By Anna Bechtel –

HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT – The third annual Mx. Toxic competition returned to Hartford’s drag haven, Chez Est. Six competitors from Connecticut and Massachusetts participated, offering a glimpse into the region’s alternative drag scene. The competition showcased a diverse range of drag queens, kings, and drag things in a fierce underground battle for the coveted title of Mx. Toxic 2025. Ready to compete were contestants Ambrosia Black, Arachne, Graveyard Brat, Ken and the Plastics, Psyclops, and Shean King. The participants were judged in two rounds: a performance highlighting their unique skills and a runway look inspired by one of their personal phobias.

The competition, originally created by Kalysta Kaykes, was hosted and produced for the first time by Mx. Toxic for Life, Glass Staine. It serves as a celebration of alternative drag, a tradition that needed to be carried on. The judges for the night were Mx. Toxic 2024 Vessel, ConnecticutDrag.com founder Kevin Ferrisi, and Massachusetts native Entity. The show opened with a video message from Kalysta and Echo Kaykes from their home in Texas, wishing the contestants good luck and passing the torch to Glass Staine, who has now taken over the production of Mx. Toxic following the Kaykes’ departure. Glass Staine then performed two of her original songs to set the tone for the evening.

After an incredibly close competition, the judges convened to tally the scores. With just two points separating first and second place, the top three contestants were Graveyard Brat, Psyclops, and Ambrosia Black. In the end, Graveyard Brat emerged victorious, earning the coveted title of Mx. Toxic 2025 and winning the prize package of $500.

For Graveyard’s winning performance, she performed Kendrick Lamar’s “Wacced Out Murals,” channeling the horror films The Woman in Black and The Woman in the Yard. Graveyard wore a black, tattered gown and veil, beginning her number by emerging from behind a backup dancer seated in a rocking chair. Slowly, she began attacking the dancer, releasing blood over both of them. Graveyard commanded the stage, her presence and passion radiating through her lip-sync and movements. For the runway portion, she created a look inspired by her claustrophobia. She entered with a bag over her head, which she dramatically ripped off as a symbolic act of breaking free from her fear, revealing a tight black mask underneath.

Psyclops’ performance was a mix that featured dialogue from an old movie along with the songs “Just a Girl” by No Doubt and “Spit” by Poppy. During the number, they answered a phone for the dialogue segment and drank a concoction made to look like blood. For the runway, Psyclops appeared in an extravagant clown-inspired look, adorned with vials of blood and a blood-stained white wrap.

Ambrosia Black opened the show with a raucous performance to the songs “Xxxhibitionist” and “Pray to Me” by DeathbyRomy. She began seated on a rocking chair covered in spiderwebs, wearing silver metallic gloves, which she later shed to reveal red crystals on her hands designed to look like blood. Ambrosia showcased her impressive dance skills alongside backup dancers and ended the number being showered in red confetti. For her runway portion, Ambrosia continued the blood theme, wearing a white bodysuit and wings adorned with red crystals, paired with a red boa.

After a break to tally the scores, Glass Staine took the stage again, performing “Record Deal” by COBRAH. Entity then performed “Servin” and “OKAY” by JT and Jeezy, showing off her slinky moves and getting the crowd screaming. Lastly, Vessel took the stage for their step-down performance, telling the story of Brutus, which included them cinematically stabbing a backup dancer.

The audience held their breath as the top three were announced, and erupted with cheers as Graveyard Brat was announced the winner. “I took a lot to get here,” she said as she took the microphone. “This really does mean a lot to me, especially being a bi interracial person of color, and also being non-binary. So honestly, at this point, I feel really good, and I am going to wear this title with the utmost respect and bring it with me anywhere, because at the end of the day, I represent where I come from.”

After an unforgettable night of jaw-dropping performances, the competition drew to a close. As the audience made their way home, excitement was already building for what next year’s Mx. Toxic competition would bring. Congratulations Graveyard Brat on winning the title of Mx. Toxic 2025.