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The Riverside Municipal Auditorium was bursting with color, charisma, and couture this past weekend as Fant-A-Shes returned for its annual blowout, delivering an electrifying celebration of drag artistry that fused star power with local flair. Headlined by RuPaul’s Drag Race royalty — Mayhem Miller, Morgan McMichaels, and Delta Work — the event was a glittering testament to the enduring spirit and talent of the drag community. But while the big names drew the spotlight, it was the 28 local queens who embodied the heart of Fant-A-Shes and created an experience that won't be forgotten.
Stephen Day
Directed by the visionary Phillip Bailey, who audiences know and love as the glamorous Cassi Phillips, the evening pulsed with high production value, bold performances, and a genuine love for queer performance art. Choreographic brilliance was on full display under the leadership of Vanity Halsten, a local drag icon whose legacy is woven deep into the Inland Empire’s drag tapestry.
Stephen Day
Stephen Day
The Vixens and Foxes dance troupe brought fierce, synchronized energy to the stage, supporting the queens in elaborate, high-octane numbers that wowed the crowd. Among the standout local performers were Amiyah Brat, Ambrosia, Bubblegum, Diva Dean, Envy, Jazmyn Simone, Kelly K Doll, Marlow the Fish, Rainy Dayz, Sa’Hara, and Tahlula — each serving up unique personas and powerful performances that left the audience roaring.
Stephen Day
Stephen Day
A clear showstopper was the theatrical and emotional duet by Sa’Hara and Kelly K Doll, channeling Wicked’s Elphaba and Glinda, respectively. With soaring vocals and dynamic stage presence, they captured the essence of friendship, transformation, and queer resilience in one of the night’s most talked-about numbers.
Stephen Day
Madeline Graves turned heads — and dropped jaws — in her tribute to Chappell Roan, donning knight’s armor in a bold recreation of Roan’s viral VMA look. With moody lighting and a brooding remix, Graves proved she was every bit the fantasy warrior queen the crowd didn’t know it needed.
Stephen Day
Stephen Day
One of the night’s most unforgettable moments came during a high-voltage performance of Lady Gaga’s unreleased track Abracadabra, brought to life by the charismatic and high-energy queen Veronica Halsten, whose commanding presence was elevated by the hypnotic backup of the Vixens and Foxes.
Capping off the show was a lovingly curated Madonna tribute, featuring a parade of queens each paying homage to the Queen of Pop’s many eras — from "Like a Virgin" lace to "Ray of Light" spirituality to the power-suited "Express Yourself" executive realness. It was a celebration of Madonna’s lasting influence on queer culture and a fitting way to close a show that reveled in reinvention and audacity.
Stephen Day
Now a staple in Riverside’s LGBTQ+ calendar, Fant-A-Shes has grown beyond a drag revue — it’s a testament to the community’s creativity, resilience, and joy. In a time when drag is increasingly under fire in certain parts of the country, the show’s vibrant spirit stood as a loud, proud reminder that queer art is not just alive — it’s thriving.
Stephen Day
From rising local talent to established stars, Fant-A-Shes served not just looks but heart, showing that the Inland Empire’s drag scene is as bold, beautiful, and brilliant as ever.
