Nickiah Mantlo took the stage at DUC Theater Tuesday night wearing knee-high boots, a black halter-top dress, a curly brown wig, a red garter around his stocking-covered thigh and makeup. He shimmied his fake breasts and shook his booty to Lindsay Lohan’s remake of “Edge of 17.”

The Russellville freshman made his debut as “Bianca Dupree” at Tuesday’s “Drag’n the Runway” drag show.

“I was terrified,” Mantlo said. “But once I heard all the applause, I was extremely comfortable.”

During the show, five student amateurs and four professional drag queens worked the crowd of about 80 people while lip synching and dancing to music. They wore everything from dresses to leather pants to lingerie to next-to-nothing duct tape outfits. Some danced provocatively while others dramatized their performances.

Several members from the audience walked up to the stage during the performances and, using their hands or lips, gave the performers dollar bills. Some placed the cash in bras or underwear.

For the few people who’d never been to a drag show before, like Louisville freshman Morgan South, it was a surprise.

“I didn’t expect it to be so risque,” South said. “It was pretty interesting and different, but it was fun.”

But most of the crowd whooped and whistled with enjoyment. Harrodsburg freshman Trent Huff said he loved the show.

“It was a lot better than I thought it would be, because it was the first show for a lot of them,” he said. “They did really well. It was a good and fun way to raise money for the Outlet Alliance and get the name out there.”

The show was organized by Campus Activities Board and the Outlet Alliance, Western’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and questioning activist organization.

Joshua Peay, director of the Outlet Alliance, said the show raised about $400 for the organization. The Alliance has been working on putting the show together since last semester. Peay and others worked long hours contacting the professional queens, reserving the theater, decorating and getting the lighting and music just right.

Peay also had to prepare for his debut as “Divina DeLong.” He performed to Evanescence’s “Call Me When You’re Sober” and to a techno version of “Beauty and the Beast” while wearing a purple and white ball gown he designed and sewed himself.

Peay said he had fun performing and was pleased with the outcome of the show.

“I’m very satisfied,” Peay said. “Everything went smoothly. Nothing like this had ever been done before and we wanted to test the water. We hope it becomes an annual event.”

Reach Ashley Maines at features@wkuherald.com.