By SERIAH SARGENTON
Staff Writer
The queens of drag entertained audience members in Saint Joseph’s hall while competing against each other for a cash prize.
The College of Saint Rose’s Identity Club held their annual drag show on April 27 from 8 to 10 p.m. Sybil Syrvice, Miss JJ, Leah Hills, Acrylic Facade, Winter Snow, Mason Joe and Panic at the Student Loans poured their hearts out in their performances.
They all did their best, but it was Hills who came first place in this year’s Saint Rose Drag Show. Following in second and third place were Facade and Joe, respectively.
“It’s very exciting. It’s my first time performing drag,” said Hills, after winning. “The crowd’s energy got me going, but I’ve been a performer my whole life, so I’m used to it.”
Hills is a freshman at Saint Rose and a member of Identity. She said that she had the courage to perform thanks to her family and her two friends Travis DeGroat and Kezia Jones, who encouraged her to step on stage. Hills said she would love to continue performing drag at places such as Waterworks and even in next year’s Saint Rose drag show.
The show was hosted by Jacqueline Frost and Noelle Diamond, who went through the evening with puns, jokes and performances that kept the evening moving.
Queens performed to hit artists such as Little Mix, The Weeknd, Jidenna, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Katy Perry all while showing off their bold styles and personalities.
“There’s definitely a bigger performance, more in the dark performances, and more diversity,” said Shanell Hanna, a member of Identity and a senior at Saint Rose. She described the show as one of the biggest Identity events on campus that brings the campus and public community together.
Audience members were entertained by the many different performances put on by the queens.
“It’s very interesting. I didn’t know what to really expect because I’ve never been to a drag show,” said Maddie Hempstead, a freshman at Saint Rose. “Noelle Diamond, she’s very into the performance and really into the crowd. She knows how to give the audience what they want.”
The show included raffles with prizes such as Golden Knights Dance Club merch, 10 Regal Cinema tickets donated by the Student Events Board, a $60 Lark Tattoo gift card and a Yogibo.
Members of Identity had been working on the drag show since January and were proud to see how their work paid off.
“I am beyond proud. Coming in as a freshman I didn’t know what to expect, but seeing it come all together has been amazing,” said Hunter Hitchcock, the stage manager of the night and member of Identity.
While Identity was preparing for the event, the queens worked together for a few months prior to the event to ensure that their performances were perfect in time for the drag show, said Frost. She described her fellow drag queens as family, and described how each queen brought something different to the table.
Having an event such as this one is important to members of Identity.
“Everyone loves to be entertained,” said Hanna. “Drags are important to the LGBT culture.”
