‘Diva’ was the word of the night when the UnionProgramming Council’s Pop Culture committee brought the dragqueen show DIVA Nation to the Union Ballroom Tuesday night.
Colton Fontenot, an accounting junior and Pop Culture committeechair, said the reason the committee brought DIVA Nation to theUnion is because they are focused on broadening students’perspectives.
Fontenot said the committee worked hard on bringing the show tothe University and had been looking forward to it for a while.
“It’s good to see LSU sponsoring an event thatbrings cultural awareness to the community and promotes diversityof a previously-unexplored area,” said Sam Moore, a masscommunications senior.
The divas wore different costumes and worked the runway whilelip-syncing to popular songs.
Victoria Valentine kicked off the show dressed as Reba McEntirein a ruby red dress, lip-syncing to the song”Fancy.”
Valentine said she has been performing for six years, and firstgot into it when she dressed in drag as a dare for an AIDS benefitshow.
Since she has been performing, Valentine has been named”Mr. Louisiana America,” and “Ms. NationalApollo.”
Valentine said she will be “Queen Apollo” in theApollo Mardi Gras parade this February in Lafayette, La.
Sopheelya Groin was one of the most provocative performers,prancing onto the stage in a bra and pantyhose.
Groin danced to Madonna’s “Die Another Day”for one of her performances.
In a sparkling black cocktail dress, Belinda Botox jumped offthe stage and interacted with the crowd while dancing to thepopular song “Goodies.”
Botox made it clear to the audience that all of the performerswere men dressed as women.
“Duct tape and super glue can do a lot of things,”Botox said.
Botox said he has been dressing in drag for almost a yearnow.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do all mylife,” Botox said.
Botox said she got a job at a local bar last December and hasbeen pursuing it as a career ever since then.
Botox said she loved the crowd, and would come back for anothershow if asked.
“I’ve never performed in front of a crowd of suchdiverse people,” Botox said. “But I enjoyed it somuch.”
Botox said she is on a rotating cast at Splash, and usuallyperforms once a month.
She said DIVA Nation performs every Thursday at Splash at 11:30p.m.
Chelsea Delorean Divine, a crowd favorite, worked the stage,dancing all over the place and shaking her hips to a song byShakira.
Divine appeared to be the most energetic performer and showedoff her dancing skills when she entertained the crowd dressed asJanet Jackson for her second performance.
In her second number, Divine was joined by three male dancerswho danced in sync with her, causing the crowd to cheer andapplaud.
Claire Talbot, an elementary education sophomore, said Divinewas her favorite performer.
“Chelsea was so amazing,” Talbot said. “Shegave an awesome performance and I was shocked at how well she coulddance.”
Moore said the show gave people who are unfamiliar with gayculture a chance to see a certain area of it, and to also havefun.
Yolanda Trejo, an undecided freshman, said the drag show was theperfect way to show diversity on campus because so many differentpeople came together to watch the show.
Talbot said she was somewhat intimidated at first, because sheis not used to seeing men dressed as women or wearing makeup, butin the end she really liked it.
“It was an eye-opening experience,” Talbot said.
Valentine said the crowd was very responsive and looked likethey really enjoyed everything.
Valentine said the show was a great way to promote diversity oncampus.
“I want to encourage LSU students to get moreinvolved,” Valentine said. “There are many differentgroups on campus, and they all need to get together to allow thecampus to become more diverse.”
Jason Meier, assistant director of Union programs, said the showwent well beyond what he expected.
“The crowd was very respectful and embraced the show forwhat it was,” Meier said. “People seemed to reallyenjoy it.”
Drag queens put on a show in the Union
October 26, 2004
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Drag queens put on a show in the Union