Massachusetts Gothic

Still new to "the whole Goth thing," Morgan Lee says she was too scared to enter or even attend last year's Miss Gothic Massachusetts pageant. Not so this year. On her first try, Lee, 22, who lives in Brockton, walked off Friday night with the wire crown and leather sash, besting seven other gloomy gals for the title. The pageant, held at ManRay, is sponsored by Goth-friendly businesses, among them Vampfangs.com, makers of "the finest, most realistic fangs available." We caught up with Lee yesterday at Club Alex's, the Stoughton strip club where she works as a dancer.

Q. How do you describe Goth, anyway?

A. That's a tough one. It's really a style and a way of thinking. Basically, you're miserable all the time. Certainly, it's very melancholy and a little negative. We just see the darker side that other people tend to ignore. The most interesting people are always the saddest.

Q. The judges asked you what your gravestone will say and why. So?

A. Here lies Morgan Lee, Miss Gothic Massachusetts 2004, loved by many and hated by God.

Q. What does your boyfriend think?

A. He's very proud of me, but also a little jealous of all the attention. He's not a very descript person, kind of like an amoeba, but very cultured.

Q. Miss America spends the year visiting hospitals and doing charity work. What sort of appearances will you make as Miss Gothic Massachusetts?

A. So far, I've been offered a lot of modeling jobs. Otherwise, I'll just be hanging out.

Q. Well, congratulations, and enjoy the nice day.

A. I'm not a big fan of the sun.