Dressed in a sparkling evening gown, jeweled garter, and a tophat, Aurora Diamonds lip-synched to "Sparkling Diamonds" from"Moulin Rouge."
Diamonds, along with 15 other performers, dressed in drag forthe beginning of People Respecting Our Unique Differences Week,sponsored by Spectrum. Saturday's drag show, which is heldsemi-annually, was titled "Sugar & Spice."
The show featured musical acts by 12 drag queens and two dragkings.
First-time drag queen Aurora Diamonds, dressed in a top hat,black dress and a diamond garter, lip-synched "Sparkling Diamonds"from "Moulin Rouge."
"I love Nicole Kidman and I want to be her," Diamonds said.
Diamonds said she enjoyed being at the show with all of herfriends.
Diamonds' mother was there to show her support.
"I was very proud of him," JoEtta Cronk said. "He wasn't stiffat all, and he did a good job. ... The fun for him was gettingeverything together with his aunt for this."
One of the favorites of the night was veteran drag queen JacklynPayne, who ended the show with Christina Aguilera's "Fighter."
Audience members gave a standing ovation as Payne, dressed inred shorts, a red tank top and black platform boots, danced,cartwheeled, and did the splits on stage.
"I love performing," Payne said. "For me, it's just another wayto get on the stage."
Other acts included recreating the Madonna, Britney Spears andChristina Aguilera kiss from the 2003 Video Music Awards and GloriaGaynor's "I Will Survive."
The night also featured a "drag" race by the co-hosts. Dragqueen Magenta beat Spectrum president Tabitha Rohrer as they raced,running in high heels.
The audience members gave cat calls as Magenta later gave a girla lap dance.
"The audience was awesome," Magenta said. "I love getting tofeel the love from all your friends and feeling famous."
Over 500 people attended the event, the largest crowd the dragshow has ever drawn, Magenta said.
"I thought the acts were really creative and Rosee and his possewas the hottest thing to hit the stage," Junior Tom Murraysaid.
Rosee performed "The Greatest Medley Ever Told," with four maledancers.
Besides several standing ovations, the audience also showedtheir enjoyment by dancing with and tipping the drag queens,usually sticking the bills in their shirts.
Tipping is customary at a drag show, Magenta said. The tip moneywent to St. Jude's Children Hospital's Up Till Dawn charity,although at usual shows, the drag queens keep the money.
"The drag world is very underground," Payne said. "I don't thinkpeople realize how lucrative it can be."
Payne, who is competing in a drag queen pageant, said that atalented drag queen can make more money than contestants in apageant like Miss USA because of the tips.
Payne said she would like to make a living as a drag queen.
Being a drag queen isn't easy though, Payne said. Both Payne andMagenta spent over a month working on their routines.
"It's fun as hell but it's a lot of work," Magenta said.
The next PROUD event is the speech "Sex Discussed Here" at 8p.m. at the Student Center Cardinal Hall.
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