AFTER DARK
FROM TABOO TO A HOUSEHOLD WORD Story by Paije Maas | Photos by Kassandra Eller Design by Katie Jo Stewart Wide mirrors line the walls of the dressing room. Only the highest quality lighting is acceptable to help the acrylic tipped nails create what has yet to be seen. Powder dusts the air as specks of glitter are pressed to cheekbones. One last spritz and shine - hold onto your hats, honey, because it’s showtime! Drag shows have been captivating audiences of all genders, races and sexual orientations for years. The confidence and the energy each King and Queen brings to the stage leaves us with a piece of it ourselves.
HISTORY OF DRAG THe Shakespearean Years When most people hear the word “drag,” or “drag show,” their mind goes directly towards “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Now, while this is an amazing representation of present-day drag, the idea of drag has been around since the dawn of humanity. All Shakespearean roles were played by men, even the female roles. During the Elizabethan era, women were not allowed in the theatre world. Underground Drag Ball Scene - the 1920s New York City is known as the birthplace of drag, especially when it came to the underground ball scene during the Harlem Renaissance. “Striking a Pose: A History of House Balls,” an article by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, explains that these drag ball scenes during the Harlem Renaissance were considered “taboo and illegal.” These balls were a chance for the LGBTQ community, and even the straight community, to come together in celebration within a no-judgment zone.
DRAG QUEEN: AQUASHA DELUSTY Aquasha DeLusty, originally from Ellensburg, Washington now resides in Idaho and is a fierce queen with both “sass and ass.” She has been doing drag for over 18 years, before it became part of mainstream media and before it was 100% accepted. “It was underground and the audience was there 74
FALL 2021
