A QUARTERCENTURY OF DAZZLING ILLUSION

FROM HUMBL C B C GINNINGS TO INT C RNATIONAL STARDOM:

MISS CONC C PTION'S 25-Y C AR JOURN C Y

BY JERRY JONES

IF YOU’VE NEVER GOTTEN THE CHANCE TO SEE MISS CONCEPTION - A PUERTO VALLARTA LEGEND - PERFORM, YOU’RE MISSING OUT. SHE HAS HONED HER CRAFT OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS, AND THIS FEMALE DELUSIONIST IS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

Her newest show, which is a tribute to her 25th year performing, the “25th Year Silver Anniversary Spectacular”, can be seen at The Palm Cabaret on Monday at 9 p.m. or Thursday at 7 p.m. (with additional shows in February - please check for times and dates). You’ll see Miss Conception changeright before your eyes - multiple times into familiar movie, Broadway and television characters. She’s picked the best of the best over her 25-yearcareer, and you’ll end up laughing and singing alone to her live vocals.

Miss Conception's journey to stardom wasn't always destined. Kevin Levesque, Miss Conception, stumbled upon his drag persona at a drunken party. A suggestion by his friends, who said “your name should be "Miss Conception”, resonated with him, and a legend was born.

Kevin's journey into the world of drag began with a daring leap of faith. His friends Jack and Ben dared him to participate in a drag show, and with a borrowed wig, a cheap dress, and the guidance of his drag mother, Ricky Raunch, he took the stage. That performance marked the beginning of a remarkable career at 19-years-old.

“A friend had dared me to enter a drag show performance,” he said. “I got a wig and had it styled. I bought a dress from the $20 store and drag mother Ricky Raunch stepped up to help after Lena Over was too busy - and that’s how it all started. And I must say, I did really well in that first performance.”

25 years later Miss Conception has become an international superstar, performing an astonishing 300-daysa-year. She spends her winters in residence at The Palm in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and her spring/ summers residency in Provincetown, Massachusetts. In between those dates she performs on cruises, traveling all over the world.

On the high seas, Miss Conception is in demand as a featured performer with Brand G Vacations, Concierge Travel, AquaFest Cruises, and Out Adventures.

KEVIN’S LIFE

Kevin’s goal in life was to just perform - he loved being on stage in front of people - and he knew he loved to make them laugh.

He grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, the son of Trisha and Bob Levesque. His parents, along with his sisters (Kristina and Nicole Levesque), have always been supportive. When he joined a youth hockey league at the age of six, at their urging. But they then supported his decision when he traded in his ice skates for a pair of dance shoes.

As an adult his family has followed his career as a drag queen. His parents came to all his shows and even though his mother passed away during Covid, he continues to have the support of his father and two sisters. He met his soonto-be husband Kieran Thomas online during Covid - the two will get married in Puerto Vallarta in March, 2025.

When Kevin was 14-years-old, he joined the Mississauga Youth Theatre and landed his first role as Bobby Shaftoe in the production "Babes in Toyland", with his family watching.

“At a very young age - maybe when I was seven-years-old - I was always doing performances in my living room,” he said. “My parents wanted me to play hockey, which I did and hated it. After I appeared in the production of Babes in Toyland. I knew, without a doubt, that this would become my passion.”

At the age of 18 he began visiting Toronto's gay village. Which is when he officially came out of the closetdespite knowing that he was gay since he was probably ten-years-old.

First Drag Performance

Miss Conception started her career at a bar in Toronto called Zipperz, on May 15, 2000, and she never looked back. She won her first contest called Zelda’s Drag Idol (2003) and then became the host for eight years.

In that first performance Miss Conception performed Robyn’s “Show Me Love“ and Celine Dion’s “Declaration of Love.”

Over the years Kevin has accumulated numerous titles including Miss Canada Continental, Smirnoff Twisted, Coors Lite Queen of Halloween, Ontario's Next Top Drag Queen, Zelda’s Drag Idol, Miss Gay Universe, Miss Gay Toronto, Ticot’s Entertainer of the Year and Weerk.com Award - Queen of the Great White North.

Miss Conception has appeared in "Queer as Folk," "Degrassi: The Next Generation," and was the first ever contestant in drag on "Wipeout Canada." During her career she opened up shows for the late Leslie Jordan as well as singer Lorna Luft (daughter of Judy Garland) and Jennifer Holliday, a Tony Award winner for “Dream Girls”.

