Sparkles and Sarcasm

An evening with Plasma

Ashley Sudeta

Almost any drag queen can be showstopping, but with Plasma, the show never seemed to stop. The theatre queen of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16 brought pints of energy and heart to campus, creating an experience that was fun for everyone, regardless of their familiarity with drag race.

Plasma took the North Star Ballroom stage at 7:00 p.m., kicking things off with a lip sync. From there, the next two and a half hours felt more like spending time with a friend than being in the presence of a drag superstar. Plasma was incredibly personable and made a room of over a hundred people feel intimate. When she posed questions, it was because she genuinely wanted a response. She asked follow-up questions too, even referring back to specific people throughout the evening. When she asked if anyone knew what the line “Drink your juice, Shelby” was from, I shot my hand up, exclaiming “Steel Magnolias!” Plasma was pleased, asked my name, and told me I had learned the right things in college.

Running jokes were established—psychology majors were asked to provide free therapy and playful taunting was directed toward someone named Ryan. Friendliness seemed to seep out of the ballroom, too—during the intermission, I met a stranger in the restroom and we struck up a conversation that continued between our separate stalls.

Plasma was more than just charming. She also incorporated a sense of mindfulness into the lighthearted event. Before bingo began, she asked if she could swear, assuring us she didn’t want a single person to feel uncomfortable. She also told us about anti-drag measures that were implemented during her time at the University of Oklahoma. It was a reminder for us to appreciate the queer community here in the Twin Cities, and to protect it in the ballot box this November.

The bingo remained almost an afterthought throughout the event, but I don’t think anyone minded. Plasma graced the UMN community with beauty and banter—that alone was worth the trek to the St Paul campus.