The Daily Orange

Media Credit: Mackenzie Reiss

The hardest part was hiding the bulge.

Breasts taped down and jockstraps tucking it under, contestants at the Totally Fabulous Drag Show did everything they could to pass as the opposite sex.

The four finalists scurried around backstage, some rehearsing their moves and others adding the finishing touches to their ensembles.

Backup dancers ran from one side of the room to the other, looking for wigs and padding to stuff bras, while others changed in plain view of their competition, stripping down to their knickers in the rush to get changed between performances.

"Five, six, seven, eight," one group shouted out loud, practicing before the curtain rose.

There was a sense of stark competition while everyone practiced in the cramped room behind the Goldstein Auditorium - this was no ordinary beauty contest.

The contestants would be judged on appearance, technique (of dance and song), crowd appeal and overall performance, explained host and professional drag queen Peppermint.

There was no room for error.

Slipping in those 5-inch heels or tripping on the runway in front of the more than 700 students, faculty and community members who came to see the show Friday night would be a death sentence at judging.

All the contestants witnessed the brutal whip of the judges at last Thursday's preliminaries, and the final four knew that the slightest hiccup, missed step or lost wig could cost them the title of Drag King or Queen.

Tim Westbrook was the first to go. Onstage, Westbrook transformed into Eastriver, the sassy brunette doused in fur and lavish silk.

Slowly making her entrance onto the stage, Eastriver glided down the catwalk and began her whimsical and frail performance, which suddenly turned into a striptease with Lady Gaga.

"I've been wearing dresses since I was three," the sophomore fashion design major said.

Westbrook's mother cheered from the audience, clapping loudly and calling out her son's temporary name.

Guest performances separated the contestants, exciting and arousing the entire crowd.

"Bring your money up to the stage!" Peppermint demanded. And the audience paid heed.

Girls as boys, boys as girls - it was all in good fun as people rushed the stage, slipping dollar bills into the performers' pants or bras. Some made the guest performers take it from their mouths while the rest of the audience applauded and cheered.

Continued...

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