By Ashton York

Dazzling dresses reflected the lights of the Verizon Ballroom as eager viewers from the campus community watched performances from several drag queens.

University Programs (UP) held a drag show in the University of Arkansas student union Friday, April 5. The show featured many local artists and a headliner who was a former contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The drag show was once an annual event, but UP did not host it in 2023 due to concerns about Arkansas government restrictions at the time. 

Senate Bill 43, which was introduced in Jan. 2023, was originally vague enough to criminalize any form of self-expression that did not fit societal gender norms. It defined drag as exhibiting “a gender identity that is different from the performer’s gender assigned at birth” and classified it as “adult-oriented,” according to Arkansas Advocate. 

The bill initially contained restrictions that would not only affect drag, but LGBTQ+ Arkansans as a whole. However, the bill was later amended to define “adult-oriented performance” as that which features nudity or sexual themes, and it restricted said performances from public spaces. 

The amended version of Senate Bill 43, which became Arkansas law in Feb. 2023, no longer targeted drag shows and was not capable of restricting transgender individuals’ self-expression.

Steele Engelmann, the UP Cultures and Concepts Chair, helps bring events like the annual drag show to campus. As the chair, he plans several types of events both on campus and in Northwest Arkansas.

“We’re kind of testing the water, especially with some legislation that was passed last year,” he said. “There’s always concerns from admin about doing some types of events and the way we advertise those events.”

Engelmann said he hopes the show will pave the way for more events for marginalized communities on campus.

Five local drag queens were featured in the 2024 University Programs’ Drag Show. 

First onstage was Faux L’Beau, a local artist who also works on the UA campus when she is not doing drag. She makes every outfit she wears for performances, including this show.

L’Beau led most of the event, performing multiple different times and introducing each queen as they entered the stage. L’Beau seemed to feel a personal connection with the audience because she works at the UA.

“I see the future in college students just like you all, and this is an opportunity for you to find your kind and find who you are,” L’Beau said to the audience. “I know some of you are near and far from home. I know we don’t often get to explore (our identities) when we’re at home, but I’d like to inspire the next generation, and it’s always fun to come back to my roots.”

After L’Beau’s first performance, Audacity Twinx, Angel Divinity and Vivi Dreams took the stage one-by-one. 

Each of these queens are based in Fayetteville and often perform at C4, a nightclub and lounge located off of Dickson Street. All three local drag queens have competed to be C4’s Top Entertainer in the past.

The last local drag queen to appear was Starflower, another C4 performer. She has done shows with Divinity in the past, such as the “Angel x Starflower Birthday Tour” in Fort Smith and Fayetteville.

Divinity, Starflower, Dreams and Twinx are all part of The Haus of Vulgar, a collaborative project between the four drag queens and various other artists.

The last drag queen to enter the stage was Alexis Mateo, who is well-known for appearing on season three of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” The audience erupted with screams of excitement as she entered the stage..

The UP Drag Show attracted a diverse audience full of people who had experienced drag before and others who had no idea what to expect from the event. It allowed students a safe space to be themselves, but it also gave the local artists a chance to show students what drag is all about. 

“My drag career started in the seats that you are in,” L’Beau said. “I saw an opportunity for me to show my creativity and love, and it’s gotten me here.” 

Engelmann said he thinks a big motivation for doing the yearly drag show in such a visible capacity is to highlight the LGBTQ+ community on campus as well as in the wider NWA community.

“The art of drag, or even just the LGBTQ+ (community) in general, has been misconstrued in the public eye as something that has no place in ‘normal’ society,” Engelmann said. “And I think this is our way of trying to send a message that it is an art form that’s no different than a talent show or a magician. It shouldn’t be something that causes such a big controversy.”

Drag is an art form that allows many queer individuals to express themselves. Bringing events like this to campus allows for exposure and inclusivity, and it gives more gender nonconforming and LGBTQ+ individuals a chance to meet others with similar identities and experiences, Engelmann said.

“I really hope that we can show that University Programs is a place for everyone,” Engelmann said. “And the University of Arkansas, as well. Everyone has a place on campus.”