Local drag show features national celebrities

Robbie Turner is one of the queens featured in the drag show.

Self-expression comes in many forms: performance, makeup, acting or singing to name a few. One art form combines all of these: drag.

This art form will be celebrated on campus tomorrow in a show coordinated by public relations major Ally McGuire, WSU Student Entertainment Board (SEB) speakers programmer, in collaboration with Housing and Residence Life and TabiKat Productions.

“While Pullman offers a lot, it still feels like a small town,” McGuire said. “All the opportunities to experience drag culture are off-campus, so I wanted to offer a show that would be on-campus.”

This show will star queens that competed on the popular VH1 reality show “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” where 13 drag queens compete for the title of America’s Next Drag Superstar and a cash prize of $100,000.

COURTESY OF ALLY MCGUIRE
BeBe Zahara Benet won first place in the first season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

BeBe Zahara Benet, winner of season one, will be one of the queens starring in the local show. On “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” she was known for her poise, polished looks and runway walk, which eventually won her the title, according to an article by Yohana Desta of Vanity Fair.

Seattle native Robbie Turner, who participated in season eight of “Rupaul’s Drag Race,” will also take to the Pullman stage. Turner had a “classic sass” that was popular on the show, according to a “Rupaul’s Drag Race” fan site.

Coco Montrese, who was popular on her seasons of “Rupaul’s” for feuding with another queens, will also participate in this week’s drag show. Although dramatic in nature, all of the show’s proceeds will go to the Seattle Pride Foundation.

“I chose this kind of show because I know it’ll be incredibly fun and different,” McGuire said.

The Pride Foundation offers scholarships, grants and sponsorships to members of the LGBTQ community in the Pacific Northwest. The Seattle branch will receive all the proceeds from this show to help LGBTQ individuals in the Seattle area.

The drag community has not been dealt the easiest hand with the current political situation, McGuire said. She said she wanted to put on an event that would showcase this culture.

“Because of everything happening right now with politics, I wanted to help celebrate and give support to a group that needs it,” McGuire said. “I think it’s really important to highlight a community that’s been marginalized and who doesn’t get to be present very often.”

SEB, Housing and Residence Life and the TabiKat will host this drag show starring Coco Montrese, Robbie Turner and BeBe Zahara Benet at 7 p.m. tomorrow in the CUB Senior Ballroom. Admission is $10 for WSU students and $20 for the public.

In addition to the show, two free workshops will take place tomorrow. At 3 p.m., there will be a workshop about the history of drag, and at 4 p.m., there will be a drag makeup tutorial. Both workshops will be held on the second floor of the CUB.

“I think the audience will be excited about how fabulous everyone will look and how great the performances are going to be,” McGuire said.