With plastic skeletons hanging from the cobwebbed ceiling and alcoholic “blood bags” selling out within The Lyric’s first hour of opening, Code Pink’s fifth-annual Halloween drag event, “Fangbanger,” on Thursday, Oct. 30 was a ghoulish delight to many.
This event featured 14 drag performers, putting some University of Mississippi students on the main stage. This show brought together students and locals, all wrapped around Van Buren Avenue, clad in corsets, feather boas and various other costume attire. The event included a dance party, drag show and a costume contest.
From Lady Gaga songs to anime soundtracks, the drag performances were varied and electric.
Miguel Ángel Ortiz, a junior psychology major, performed as his drag alter ego, Angel Bebe, to a mix of “Not Myself Tonight” by Christina Aguilera and “Maneater” by Nelly Furtado. Ortiz dressed as Megan Fox from the movie “Jennifer’s Body” and incorporated monologues from the film into the sound mix.
“My drag style is very ‘hot girl in the club,’ so ‘Jennifer’s Body’ was the perfect choice for a theme for my performance,” Ortiz said. “The crowd loved the monologues and (had) fun dancing with the songs I chose.”
Code Pink is a recurring dance party and drag show co-founded by UM alumnus and Water Valley, Miss., resident Blake Summers.
As a Halloween event, Fangbanger encourages audience members to dress up for the holiday. Senior communication and science disorders major Ariane Sanchez, who dressed up as singer Charli xcx, said this Code Pink was especially worth experiencing.
“(My friends and I) couldn’t miss this one since it was the week of Halloween and we knew people were going to dress up and we wanted to dress up as well,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez emphasized the importance of expression through clothes.
“Dressing up definitely enhances the overall experience of Code Pink,” Sanchez said. “Being able to express yourself through the clothes and makeup you wear allows you to show your personality, confidence and creativity.”
Ortiz agreed from the perspective of a performer.
“Compared to other Code Pinks, I think that this event felt more exciting because I loved seeing the crowd dress up in costumes, and it made it even more fun interacting with them during my performance,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz also acknowledged the importance of putting on a good show for the audience.
“I keep in mind (a lot) of the people who go to Code Pink ‘Fangbanger,’ it is their first drag show, so I try to make it worth it for them,” Ortiz said.
Emma McHard contributed reporting.
Editor’s Note: The Daily Mississippian Opinion Editor Kadin Collier was one of the performers at Code Pink’s “Fangbanger.”
