On May 1, 2026, Oregon State University’s Rainbow Continuum held the annual Spring Drag Show at the Memorial Union Ballroom, bringing in students and community members together through performance and self-expression.
“It’s so important for people to have a space where they feel connected to their community and where they feel supported,” says Abby Holland, president and contributing organizer of Rainbow Continuum. “Having that space of celebration for one night is really fun.”
At 7 p.m., when the lights dimmed, the space was immediately buzzing with excitement.
Throughout the night, multiple drag performers took the stage with roaring applause, laughter, and cheers from the crowd. From Richard Ryder’s presentation of folklorian “trickster” deities and Crusty Kuntz’s artist history to the high-energy lip sync performances from performers like Augustine L. Elegance and Avante en-Garde, the show highlighted the creativity and diversity that exists within drag itself.
For many people in the audience, that range of representation was part of what made the event so meaningful.
“I love being able to be around other queer people and to see people I know and people I don’t know get to perform what they want freely,” M.K. Asher, an attendee of the event says.
Garbe Levig, another attendee of the event, agrees, saying, “I adore seeing queer people being able to express themselves in a supportive community. Each performance is so fun and unique, I love it.”
During intermission, the audience had the opportunity to vote for who was going to be crowned that night as Beaver Royalty. People scanned QR codes, discussed picks with their friends, and waited to see who exactly was going to take the title.
After intermission, the performances continues with twice as much energy. Avante en-Garde immediately painted a picture for the audience, fostering a whimsical world in which a frog was strumming a lilypad ukulele, singing about being an amphibian. The number was theatric, eccentric, and out of this world.
Soon following the act, we got another high-energy lip-sync of MARINA’s “Bubblegum Bitch,” performed by no other than Augustine L. Elegance. As the song played, she walked through the crowd, interacting with the loudest supporters, with an audience member even shouting “I feel so honored” after being serenaded.
E. Ate B sang a showstopping rock number about environmental activism and the importance of hope and freedom in dreary times, articulating the significance of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
As the night came to a close, the officers of Rainbow Continuum wanted to crown the official 2026 Beaver Royalty. The crowd cheers a few long minutes as each performer makes their way on the stage. Anticipation rises as the officers hold up the crown, covered in jewels and grants the winner bragging rights for the rest of their life, a drumroll immediately starting within the crowd.
The 2026 Rainbow Continuum Spring Drag Show Beaver Royalty is no other than OSU student and local performer hereself…Augustine L. Elegance.
The crowd roars with cheers as Elegance is crowned, gifted a stuffed version of “The Muppets’” Kermit the Frog.
With the night officially drawing to a close, Abby Holland invited everyone to sing The Muppet’s “Rainbow Cocnnections.”
With flashlights raised and voices joining together, the ballroom closed the night in unison, singing: “Someday we’ll find it, the rainbow connection, the lovers, the dreamers, and me.”
