Diversity event not a drag

Denise+Russels%2C+Tatiana+James%2C+and+Malibu+Peruu+poses+with+ZPN+coordinators+after+the+show+to+support+the+event+

Photo courtesy of Michael Fenstermaker

Denise Russels, Tatiana James, and Malibu Peruu poses with ZPN coordinators after the show to support the event

By Sofia Syed, Arts & Life Editor

With over 90 students in attendance, The University of Akron held a drag show on Tuesday, March 10 in the Student Union Theatre from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The show was a way to engage and for UA to promote diversity on campus. Each of the drag queens put a unique spin on their individual acts.

The goal of this drag show was to shine importance on the fact that everyone is different. It emphasized that being different is okay, whether it be someone’s race or sexual orientation.

The entertainers for the night consisted of Malibu Peruu, Tatiana James, and Denise Russels.

Peruu has been performing for nine years and her act contained a lot more recent songs, including a mixtape of artist Kathy Brown. Tatiana, who has been performing for 13 years, sang of a lot of music from the artist Pink. Denise, who has been doing drag for 34 years, performed a lot of older music live.

Michael Fenstermaker, UA student, said, “This event portrayed how different everyone is and showed that no one should be judged based on their race or sexual orientation. Everyone should love themselves based on who they are, not what others want them to be.”

The biggest hit of night is when Russel did 10 impersonations in one song. It ranged from Bill Clinton to Porky the Pig.

UA student, Samantha Hickey, said, “It was a very educational and diverse event for our campus. I never knew how fun it could be.”

At one point in the show, the performers changed the lyrics of “If You’re Happy and You Know it” to fit the audiences sexual preference.

“The event was one of the most successful diversity events that ZPN has held. All the students that came to the event enjoyed it,” Fenstermaker said.

We grow up in a society that constantly tells people to express themselves; the drag show was a great way for UA students to show off their uniqueness.