Hundreds of University of Maryland community members watched drag performers take the stage — and in some instances, the floor — with acrobatics and crowd work at SEE’s fifth Spring Drag Show in Stamp Student Union on Thursday.
Miss Toto, a university alum and fifth-time spring drag show host, opened the drag show in a stunning yellow outfit. In addition to her two performances, she reflected upon living in Elkton Hall, Denton Hall and South Campus Commons 4 as she emceed — joking that all three of her former homes “smelled like armpit.”
“You all start somewhere, and some of us start here,” Miss Toto said. “And I really did start here.”
Five people, including local drag performer Cake Pop!, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 13 competitor Denali Foxx and Boulet Brothers’ Dragula season six contestant Desiree Dik, performed at Thursday’s show.
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Denali Foxx enchanted the audience as she hair flipped and danced in a Maryland jersey and black bodysuit. The RuPaul’s drag race star also brought back brat summer as she strutted in bright green attire to Charli xcx’s “Guess” in her final act.
“I’m not even joking about this, this is the best college show I’ve done,” Denali Foxx said after her performance, and the audience erupted with cheers.
Cake Pop! gave the audience a MAYHEM melodrama as she performed her way through two tracks from Lady Gaga’s newest album.
Cake Pop! loved the crowd at the event, she said, but also appreciated being able to encourage college students at a drag show — something she didn’t get to experience herself.
“I felt like every single step I took, there was a scream, and I absolutely loved it,” Cake Pop! said. “Getting to inspire a younger generation that probably needs to see some queer excellence in their lives, it means a lot to me.”
Senior psychology major Samantha Dillard attended the event for her third year in a row. They said they enjoyed how the show “evolved over the years” and emphasized the importance of promoting drag shows to maintain safe spaces for students.
As the night continued, Desiree Dik eased into their first set with pop music, nearly resembling a Monster High character with a bright pink top, short skirt and pink bottoms. As Desiree Dik cartwheeled, they tossed their wig into the audience in a grand reveal of another short, white one.
Their next performance was punk and metal-inspired as Desiree Dik slid, jumped and headbanged to Evanescence and System Of A Down, among others.
Devona Delight was this year’s featured student performer and took the stage dressed in a white gown and light-up butterfly wings. The crowd went wild as the performer sang “my name is Devona Delight” in an operatic style.
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Other attendees went to their first drag show, including Cheryl Nelson, a longtime friend of Miss Toto’s. While Nelson was impressed by the costumes and choreography, she said the athleticism demonstrated by each performer blew her away.
As she thanked the audience for attending the show, Denali Foxx reminded the crowd to continue supporting their local drag queens and LGBTQ+ owned businesses.
“Stand up, be louder than you ever have before, because right now, we really do need it,” Denali Foxx said.
