The Colorado Mesa University Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) hosted a drag show at The Point inside the University Center Oct. 26.
A minute or two after 9 p.m., a drag queen came onto the stage and said our MC was running late. She asked if any of us in the crowd had been to a drag show before and about half of the crowd raised their hands. Us newbies were then informed that drag queens are always fashionably late.
Once our MC finally arrived, they showed no hesitation with starting the show. Within a minute or so, the first performer, Miss Lady Houston, began dancing to Trouble by Pink. She had all of us clapping. She walked among the crowd and danced with us all.
Afterwards, they dimmed the lights inside the point and kept the stage lights on. Our MC then explained drag show etiquette to us: tipping is encouraged, high energy is required and you gotta clap until your hands bleed.
The second performer was Natalie Symone, dancing to Call Me When You’re Sober by Evanescence. Miss Natalie threw her cape off on stage and danced on top of a pool table. She even did the splits.
The next performances were by Onyx Rose dancing to In Your Eyes by Kylie Minogue, Donatella My Secrets dancing to a mix of Kill My Boyfriend and Problem by Natalia Kills, and Coco Jem Holiday dancing to This Is Me by the Greatest Showman.
The last performance before the intermission was by the headliner, London Skies. London Skies performed her song Make ‘Em Run.
The intermission started with an announcement stating that a costume contest would be going and the winner would get 50 dollars in cash. Nine contestants started in the first round, and then three remained for the second. Ashley Wheeler, a CMU student dressed as Harley Quinn, took first place.
Makayla Brewer, president of the CMU GSA was recognized, and a dance party finished it off.
Right after intermission, Miss Natalie came back to the front and danced to Burnin Up by Jesse J. I almost lost my voice cheering, Miss Natalie even did a cartwheel in heels. Seriously, I think I would kill myself walking in two-inch heels and she did a full cartwheel in six-inch heels. That is talent right there.
Donatella performed right after, dancing to Crazy by Kidney Thieves and Onyx Rose after her, dancing to Where My Girls At by 702.
The most interesting performance was when our MC, Miss Livvi Dior, came to the stage. She danced to a mix of Judas and Disturbia by Lady GaGa and Rihanna. During the performance, she even took a girl’s phone and filmed herself dancing before handing it back to her.
After that, London Skies came back out, this time only to dance. She danced to Crown by Camila Cabello and Grey.
The most emotional performance was Lady Houston’s second performance. To the song If I were a boy by Beyonce, she began to take off her wig, make-up and clothes. She transformed back to a boy by the time the song was done.
The last performance was by Coco, dancing to I Like That by Richard Vission and Static Revenger featuring Luciana.
After the show was over, I hugged a guy giving air hugs to someone he couldn’t reach. We talked about consent and his struggles coming out to his parents as we walked outside.
Outside, I had my photographer take pictures of me with London Skies because she’s beautiful and I really wanted that photo.
Overall, I was not expecting the amount of energy throughout the entire show. I was severely disappointed that I had to miss Saturday night’s show, but I am definitely looking forward to my next drag show.
