Every Saturday night, Studio 13 is transformed into a competitive stage to determine Iowa City’s favorite drag queen and king. The bar hosts many events centered around drag, with their Star Search competition gathering much traction in the community.
Star Search was a “RuPaul’s Drag Race” invention: a competition that featured many popular drag queens and kings around Iowa throughout the seasons the show has been on air. One Drag Race competitor who performed at Studio 13, Jared Breakenridge, better known as Sasha Belle on stage, participated in season seven of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
The show, more than anything, however, gave a glimpse into the intricate relationships of Iowa’s favorite queens and kings. From past or current lovers to roommates and best friends, or even at times enemies, it seems that everyone in the drag community is connected in one way or another.
Considering Studio 13 is the only gay bar in Iowa that allows anyone 19 and older into the venue, the drag royalty in Iowa City remain busy during the week. From kings to queens, the drag scene in Iowa City is constantly growing in size.
With many getting their start from Studio 13’s Open Stage events, the performers emphasize maintaining an open mind and circle.
Cindy L. Jenkins got her start in the Iowa City drag scene in 2023 at an Open Stage at Studio 13. Driving down from Cedar Rapids, she decided to take a chance on a character she had been developing for some time.
“It took me a couple of years to work up the courage to go to an Open Stage,” Jenkins remembered.
The first reactions from the resident drag queens and kings were kinder than she was expecting.
“They all came up to me afterward and pushed me to come back. They pushed me not to quit and make it more than just a one-time thing,” Jenkins said.
It’s common for the Open Stage to act as a one-off opportunity for potential drag performers. The event, similar to an open-mic night, allows anyone curious about performing in a safe space to explore the characters that have lived in their heads and share them with an eager crowd.
“Newbies come and go all of the time,” Jenkins said. “I wasn’t expecting that response when I went into it. I thought I would just push myself to do it the one time. But with everyone being so nice and responsive to what I did, it was encouraging. It was really what I needed to push myself to do it again.”
Jenkins continued attending Open Stages at Studio 13 every Wednesday from that day forward.
Muuvi Premiere, a drag queen in Star Search’s recent season and Iowa City outsider, was initially worried about her fellow performers reactions to her presence in the show.
“I was worried about the social aspect of Star Search, in particular, when coming into it. I knew that there were going to be some friendships that were probably going to be put ahead of my relationship with them,” Premiere said. “But you forge friendships with people which are kind of hard to break, and you can’t really fault someone for having a best friend. I had a rough season and had a good support system and, believe it or not, some of those were my fellow competitors of the season.”
With many considering Iowa City a safe space, especially Studio 13, the LGBTQ+ scene continues to grow every day. “You see so many new faces and create so many different friends [at Studio 13],” Hazel Sanchez, an Iowa City drag queen, said.
“I go out on nights that I might not normally go out on to see the newer talent, especially on Sundays and Wednesdays for Studio’s Open Stage,” Sanchez continued. “It is important to support your local drag brothers and sisters even if you are not booked that night. It is still important to show up.”
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Sanchez hosts drag brunches across Iowa. When asked about her method of finding performers, she touched on the importance of creating spaces for local artists.
“I have always wondered what we can do outside of just June for Pride month. I wanted to express everything and show that [everyone] is loved and accepted,” Sanchez said. “In the world now, we just need drag and queer spaces opened up more than what we have before.”
This is a feeling Jenkins shares. In a time when LGBTQ+ spaces are fre comquently under attack, it’s important for community members to be as supportive as possible.
“We are all in it together. We are all in it for the same thing. We are going to support each other no matter what,” Jenkins said.
Beep Beep, a Studio 13 drag queen, further described the duality of support and the more competitive side of performance, which sometimes comes with insults and high tension.
“We have a lot of fun. Anytime we are in a show together, we’re just talking sh*t and having fun and laughing,” Beep Beep said.
During Star Search, there was fighting, personal insults, and animosity. However, underneath the competitiveness was a real community with ties that contained deep connections. While they are oftentimes queens and kings who have to compete against each other, their competitors are their partners, friends, or roommates.
“Most of the time, people won’t do anything to mess with their really close friends, but sometimes it has to happen,” Beep explained. “They know that this is all a game, this is nothing personal. A lot of the time we will still go and buy each other drinks after the show just to be like, ‘Hey, I hope you are OK.’”
Beep Beep is one such queen who lives with a fellow performer. Despite the bonds within the community, this more intimate scenario can prove difficult.
“At times, you notice that your roommate is buying this outfit, but not paying a certain bill. A lot of the drag queens and kings try to stay away from each other in that aspect, but yeah, sometimes the roommate dynamic can be difficult,” Beep said.
Despite these occasional bumps, the community still thrives. No amount of competitive animosity or roommate awkwardness stands in the way of kings and queens being supportive.
“Even if so-and-so said my shoes were ugly or even if we had this argument about this booking, we are all going to support each other and put the petty stuff aside,” Jenkins said. “Do we like to have fun and be petty? Yes. The constant reading and throwing shade at people helps us.”
From extra help on outfits from roommates to competing with ex-fiances, following up on Star Search gave plenty of insight into the good and the ugly of competing within such a small circle.
“There will always be that competitiveness, there are only so many people that can win, and so many people that can win a title,” Jenkins said. “To maintain that balance sounds so simple, but it truly is to keep the competition separate from your personal friendships and relationships.”