Dale LePage: Worcester’s First Majesty,A Reign of Artistry and Resilience
{ Jenny Pacillo }
“Just because I’m old and gray doesn’t mean I don’t have something to say,” Dale LePage says with a laugh. At 63, LePage has worn more creative hats than most could imagine: musician, published author, hair stylist, artist and performer. In 2024, he added a crown to the list when Worcester Pride named him the inaugural First Majesty, a title that recognized not just his performance on pageant night, but a lifetime of artistry, advocacy, and unflagging presence in the community.
Winning at 63 was an unexpected but affirming moment. “It felt really good because everybody that was in the pageant as contestants were, I believe, in their 20s,” he recalls. “That really kind of made me proud to be my age and still wanting to make a difference.” When asked if he thought he would win, he laughs. “Was I surprised? Yes, I was. I was surprised, because the caliber of competitors was so high, and I really think it must have been very close.”
LePage’s reign wasn’t just about holding a title, it was about representation. Over the course of the year, he embraced opportunities to be seen and to change perceptions. “The number one thing I think I did was hopefully open a lot of people’s minds, because there are many people who live in Central Massachusetts who just know me as the television host or the jazz singer. So I feel like as I’ve grown, I’ve taken them on the journey with me, and hopefully opened their eyes to see that drag, in my opinion, is a pure art form—100%.”
For LePage, drag is not just a performance, it’s a craft. “I don’t think people realize how much art goes into it, because I’ve been an artist most of my life, really. And so instead of painting on canvases, I just changed my canvas to me. I have learned how to sew, create my own costumes. I was able to learn makeup techniques to change the structure of my face and present myself as different celebrities. You know, it’s pure art, if you ask me.”
That artistry didn’t emerge overnight. His evolution into drag was gradual, almost accidental. “It happened so gradually that it surprised me. I’m not even joking. I started with makeup as my art form, and using myself as a canvas to turn myself into different celebrities like Brad Pitt and Bono and Johnny Depp and Clark Gable. And then I thought to myself, you know, my face shape is very similar to Marilyn Monroe, so that was the first one I did. I was honestly shocked. I shocked myself.”
From there, the transformations only became more ambitious. He studied the technical demands of faces that didn’t resemble his own, developing new techniques to shift bone structure with contour, highlights, and sheer illusion. “When I do Cher, my eyebrows are literally painted in the middle of my forehead, because that’s how much lifting her brow has. You have to build a face on top of your face.”
The reign as First Majesty was filled with memorable moments, but one that stands out to LePage was connecting with LGBTQ+ youth at local events. “I loved working with the youth prom and seeing these teenagers who have no safe spaces feel free enough to be themselves. It was a lot of fun and eye-opening. And it was really weird for me to be standing there representing Pride Worcester, being 63 years old, and talking to these 18-year-olds. It was such a bizarre moment. I thought back to growing up in Templeton, which is an extremely small conservative town, and if I had had access to something like Safe Homes or Queer the Scene or Pride Worcester or Love Your Labels, it would have been a whole different experience growing up. I probably wouldn’t have had so much trauma in my life, that’s for sure.”
LePage is open about his past, acknowledging the experiences that shaped him, without letting them define him. “In my life, at 10 years old, I was violently raped by an uncle. And I always want to consider myself a survivor, not a victim. I think my internal need to prove to myself that I will always be a survivor has pushed me to do things like enter a competition at 63.” His honesty underscores the resilience that runs beneath his creative energy, showing how survival can fuel artistry and self-expression.
That resilience was on display throughout his year as First Majesty, which included monthly performances at Queer the Scene’s Best Little Drag Brunch in Worcester. These shows, held in an intimate, joy-filled setting, gave him a space to merge technical skill with performance flair. “The next one I’m doing nothing but Cher,” he says, clearly delighted. “I’m really gonna focus on making myself look as much like her as I can.”
It’s easy to see why LePage’s reign resonated with so many in Worcester. His artistry is rooted in love, self expression and kindness. Whether he’s performing on the jazz stage or at a drag brunch to working with queer youth to an accomplished career as a hair stylist, LePage’s deep commitment to the community is always at the forefront.
And while his First Majesty title is just one aspect of a magically creative life, it’s a particularly meaningful one. It recognizes not only the skill and vision LePage brings to the stage, but also the role he plays in broadening what representation looks like in Worcester’s Pride scene. At 63, LePage’s presence in the spotlight sends a message to the next generation: artistry doesn’t fade, it evolves.
As he looks ahead, LePage shows no sign of slowing down. His future will no doubt include more performances, more costumes, more transformations, and more opportunities to open minds. And in typical Dale fashion, he sums it all up with understatement. “It’s cool. It’s a lot of fun,” he says. For Worcester’s First Majesty, that joy is the crown jewel of a reign built on resilience, talent, and the unwavering belief that there’s always more to create.
