First Place: AndroNTT
AndroNTT takes first place and is officially named Kent’s Best Drag King. He says he is honored his community appreciates him this much.
He is a graduate of psychology and says Kent’s community is something he’s wanted for a long time.
“It’s all very exciting. I knew I wanted to go to Kent in high school, with all the student mags, and the student life,” he said. “I like Kent and I’m just glad that Kent likes me back.”
In the drag world, family is very important. A familial dynamic exists, where seasoned performers teach new performers and show them the ropes.
Family is especially relevant for AndroNTT.
The top three placers for Kent’s Best Drag King are all in the same drag family, with AndroNTT and Ronnie Wrath being the sons of Marquis Gaylord.
Andro said, “I’m glad that we could all make it together, and that we could finally get a family photoshoot!”
Second Place: Ronnie Wrath
Ronnie Wrath came in second place for Kent’s Best Drag King.
“To even have a Drag King section in the competition means that the Kent community actually recognizes drag kings,” he said. “The bar is in hell, but it shows that the work that I’ve done with the school magazines and the community has paid off. ”
Wrath knew that he wanted a family when he started drag, he just didn’t know with whom.
“Andro and I were actually in the same drag family before this one, and we just got scooped up. We just all have the same vibe, and Marquis has a lot to teach us. That’s why we mesh so well together. And we bully each other,” he said.
Now that he has that family, he’s glad he can share this accomplishment with them.
Third Place: Marquis Gaylord
Third place for Kent’s Best Drag King goes to Marquis Gaylord, who credits his experience doing drag in Kent for some of his more recent accomplishments.
“I would not have been able to be a Cleveland king if I didn’t start in Kent,” he said.
Gaylord started his drag journey while working in the former LGBTQ+ center on campus, where he advocated for students. He said he pushed for the opportunity to perform, even when the faculty didn’t think it was a good idea.
“I never imagined having drag children,” he said, “but I started seeing alternative black entertainers pop up around me, and I had to do it. I just had to give them that support system.”