Winner Winner, Back-to-Back Dinner! CASS Reigns Again in MSU-IIT Drag Superstar 2024

by Jazel Maghilum and Kyle Pontillo




Shantay, we stay!


Coming from the lively kingdom of Arachnosphere, the night was won with deafening chants of “PRIMA BELLA!” as yet again, this year's Drag Superstar from the College of Arts and Social Sciences, takes the crown.


Amidst the glitz and glamour throughout the night, queens from different kingdoms fought fiercely with beauty and energy from different categories of lip-sync, solo and group performances. Topped off with interludes from powerful singing competitions of Trio Mindanaoan, Fantastic Singer, and Bandstorm that surged up the energy to its height, the ‘Night of Songs’ overwhelms IIT with grand festivities granted colors by the queens in the battle for the night. Snatching the special "Coop Choice Award," Prima Bella didn't just bring a snack, she done fixed a whole dinner! The College of Arts and Social Sciences served it up once again—BACK TO BACK!


Starting off with a bang! The event was spearheaded with a series of powerful performances from the reigning drag superstar herself, Vanilla Maxwell, gliding through the audience with her fierce and unkabogable aura, proving her title as the "First Drag Superstar of MSU-IIT.” Drag Runway Eleganza set the motion as each queen introduced themselves with astounding outfits flaunting their own style. Garnering the crowd's attention, all eyes on Prima Bella as she sissy that walk, adorned with a gigantic spider representing the green and fearsome symbol of CASS.


As the racers start their engines, the competition proves vicious as they go off with daring looks in their Solo and Group Performances, filled with surprises that keep the gymnasium guessing. Coming in first, Prima Bella eats up the stage with her lethal concoction of ‘Speechless’ by Naomi Scott, opening the gates to a whole new world. Meanwhile, throughout the Group Performance, harmony was made despite diversity as they showcased their grace in synchronized dance moves with a touch of their own. I guess you could say they ate and left no crumbs—periodt!


Tick Tock! The clock is ticking as the night gets even better for the monarchies chosen for a chance, one step closer to the crown. Starting with Lalisa Manumbag from CCS, Starla from COE, MCGA of CED-IDS and of course Prima Bella from CASS, the four queens advanced to the top 4. With the notion, there can only be one! Two shall remain for one to rise above, and so the lip-sync battle claims their persona as the stage is set for a neck-to-neck competition.


"Good luck and don't mess it up" Opened by the reigning drag superstar, Vanilla Maxwell, the queens bring the house down once again with the lip-sync battle coming in hot, with their flying splits, dropping wigs and iconic vogues. The crowd goes wild with each move made as the kingdoms scream and shout, beating hard on their drums showing their love and appreciation. A whole ensemble of glamor and pizzazz with lip-sync performances to Madonna’s ‘Material Girl’ and Cher’s ‘Do You Believe in Love’ kicked off the stage for the performance of a lifetime. At the end of the battle, only two remain and among them is our very own Prima Bella and a worthy opponent, MCGA from CED-IDS.


Nearing to the night's end, Vanilla Maxwell makes way for her farewell walk as the reigning MSU-IIT Drag Superstar 2023 on the road to passing the crown to a new queen. But before that, a few words were spoken, one that touched the hearts and perhaps inspired others for her prominent actions advocating for the LGBTQ+ community, helping pave the way for the drag event to be held amidst adversities and creating a safe space for others like her whom once hid in the shadows and now, wearing a crown under a spotlight. It's a bittersweet goodbye yet the triumph of her victories and herstory will not be forgotten.


Climaxing the night’s event, the most awaited lip-sync battle for the crown commenced as Prima Bella and MCGA go head-to-head in their performance to Chakha Khan’s ‘I’m Every Woman.’ Both queens wrap up their battle with a roaring set of voices as they keep the adrenaline of suspense high as to who shall stand victorious in the battleground. Two queens stood before the crowd, but only one shall win the crown. And without hesitation, Prima Bella’s name echoes through the scene as she was crowned ‘MSU-IIT Drag Superstar 2024!’


In the midst of the world’s bleak state of queer representation and diversity, the pageant fills a gap that comforts the souls of those who live to fight for who they are. IIT floods green as CASS leads the war for this advocacy. Hope is gained after the pain is soothed. Under the rainbow of our new queen Prima Bella, the world is gifted colors more vibrant than what was seen before.