Laila McQueen, Aiden Zhane gear up for first-time Mid-MO PrideFest appearances

Former "RuPaul's Drag Race" contestants Laila McQueen and Aiden Zhane are ready to give Columbia the full rocker-chick fantasy as headliners of the Mid-MO PrideFest this weekend at Rose Music Hall.

McQueen will perform 8 p.m. Saturday, while Zhane is set to rock out 8 p.m. Sunday. Daya Betty also was expected to perform Sunday, but had to drop out due to a scheduling conflict, her management wrote in an email to the Tribune.

"Daya is very upset that she's not able to perform this year, but looks forward to the opportunity to perform next year and is willing to support (PrideFest) in any other way possible," her management wrote.

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Both McQueen and Zhane said they use a rock music aesthetic in their performances, giving a taste of what audiences can expect over the PrideFest weekend. This is the first time either will perform in Columbia, though McQueen has performed in Missouri before.

"I love doing Pride and going wherever I am wanted," McQueen said. "... I try not to repeat the same numbers. We're going to get some good-time rock 'n' roll. I have a couple favorites.

"My style of performing is rooted in good-time, sing-along nostalgia."

Zhane loves to travel, meet people from other communities and see how they celebrate Pride.

"I love the spookier, the more rock side of things, so it definitely works out when there are Pride festivals close to fall time," Zhane said. "(Guests) can expect a range of different types of rock, more upbeat dance stuff to a little bit more dark and spooky."

The importance of pride

Over the last few years, McQueen has worked as a makeup artist for the HBO series "We're Here," winning an Emmy award this year.

This series features other former Drag Race contestants Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara and Shangela Laquifa Wadley as they produce one-night-only drag shows across the U.S. in what can be more conservative communities, such as Branson in the series' first season.

Going into these communities to tell queer stories and provide representation among different demographics and backgrounds is important, McQueen said.

"It is not just getting out and having a fun time. Pride is about taking up space. Reminding people we exist. It's a celebration, but it is also a stance. We still have to keep fighting for rights," McQueen said.

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There needs to be more kindness in the world, including within the queer community and other tight-knit, marginalized communities, Zhane said.

"We are out here trying to push for equality, but then we also still seem to have our own internal issues as well," Zhane said. "I speak up about that. We have big-world issues we continue to strive for, but we also need to remember within our own communities to treat each other with respect.

"That is what Pride is all about — coming together and celebrating who we are as people."

Memories and what's next

McQueen's tenure on Drag Race was for the first two episodes of the eighth season, where Bob the Drag Queen also was a contestant and the eventual winner. The two now work together on "We're Here" and have collaborated together in videos for Bob's YouTube channel. In the early days of shooting Drag Race, McQueen experienced and related to Bob's sense of humor.

Drag Race contestants are cut off from the outside world. Among other things, this means no cell phones.

"I love joking with people in a very dry way, and so does Bob," McQueen said.

They were all lined up getting ready to go into the "Werk Room" when Bob asked production assistants, "Yeah, what am I supposed to do with my cell phone?" McQueen said, adding staff didn't realize Bob was joking.

"The faces of horror because they thought Bob had her phone. That moment, I could not stop laughing," McQueen said.

McQueen is not counting out a return to Drag Race on an All-Stars season, but it would depend when Drag Race production company World of Wonder would ask, McQueen said.

"I have been very busy the past few years, so I haven't really thought of All-Stars," McQueen said.

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Following PrideFest, McQueen is ready to take some time off. The third season of "We're Here" recently wrapped its shooting schedule, and McQueen plans to attend Universal Theme Park's "Halloween Horror Nights."

A verbal fight on "Rupaul's Drag Race Untucked" — even though at the time it was a dogpile on Zhane — was a top Drag Race memory, Zhane said.

"For some people it might be cringey or whatever, but I love the big fight in 'Untucked,'" Zhane said. "It might not have been fun living it in the moment, but watching it back it made for good TV. I can never get enough of that moment.

"Me and all those girls are sisters now. ... For us it is all in fun."

If Zhane were to get the call to appear on an All-Stars season, the answer would be "yes, most definitely," Zhane said.

"I feel like I didn't get the full opportunity to completely show myself. ... I would love to go back on and show people what else I have," Zhane said.

Zhane will continue to travel and perform following the PrideFest appearance. A third music single is in the works. Details are coming soon, Zhane said, adding a return to TV also is likely.

Zhane released "Boo! featuring Saint" in October 2020 and "Suckubus featuring James Indigo" in October 2021.

"I can't say too much, but it is happening," Zhane said about the single release and TV appearance.

PrideFest features

While McQueen and Zhane are headline acts Saturday and Sunday, respectively, much more is in store over the weekend.

PrideFest kicks off noon Saturday at Rose Music Hall with opening ceremonies, a welcome from Mayor Barbara Buffaloe, community award, blessing from local houses of worship, a performance from the Bethel church choir and blessing from the City of Fountains Sisters.

Drag story hour at the family area follows at 1 p.m., and the The Quorus performs at 2 p.m. Other performances throughout Saturday afternoon include The Many Colored Death, Divas by Design and Meredith Shaw.

The PrideFest street fair closes at 6 p.m. before the start of evening activities, including performances by The Blam Blams at 6:30 p.m., the youth talent show at 7:30 p.m. and McQueen's drag showcase at 8 p.m.

Sunday's festivities start with PrideFest's inaugural Pride Parade downtown on Broadway at noon.

Performances throughout the afternoon Sunday include the Stephens College Conservatory team, Mercury Trio, The Shandies, Nclusion+ and NicDanger. SoulRoot kicks off the evening festivities at 6:30 p.m. with Zhane's drag showcase to follow at 8 p.m.

Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Mid Missouri Pridefest headliners from RuPaul's Drag Race