PUERTO VALLARTA’S CALLING

It was by serendipity that Miss Conception’s show ended up in Puerto Vallarta - Kevin had come to Mexico because his friend Cameron asked him to come to attend BeefDip. One evening out they ended up at The Palm Cabaret where Kim Kuzma was performing. She was talking to the audience and asked Kevin where he was from and what he did for a living.

“I told her I was a drag queen from Toronto,” he said laughing. “The next thing I know she has me on stage and I’m singing ‘Sweet Caroline’. As we were leaving Mark Rome (who was one of the founders of The Palm) was at the door and he told me I had a pretty good voice. I gave him a DVD of my performances and told him I’d love to work there sometime.”

And as they say, the rest is history. Mark followed up and hired Miss Conception for the very next season.

“I was working at a radio station, Proud FM, as a radio talk show host and working as a waiter at Zelda’s Restaurant,” he explained. “I gave my notice and told ‘em I was headed to Mexico to work during the winter season.”

Miss Conception has been in Puerto Vallarta now for 14 seasons, with most of that time spent performing at The Palm CAbaret. Her shows are a mix of her perception of characters from movies, Broadway and TV shows. She transitions from one character to another, singing as she goes. She has a natural wit and charm about her that connects her immediately to the audience. Her goal is to have them forget the outside world for the hour and 15 minutes and leave them laughing, to forget the crazy world we live in.

“Probably my most favorite show was Villains in the 2022-2023 season,” she said. “It was so much fun.”

The show included her transforming before the audience into villains like Cruella de Vil, Annie Wilkes from Misery, Michael Keaton’s undead Beetlejuice, and the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters.

25 YEARS, ONE SHOW

Miss Conception’s 25th Silver Anniversary Spectacular at the Palm includes an amazing number of costume changes - all done in front of the audienceand all live singing. She brings back her favorite character, or as she says the “best of the best” from every show she has ever done over her career.

Throughout the night, each look more dazzling than the last, this show promises to be a feast for the eyes and a journey through the best of drag artistry. Expect a night filled with laughter, music, and awe-inspiring performances as we honor a quartercentury of fabulousness.

You can see Miss Conception perform her amazing costume changes at The Palm Cabaret every Monday (9 p.m.) and Thursday (7 p.m.), through April 4, 2025 (with added shows in February, be sure to check the schedule).

Versión en español: outandaboutpv.com

MISS CONCEPTION'S FIRST TIME IN DRAG

BY ZIA AHMAD

MIKEL ALVAREZ HAS ALWAYS POSSESSED A DEEP-ROOTED DESIRE TO HELP PEOPLE, WHICH HAS BEEN A GUIDING FORCE THROUGHOUT HIS JOURNEY. HIS EXPERIENCES IN THE MEDICINAL CANNABIS INDUSTRY SHOWCASED THE POWERFUL EFFECT OF COMPASSIONATE CARE. THIS PASSION FOR HEALING HAS ONLY GROWN STRONGER SINCE, AND HIS VISION FOR THRIVE MEDSPA AND THE SERVICES IT OFFERS STEMS FROM HIS COMMITMENT TO CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN FIND RELIEF AND REJUVENATION.

Having moved from Las Vegas, NV, Mikel's journey to opening ThrIVe MedSpa is closely tied to his long-standing connection to Puerto Vallarta, a place he has visited for nearly thirty years. Originally drawn by his mother's frequent visits, Mikel soon discovered the allure of this beautiful destination for himself.

"When I was 16, I fell in love with Puerto Vallarta. There was something about it that just pulled me in," he recalled.

He began to visit more often and for longer periods, ultimately realizing that this vibrant city was his true "happy place."

Years later, while researching his family history, Mikel uncovered a fascinating lineage history. His grandfather’s mother was a native Indian and his grandfather's father was a Mexican living in Indio, California.

Today, his family owns a Native American casino in Palm Springs. His tribe was the first to have Indian gaming legalized in the United States, he said.

This connection to Mexico added another layer to his bond with Puerto Vallarta; it allowed Mikel to secure dual citizenship in the United States and Mexico. He believes this familial link is part of the larger tapestry of his attraction to Puerto Vallarta, where he feels a strong energy.

“I feel such energy here, especially knowing about the Male vortexes that collide around Playa Los Muertos,” he said.

