 

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Since 1991 when we crowned Tasha Kohl as the first EOY FI winner, National Entertainer of the Year has become one of the largest and oldest pageantry systems for female impersonation and male lead.  Legends are made here and EOY is the epitome of creativity and showmanship.

 

Headquarted in Louisville, KY, EOY is the major fundraising arm of the SLS Pride Foundation, Inc., a non-profit foundation created in 2000 and dedicated to the betterment of diverse cultures.