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Gayest & Greatest: House and Home

Former Miss Gay Texas Rodeo Felicia Flores finds her calling.

Growing up, Felicia Flores had dreams of being the next Selena Quintanilla. Now, in her 19th-floor office, the former Ms. Texas Gay Rodeo says she’s found her true calling.

“My biggest passion is taking care of people,” Flores says. “Being an insurance agent has been the most rewarding thing that I’ve ever done.”

After earning a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Texas Tech University, Flores oversaw two Houston eateries for seven years. At the Café Adobe on Westheimer, she met her wife, Ms. Texas Gay Rodeo 2012, who was a regular customer.

When Flores grew weary of long restaurant hours, she went to work in elder healthcare. At Sava Senior Care and Touchstone Communities, she became close to senior patients and their families.

Her days off were spent fundraising for LGBTQ nonprofits. Known for her Selena impersonation, she traveled around Texas recreating the Tejano singer’s most popular hits, and singing other country songs to raise money for charities such as AssistHers, LHI Care, Legacy, Body Positive, and more.

“I may have been Selena in rhinestones and a bustier, but the reason I did that, and everything that I have done since, was to help people in need,” Flores says.

Flores joined the Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) in 2010, and began competing in pageants the following year. After winning Miss Brazos River Bottom 2011 and Miss Lone Star Houston 2012, Flores took home the Ms. Texas Gay Rodeo crown in 2013.

During her reign, Flores did charity events four nights a week. Although she no longer competes in pageants, she still sings and raises money for TGRA, and is a candidate to become TGRA’s state board vice president in 2018.

Today, Flores is also an insurance agent at New York Life. Her career took a turn at Touchstone when a partner at New York Life asked her to interview for an agent position. Because she worked with elderly patients who passed away, Flores decided she wanted to help their families be financially secure prior to any emergencies.

“I take care of entire families,” Flores says, recalling how she recently delivered a check to a widow. “She asked me, ‘Are my kids and I going to be OK?’ And I wholeheartedly said, ‘Yes.’

“My goal isn’t to make a sale; my goal is to get to know someone and learn about their needs,” Flores says, “When someone invites me into their world, they’re going to be a part of my life, too.” —Lourdes Zavaleta

Best Architect

Morningside Architects 

Best Female Insurance Agent

Felicia Flores
Finalists: Pam Ellis, Cristina Martinez

Best Male Insurance Agent

Lane Lewis
Finalists: Jeffrey Bules, Stephen Miranda, Patrick Torma

Best Florist

Ronnie Seibert
Finalists: A Different Bloom, Blooms,  David Brown, Downtown Blooms

Best Furniture Store

Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams
Finalists: Alabama Furniture,   Cantoni, IKEA, Noël Luxury Living

Best Furniture Store on a Budget

IKEA
Finalists: Alabama Furniture, HomeGoods, Katy Furniture

Best Gardening/Nursery Supply

Joshua’s Native Plants & Garden Antiques
Finalists: Buchanan’s Nursery, Fountains & Statuary, Wabash Feed & Garden

Best Home Remodeling Company

Unique Builders & Development
Finalist: C House Renovations

Best Interior Designer

Kevin Hamby
Finalists: Mark Brown, Christopher Evans, Ben Johnston, Grant Rachal

Best Landscaping Company

Windswept Landscaping and Design
Finalists: AJ’s Landscaping, McDugald Steele

Best Pest Control Company

Natran Green Pest Control
Finalist: Andy’s All Star Pest Control

Best Plumber

Village Plumbing
Finalists: Dylan Fobis, Nick’s Plumbing

Best Pool Company

Tranquility Pools
Finalist: Innovative Pools

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Lourdes Zavaleta

Lourdes Zavaleta is a frequent contributor to OutSmart magazine.
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