Mikel reflected on the concept of Ley Lines—energetic grids crisscrossing the earth that attract and connect people—and we both agreed that the energy of Puerto

Vallarta plays a noticeable role in drawing individuals to its shores.

"Whenever I leave, I can feel the absence of that calmness. Yet when I return, it's like I get this surge of energy, almost like I'm being recharged,” he shared. “When I'm not here, I notice something is missing."

For Mikel, Puerto Vallarta is more than just a destination; it's home.

In 1997, Mikel started working in IT, dealing with ISPs (internet service providers). He had offices in Cincinnati, OH, and Bellevue, WA. But he knew he needed to return to school and have a degree. It was when the dot.com bubble was about to burst.

After his early years in Seattle, Mikel moved to Reno, NV, to attend college. He studied at the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned a double bachelor in Casino Management and Economics. His academic journey then coincided with the emerging legal cannabis market in Nevada. Recognizing its potential, Mikel partnered with a company to secure distribution licenses, cultivation, processing, and dispensary operations. He ultimately opened his first medicinal marijuana dispensary in Reno, followed by three additional locations in Las Vegas plus others in California.

However, as the cannabis market shifted towards recreational use, Mikel found himself at a crossroads. Though he advocated for medicinal cannabis—helping patients manage pain, anxiety, and other health issues—he struggled with the notion of selling cannabis solely for recreational purposes. By the time he completed his degree in 2009, he realized that a change was necessary.

Despite leaving the cannabis industry, Mikel continued to be drawn back to Puerto Vallarta.

After some freelance work aimed at vertically integrating cannabis products into legal sales in Northern California, he returned to Las Vegas, where a suggestion from his doctor led him to learn about ketamine therapy for mental health. Initially developed in the 1960s for anesthesia, ketamine has evolved into an FDA-approved treatment for conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress, according to Alvarez.

Having experience in the cannabis industry for pain management and helping people, Mikel saw it as an opportunity to continue to help people with Ketamine therapy. He decided to build a business out of it. For Mikel, it was a way to continue by: his mission of aiding others, leading him to the decision to establish ThrIVe MedSpa. With his extensive experience and dedication to compassionate care, he aimed to provide a sanctuary for individuals seeking to improve their mental health and overall well-being.

The concept emerged during one of his vacations in Puerto Vallarta between 2020 and 2021 when Mikel experienced severe heatstroke and sought an IV treatment. Not wanting to go to a hospital for help due to the ongoing pandemic, he had the idea to open an IV clinic. While exiting the shop of his close friend Casandra Shaw, he noticed a storefront space available across the street on Basillo Badio. The rest, as they say, is history.

An IV treatment, which includes Ringer’s Lactate and other essential nutrients, is known for its ability to hydrate the body through the bloodstream, especially after intoxication and dehydration. Mikel chooses the best products on the market instead of using saline or sterile water for patient hydration. Unlike similar businesses, ThrIVe MedSpa offers a one-liter bag of vitamins, minerals and medicine tailored to individual needs. What sets this business apart is its commitment to transparency: the hydration menu details the contents and quantities of each IV treatment.

“You have the right to know what’s going into your body,” Mikel emphasized.

Most IV products can be customized based on the patient’s needs or allergy restrictions, he went on. Mikel wants everyone to enjoy their vacation in Puerto Vallarta without being hindered by hangovers. By providing a proper multivitamin package with additional doses of vitamins B, C, and Zinc, administered by a team of skilled ER nurses, tourists and locals alike can revitalize their bodies and continue enjoying their day.

The business initially focused on IV treatments, but then a team member named Levi got recertified for aesthetics in Mexico, including Botox and fillers. He joined Mikel, and together they expanded the business to include aesthetic services. Over the years, they have added many more services and remodeled the clinic to offer massages, facials, and waxing, with plans to incorporate hair implants and eye lift surgeries soon.

“It’s a one-stop shop for the best products and services available,” Mikel stated.

ThrIVe MedSpa features a more active vibe than the typical zen atmosphere found in most spas.

As ThrIVe MedSpa celebrates its third anniversary, the majority of its positive reviews come from word of mouth. However, Mikel is hopeful to spread the word about the healing and rejuvenating services the business provides.

ITS TAGLINE IS, “LOOKING GOOD AND FEELING GREAT.” outandaboutpv.com