On a night filled with death drops, splits, flips, and tricks, the OUTober X Drag Show hosted by NMSU’s LGBT+ Programs featured outstanding performances by local and national drag performers. Held on Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. on the Corbett Outdoor Stage, this soiree aimed to uplift the community and bring together people of all ages and backgrounds.
Celebrating ten years of OUTober, LGBT+ Programs had one of its largest lists of performers with 13 students, many of whom were making their debut in drag. The event also invited four well-known performers.
Dr. Sophia Sangwanthong, Director of LGBT+ Programs who founded this event back in 2015, stated that this event is one of the largest for their organization and one of the most popular NMSU events in the fall.
The emcee, Spacee Kadett, who has previously hosted the show, opened with a suspenseful and humorous Edward Scissorhands number. By the third song in their mashup, the crowd began to understand the “hand” themed music, which only conjured more laughter.
After their opening performance, Spacee opened the floor to three adored local drag queens — Vilette Stratton and Assma Attack from Albuquerque, and Rosita Thorne from El Paso.
Vilette Stratton, who appeared to the crowd dressed as Marvel superhero, Wanda Maximoff, or Scarlet Witch, has been performing for drag shows hosted by LGBT+ Programs for several years. The performer has been doing drag for 11 years and emphasized the immense growth that has taken place in the NMSU community.
“We’ve had years where there was, like, extra security because people wanted to protest it, but, luckily, nothing ever got crazy, nothing ever got out of hand, and it’s just because we get more and more support,” they shared. “It’s hard to be a protester when there’s so much support.”
Support was a major theme during the show, as many new performers made their first appearances. The crowd filled the air with applause and cheers to encourage each of the performers to show them their best.
The first student performer to set the stage was Audrey de Las Cruces, who has performed twice for the OUTober drag show and twice for the program’s annual spring drag show.
Audrey has had a passion for the art of drag since they were in high school and now sees the event and community as a home — a place where everyone is welcome. Audrey said performing for OUTober gave them a place to express themselves.
“The nervousness [of performing] never goes away, but you become more accustomed to it, kind of like the saying, like, ‘things don’t get easier, you just get better at dealing with the hard times’,” Audrey said.
Audrey de Las Cruces appeared on stage wearing a feathered boa and sparkly red top, further igniting the crowd’s excitement. They later shared that the outfit was entirely thrifted, which is something they do often for performances.
As the show went on, the performers displayed a plethora of creative and captivating outfits. This inclusive event gives each entertainer the freedom to express their passions through music and riveting apparel, all chosen by the performers themselves.
Each act varied in genre and tone, eliciting a blanket of curiosity over the audience who awaited what the next performance would have in store.
One act by performer Ichigo Candimon played a comical Miss Piggy role while lip syncing to Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!”.
This creative interpretation was described by Ichigo Candimon as a “lesbian Kermit” performance, which displayed Miss Piggy in a forbidden romance with a feminine Kermit the Frog. This rendition caused rippling laughter and shock throughout the audience.
“[Performing is] like really therapeutic in a weird way, because it’s like I put on a persona that’s just embodying everything about me that I’ve always been ashamed to show off,” Ichigo Candimon said.
The performer said that this event and the people who attended gave them a space where they can fully be themselves. Their emotions and dedication could all be seen in the compelling performance they gave.
The show was interjected by Spacee to host a beloved Halloween costume contest that invited dressed-up attendees to step onto the stage and present their inventive costumes to the rest of the viewers.
With 14 competitors on the stage, the crowd was asked to cheer loudest for who they thought deserved to win. Voted on one by one, the crowd would erupt in cheer for their favorite costume, resulting in an almost unanimous win for a contestant dressed as Voldemort from the “Harry Potter” movie franchise.
After the contest, the guest acts and five more local performers presented their routines, bringing the crowd to more excitement.
One of the final acts, Triple X, entered the stage with exuberating confidence. Wearing a red dress, the performer displayed a dynamic dance routine. Shining on stage, Triple X worked the floor and interacted with the audience through movement.
Triple X shared how drag and dancing has led them toward expressing themselves more. In the spring of 2021, Triple X made their debut and has since grown to adore the events more and more.
“College has really helped me break out my shell a lot, and then me doing drag is something I never thought I would do,” Triple X said.
The wisdom and compassion among the contestants and attendees were alive and clear throughout the event, welcoming first-timers of both viewers and performers.
One NMSU freshman, Kacie Patton, said that it was their first time being at the OUTober show, and it was everything they could’ve imagined. The excitement of each act brought them and their friends an experience they hope never to forget.
“I’ve never gone to one of these before this, and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” Patton shared. “It was amazing.”
Spacee Kadett shared how spellbinding the community at the show was, who has grown more welcoming and bigger in size since the event first began. They enjoyed the atmosphere of positivity and hospitality.
“The last time I was here was spring of 2023, and we were standing up to hate. At that time, there was a lot of nasty stuff going down and we were not to be stopped,” Spacee said. “Everybody showed up, just like they all showed up tonight; I’ve seen it grow and grow.”
From witnessing firsthand experiences and the support of everyone, NMSU’s LGBT+ Programs welcomed expression and diversity. The program offers group meetings, many clubs, and support for everyone. For more information and resources, visit their webpage.
