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Costumes steal the show at 2015 High Heel Race

Michelle Basch | mbasch@wtop.com

October 28, 2015, 2:24 AM

Mama's Family characters Iola and Thelma. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Mama’s Family characters Iola and Thelma. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com
Dolly Parton and Storm from X-Men team up.
Dolly Parton and Storm from X-Men team up. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com
ShiQueeta Lee and Porcelain St. Clair as Salt-N-Pepa with Thelma and Iola, and Audrey St. Clair.
ShiQueeta Lee and Porcelain St. Clair as Salt-N-Pepa with Thelma and Iola, and Audrey St. Clair. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com
Audrey St. Clair is seen here. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Audrey St. Clair is pictured here at the High Heel Race on Oct. 27, 2015. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com
When Salt-N-Pepa met Mama's Family. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
When Salt-N-Pepa met Mama’s Family. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com
Corey Reid -- aka Dita van Damme -- in her first High Heel Race, posing with Audrey St. Clair. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Corey Reid — aka Dita van Damme — in her first High Heel Race, posing with Audrey St. Clair.  (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Lady Gaga makes an appearance at the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Lady Gaga makes an appearance at the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ( (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Grand Marshal Birdie LaCage is pictured here. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Grand Marshal Birdie LaCage is pictured here. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Another shot of Birdie LaCage at the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Another shot of Birdie LaCage at the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
WTOP's Michelle Basch interviews Grand Marshal Birdie LaCage. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
WTOP’s Michelle Basch interviews Grand Marshal Birdie LaCage. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
A crowd of spectators came out Dupont Circle for the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
A crowd of spectators came out Dupont Circle for the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Justin, from Florida, was dressed as a futuristic bunny for the race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Justin, from Florida, was dressed as a futuristic bunny for the race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
Crowds gathered along 17th Street for the annual High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Crowds gathered along 17th Street for the annual High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
Wonder Woman struts her stuff down 17th Street. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Wonder Woman struts her stuff down 17th Street. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
A participant dressed as Michael Jackson -- with son Blanket -- for the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
A participant dressed as Michael Jackson — with son Blanket — for the 2015 High Heel Race.  (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
The queen greets race spectators. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
The queen greets race spectators. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ( (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
( (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
The High Heel Race volunteers get into the act. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
The High Heel Race volunteers get into the act. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
Storm (of the X-Men) make sure the streets stayed dry for the High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Storm (of the X-Men) make sure the streets stayed dry for the High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
Channeling the characters Dee and Cher from “Clueless.” (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
Cinderella found her prince at the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
The Fanta Girls. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
The Fanta Girls. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Mayor Bowser greeted spectators at the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com) ((Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com))
(Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
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Mama's Family characters Iola and Thelma. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Dolly Parton and Storm from X-Men team up.
ShiQueeta Lee and Porcelain St. Clair as Salt-N-Pepa with Thelma and Iola, and Audrey St. Clair.
Audrey St. Clair is seen here. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
When Salt-N-Pepa met Mama's Family. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Corey Reid -- aka Dita van Damme -- in her first High Heel Race, posing with Audrey St. Clair. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Lady Gaga makes an appearance at the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Grand Marshal Birdie LaCage is pictured here. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Another shot of Birdie LaCage at the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
WTOP's Michelle Basch interviews Grand Marshal Birdie LaCage. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
A crowd of spectators came out Dupont Circle for the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Justin, from Florida, was dressed as a futuristic bunny for the race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Crowds gathered along 17th Street for the annual High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Wonder Woman struts her stuff down 17th Street. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
A participant dressed as Michael Jackson -- with son Blanket -- for the 2015 High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
The queen greets race spectators. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
The High Heel Race volunteers get into the act. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
Storm (of the X-Men) make sure the streets stayed dry for the High Heel Race. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)
The Fanta Girls. (Courtesy Shannon Finney, www.shannonfinneyphotography.com)

WASHINGTON — Halloween arrived early in D.C. Tuesday night as parade of drag queens — many dressed as famous people — strutted their stuff ahead of the annual 17th Street High Heel Race in Northwest.

Among the best costumes WTOP’s Michelle Basch spotted were Lady Gaga, Mama and Eunice from TV’s “Mama’s Family,” Dolly Parton, Salt-N-Pepa and the Wicked Witch of the West from “The Wizard of Oz.”

The High Heel Race has been a city tradition since 1986, according to the event’s Facebook page. It takes place on the Tuesday before Halloween, and draws crowds to the Dupont Circle neighborhood.

Michelle Basch

Michelle Basch is a reporter turned morning anchor at WTOP News.

mbasch@wtop.com

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