By Jessica Zagacki

Rainbows, glitter, wigs, makeup, stilettos, smiles and radiant queer energy filled Monroe Lecture Hall on Thursday, Oct. 12, as the Pride Network hosted its 10th Annual Drag Show, “HallowQueen.”

This year’s drag show was another benefit show. Half of all proceeds went towards the Transgender Resource Center of Long Island. Throughout the show, collection baskets were being circulated to gather even more donations towards this great organization.

By the end of the night, a grand total of $4,500 was raised. Half was donated to the Transgender Resource Center of Long Island while the other half is going towards the Pride Network’s funding so they can continue to organize events such as this one.

None of this would have been made possible without the tireless efforts, care and meticulous planning made by the Pride Network’s hardworking executive board. They are the ones who negotiated and solidified contracts, tabled to sell tickets and worked carefully to make people’s dreams become a reality.

By hosting this event, the Pride Network ensured people with a safe, positive and inclusive space full of warmth, love and talent. Show volunteers were also much appreciated in helping the show run smoothly. Among these volunteers were people who helped set up at the beginning and clean up at the end of the show, ushers and queen assistants as well as everyone on the crew in charge of lighting, music and other assignments.

As per usual, the show sold out and was packed with a plethora of extremely talented performers. This year, the show’s headliner was Aja from season nine of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” with returning host and performer, Anita Waistline and special guest, Coma White. Besides performances from these incredible queens, there were also several student performers. Among these were student queens, kings and student groups Sigma’cappella, transcenDANCE, Hofstra Ballroom Dance, IMANI Dance Ensemble and Strictly Steppin’.

Serena Payne, a sophomore psychology major with a minor in LGBT Studies, was a student performer in this year’s drag show. She went by the stage name “The Unholy Trinity” and performed twice throughout the show. One was an individual performance to an original remix she titled “Power Hungry” and another was a lip sync battle to “Buttons” by The Pussycat Dolls.

The drag show had special meaning to Payne. “To me, the drag show means a night without anxiety over any personal or world issues, just an escape into a night of pure gay fun,” she said.

Payne’s statement is something that can resonate with many people. The drag show serves as a judgement-free safe space for those in the queer community, performers and audience members alike. It also serves as a place for allies of the queer community to experience and enjoy queer culture.

For many, performing in the drag show is a really special opportunity. “To perform in this year’s drag show was everything to me. I love performing but never fully had the creative control that I did when working on my set. I was at my happiest,” Payne said.

“The best part of being a performer was probably getting to be with everyone backstage,” Payne said. “It was a unique perspective on the show that the audience didn’t get to see. Chatting with Aja between acts was amazing.”

“Being up on stage was like a never-ending adrenaline rush. Every time the crowd cheered or someone tipped me it was like a new wave of energy, even though I was absolutely exhausted,” Payne said.

Next year’s drag show may be a while away, but people such as Payne are already planning for it. When asked if she would like to perform again Payne said, “Are you kidding? Not only would I love to perform again in Hofstra’s drag show, I’ve already started practicing my set for next year.”