First Place: Mx. Zephyr

Mx. Zephyr, hosted by Jade X, is officially named Kent’s Best Drag Show. 

Mx. Zephyr is a series of drag shows at Zephyr Pub where regional artists compete for titles in Kent. Prior title winners include Carmen La’Shon Dupree, Frieda VonFreakum, Leronta RoseKnight Reed and Citrus Skies.

The first ever winner, Cleveland’s Onya Nurve, went on to compete and win Ru Paul’s Drag Race last year.

This competition is where many drag artists get their start. It’s also considered the biggest drag show in Kent and is partly credited for making the drag scene soar. 

“Being nominated feels so amazing,” Jade said. “To me it means all my hard work over the last few years is being recognized!”

The show started about four years ago after Jade decided to take a risk. Previously, she had been doing monthly shows at Zephyr’s Pub but wanted something bigger. 

“I’ve been so overwhelmed by the support I get with this show. It’s always a really amazing time,” she said.

Season 2 winner Ariyah Fuego said the Kent community is so supportive of drag — Mx. Zephyr is one reason for that. 

“The Kent community knows how to embrace all types of drag and makes sure all entertainers feel supported,” Fuego said. 

“Honestly, I want my drag shows to be about the experience people have when they are there. I want everybody to have a good time, to want to come back,” Jade said. “I think a lot of queens center themselves as part of the show without really thinking about if it’s something that makes people want to come back and see it again.”

Second Place: Odditorium

Odditorium, hosted by Kent drag king Marquis Gaylord, takes second place for Fusion’s Best Drag Show.

Gaylord has been hosting the show since December 2023. f

The show, hosted in Cleveland, has been “a celebration of the oddness inside us all.”

Some themes the show has had recently include goth and Afrofuturism. The next show, April 18, is themed “Black & Blazed.”

In February, The Odditorium also hosted a drag competition, “Mx. Classless Act.” The competition celebrated alternative drag and had nine contestants. 

“I’m incredibly grateful to my community of freaks, weirdos and queers who support not only my art but also my existence as an unapologetically Black, unflinchingly trans person,” Gaylord said. 

Specifically, Gaylord wants to thank his community and remind them that “we have already won.”

Third Place: The Pickle Show

The Pickle Show, hosted by Kent drag queen Comatose, takes third place for Best Drag Show. 

“It truly means the world to me. I want to thank the community in Kent from the bottom of my heart, and how much I love everyone for coming.”

Comatose has been hosting this particular show at The Burnt Pickle for around three years now. 

Over the years, the show has hosted many performers, old and new. Comatose said one of their favorite memories from the show was a video game themed night where one person came as the Wii game console. 

“Hosting The Pickle Show has been such a wild ride,” they said. “We just came back from hiatus, and I’m so excited to bring back something that means so much to the queer people of Kent.”

Comatose credits their best friends, Monica Mod and The Girl Named Jack, for their inspiration. 

“We’ve made so many memories together, and we’ve done so much for each other that it inspires me to keep going when life gets tough,” Comatose said.