SPECIAL AWARDS
Texas Entertainer of the Year F.I. Lifetime Achievement Award
Texas Entertainer of the Year F.I. 2026 will proudly celebrate the extraordinary legacy of legendary entertainer and community icon Tasha Kohl with the presentation of two distinguished honors during the 2026 Texas Entertainer of the Year F.I. competition on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Southside Preservation Hall in Dallas, Texas.
As part of the evening’s celebration, Tasha Kohl will be formally recognized for her remarkable 35th anniversary as Texas Entertainer of the Year F.I. 1991. In honor of her decades of excellence, influence, mentorship, and dedication to the art of female impersonation and the LGBTQ+ community, she will receive the inaugural Texas Entertainer of the Year F.I. Lifetime Achievement Award.
Tasha Kohl Outstanding Achievement Award
In addition, the organization is proud to announce the creation of a brand-new annual honor: The Tasha Kohl Outstanding Achievement Award. Named in recognition of Kohl’s enduring contributions to the Entertainer of the Year system and the Texas entertainment community, this award will be presented each year to an individual whose dedication, leadership, service, and commitment to excellence go above and beyond expectations.
The first-ever recipient of The Tasha Kohl Outstanding Achievement Award will be announced live during the 2026 competition.
“These honors represent far more than trophies,” said Mark Zorn. “They recognize a legacy that has shaped generations of entertainers and helped define what professionalism, grace, and excellence truly mean within our community. Tasha Kohl is not only a champion — she is a cornerstone of Texas EOY history.”
The 2026 Texas Entertainer of the Year F.I. competition will also celebrate the organization’s continuing evolution and commitment to preserving the traditions of the Entertainer of the Year system while embracing a bold future for the art form.
The SHeri Powers Congeniality Award
The Sheri Powers Congeniality Award winner will be determined by
a vote of fellow contestants. (any tie will be broken by a vote of
judges) and will receive a special trophy.
Sheri Powers AKA Ron Alford was a cosmetologist in Dallas for more than 35 years, retiring from that field shortly before moving to Oklahoma City. Alford was an entertainer, a friend, an artist and one of the most fair, honest people you would ever meet. He was elegant and classy both as a man and a woman, and paved the way for many of the female impersonation stars today. Alford began his career as Sheri Powers in straight bars with often rambunctious, rowdy and even dangerous crowds. He also owned two nighclubs in the Dallas area: La Folles, which was a La Cage-style “tourist bar” in the Love Field area on Mockingbird Lane, and The Power Company, a classic show bar on Fitzugh Avenue.
Alford also owned several pageants throughout the years, including Miss Gay Globe, Miss Gay Universe and Mr. Gay Dallas. He held many titles throughout his career as entertainer Sheri Powers, including “The Silver Anniversary Miss Gay Dallas,” the one of which he was most proud. His other titles included, but were not limited to, Miss Gay South, Miss Gay Angles, Miss Gay Arlington, Miss Gay Copa, Miss Gay Universe, Miss Gay Bamboleo’s and Miss Gay Tramps. He was also first alternate to Miss Gay Texas and Miss Gay Oklahoma, and placed in the top 10 at the Miss Gay America pageant.
Alford, as Sheri, was the honorary grand marshall twice in the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade, and was is Empress II, VII, XI and XVII in the United Court of the Lone Star Empire.
Alford never said no when it came to charity events, donating countless hours of his time to help those who were suffering with HIV and AIDS. He also was instrumental in the grassroots start of the church known now as the Cathedral of Hope and hosted countless benefit shows through the years to raise money for the church.
Alford was an impeccable seamstress and was well known for his elegant and classy evening gown designs. He made most of Sheri’s “drag” clothes from scratch and did all of his own hair and makeup. And Alford was known to style wigs and help the other entertainers, even in pageants when Sheri was competing against them.
Alford was generous and trusting to a fault.
Congeniality is a most understated word when used to describe Sheri Powers. Nevertheless, we name this award in honor and memory of Sheri Powers, May we all aspire to know that "It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice."
