By Kevin Ferrisi –
HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – The Chez Est in Hartford was ignited with energy during a special Forever Fierce this past Friday for Robin Fierce’s unforgettable birthday bash. Hosted by the birthday queen herself, the night delivered electrifying performances, with the much-anticipated appearance of Anetra from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15 stealing the show. With beats by DJ Edgewood, the energy was non-stop. And with a sold-out crowd and no tickets available at the door, the event proved to be the party of the season.
VIP ticket holders were treated to an exclusive meet-and-greet with Anetra and her season 15 sister Robin Fierce, where Dro Lopez Studios captured stunning moments that were later shared on Chez Est’s Facebook page, giving attendees a chance to relive the magic. Fans “walked that duck” to witness an incredible lineup that included Anetra, Robin Fierce, and her drag daughter Natalia Fierce, as well as local sensations Angel Rivers and Kenya Mone Heart. The night was nothing short of mesmerizing as these drag stars lit up the stage in front of a packed house. Headlining the event was the sensational Anetra, runner-up to Sasha Colby on RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15, while Connecticut’s own Robin Fierce, also a season 15 queen, shared the spotlight, celebrating her birthday.
Robin Fierce (10/18/24) from CT Drag Fans on Vimeo. Robin Fierce at the Chez Est (1st Performance) at Chez Est in Hartford, CT on October 18, 2024. Video by Nick Dionne.
Robin Fierce kicked off the night with a powerful live performance of Mariah Carey’s ‘Through The Rain’, setting an emotional and captivating tone for the evening. As the stage heated up, Natalia Fierce, Angel Rivers, and Kenya Mone Heart delivered dazzling performances, building anticipation for the headliner. When the moment finally arrived, the crowd erupted in excitement as Anetra made her entrance, bursting through the curtain in a fiery red and orange ensemble. The energy was electric as she commanded the stage, performing to Christina Aguilera’s ‘Not Myself Tonight’, leaving the audience screaming with delight at every twirl and death drop!
Anetra (10/18/24) from CT Drag Fans on Vimeo. Anetra at the Chez Est (1st Performance) at Chez Est in Hartford, CT on October 18, 2024. Video by Nick Dionne.
After a brief intermission, Robin Fierce returned to the stage to open the second set with a dynamic lip-sync performance to a mash-up of ‘Boyfriend’ by Mabel, ‘BED’ by Joel Corry, RAYE, and David Guetta, and ‘The Right Song’ by Tiësto and Oliver Heldens featuring Natalie La Rose. The energy kept building as Natalia Fierce, Angel Rivers, and Kenya Mone Heart delivered more scorching performances, paving the way for a special birthday surprise – another electrifying number by Robin Fierce herself. This time, she wowed the crowd with a high-energy lip-sync mash-up of ‘Move Your Body’ by Sia, ‘Juice’ by Lizzo, ‘Shining’ by DJ Khaled featuring Beyoncé and JAY-Z, and ‘Fierce’ by Che’Nelle.
As the audience roared, Anetra returned to the stage for one final, unforgettable performance, bringing the night to a spectacular conclusion. This time, she emerged in a fierce black and purple leopard print outfit, ready to serve the crowd exactly what they came for. To the electrifying beat of ‘When I’m Gone’ by Katy Perry and Alesso, she commanded the stage with flawless splits, jumps, twirls, and death drops that left the audience screaming in delight. The energy peaked when Anetra delivered exactly what the crowd had been waiting for – an iconic “walk that duck” moment, sending everyone into a frenzy and sealing her place as the star of the night.
Anetra (10/18/24) from CT Drag Fans on Vimeo. Anetra at the Chez Est (2nd Performance) at Chez Est in Hartford, CT on October 18, 2024. Video by Nick Dionne.
Anetra, a standout contestant from RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15, quickly rose to prominence with her fierce performances and signature left eye slash makeup. Gaining RuPaul’s rare praise – “You were born to do drag” – solidified her status as a queen to watch. Her unforgettable “Boss Bitch” lip-sync against Marcia Marcia Marcia became an instant classic, earning a spot as Michelle Visage’s favorite performance. Anetra’s versatility shone through as she became the first queen to win both the Rusical and Makeover challenges in the same season. Her viral Talent Show performance helped her amass a huge following, making her the season’s breakout star with the fastest-growing social media presence. She won three challenges and placed in the final two, finishing as runner-up to Sasha Colby.
Back at Chez Est, Robin Fierce and Anetra closed the night with heartfelt words, reflecting on their journey together during season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Robin shared how Anetra was one of the first people she connected with while filming, and their friendship blossomed quickly. The two queens showed off their season 15 sisterhood by playfully teasing fellow contestant and Connecticut’s own Loosey LaDuca for not being present. In a fun tribute, they broke into a spontaneous rendition of Loosey’s hit single, ‘Let Loose’, much to the crowd’s delight. Fans were also surprised by a special appearance from another Drag Race alum and Connecticut queen, Amethyst, who was helping out behind the scenes, her presence adding to the evening’s magic.
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