By Kevin Ferrisi –
The threat of stormy weather did not halt Connecticut’s annual Hartford Pride Fest, a family-centered event showcasing entertainment, food, local businesses, giveaways and activities. Due to the unpredictable weather, festivities scheduled after the pride celebration downtown were cancelled. However, this was not the case for Hartford’s only LGBTQ+ bar, Chez Est, where Rupaul’s Drag Race season 13 contestant Denali headlined their Hartford Pride After Party, presented by the Imperial Sovereign Court of All Connecticut.
Drag fans statewide took shelter and escaped the rain to attend an exciting night filled with sickening drag performances. As the local queer hub began to fill, a meet and greet for VIP bracelet holders accompanied a personal photo op with the RuGirl herself, which initiated the evening’s line-up.
Local drag artists on the night’s roster helped warm the stage for Denali. Opening the first of two sets was Zella Cullatore, Astra and Moxie Angel, but before long, Denali took center stage serving a fierce lip-sync to a mashup of ‘Clean Bandit’ by Baby featuring Marina and Lady Gaga’s ‘Americano’.
She then took a moment to connect with the audience where she explained how this was her first time to our state, “This is my first time in Connecticut and it did not disappoint. I love this energy. Y’all are sickening and also not only based on the meet and greet but from the girls that I met upstairs too, y’all have some sickening drag. Connecticut’s the new New York, it’s like oh my God four Connecticut girls,” referring to the four Connecticut-born contestants that made it onto this latest season of RuPaul’s Drag Race; Loosey LaDuca, Robin Fierce, Amethyst, and Jax. She continued with, “I love to see it. It’s small places where queerness really thrives so y’all should be really proud of yourself.”
After a short break, the second show kicked off with performances by more local drag personalities Bonnie Petite, Felicity V. Lay and Rozz Aura. Denali closed out the show with a lip-sync performance to ‘Tambourine’ by Eve and ‘Get Busy’ by Sean Paul. Before wishing everyone a good night, she left with a few sentiments, “You guys have been truly one of my favorite crowds. I was watching from upstairs and you guys are so engaged and so in it and tipping all your Queens and that, to me, is a hundred percent a great crowd. So thank you all so much. Truly, it’s so great to have this be my first experience in Connecticut. It’s been such a great time.”
Denali Foxx, or known simply as Denali, is an American drag queen, professional figure skater and figure skating choreographer based in Chicago, Illinois. She is the first Drag Race contestant from the state of Alaska and the first to enter the Werk Room wearing ice skates. Denali has been doing drag since April of 2018, before appearing on season 13 of the Emmy-winning show, which aired at the beginning of 2021, where she placed 8th after her elimination during episode 10.
The Chez Est is no stranger to a long list of RuGirls who have hit the stage of this local bar. The likes of Latrice Royale, Naomi Smalls, Trinity the Tuck, Salina EsTitties and Miss Vanjie have all graced the stage, just to name a few. The Chez Est is also the home bar to three of season 15’s participants; Loosey LaDuca, Robin Fierce and Amethyst.
Check out a full list of scheduled shows at the Chez Est here.
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