 Signage | |
 | |
| Address | 775 North High Street |
|---|---|
| Location | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Type | Gay bar |
Axis Nightclub is a gay bar and nightclub in The Short North, Columbus, Ohio.
| Signage | |
| | |
| Address | 775 North High Street |
|---|---|
| Location | Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Type | Gay bar |
Axis Nightclub is a gay bar and nightclub in The Short North, Columbus, Ohio.
The multi-level dance club [1] has hosted drag acts and competitions ("So You Think You Can Drag?"), [2] [3] [4] including Miss Gay Heart of America [5] and performances by RuPaul's Drag Race contestants Alaska Thunderfuck, Asia O'Hara, [6] BenDeLaCreme, Bianca Del Rio, Sasha Velour, Shangela, and Yuhua Hamasaki, [7] [8] among others. [9] Local drag queen Nina West hosts the show "Heels of Horror" annually, [10] [11] as well as drag competitions. [12]
Rajesh Lahoti is an owner of the bar. [13] [14] [15]
Axis has been described at Columbus' most popular gay bar. In 2001, the bar's general manager estimated that 20 to 25 percent of clientele were Ohio State University students. [16] In 2014, Axis' fifth annual "Night of 100 Drag Queens" reportedly broke the record for the largest drag show, with 55 participants, who performed to "It's Raining Men". [17] Also in 2014, Axis hosted the inaugural Shooting Star Awards, and won the award for Best Nightclub. [18] The nightclub hosted Miss Gay USofA at Large in 2016. [19]
Shawnie Kelley, author of Insiders' Guide to Columbus, Ohio (2003), said the bar "is becoming a staple of Columbus nightlife for gay and straight, men and women alike". [20]
Miss Gay America is a national pageant for female impersonators. Established in 1972, the pageant is based on the Miss America contest and follows a similar format.
Drag pageantry is a developed form of pageantry for female impersonators, drag queens, and trans women, styled after traditional beauty pageants or contests for cisgender women. It has also evolved into a pageantry for male impersonators, drag kings and trans men.
Vicci Laine was the stage name of American transgender stage performer, singer, HIV/AIDS fundraiser, and activist Kay Mullinax. Her first stage name was Betty Blow Back, which she later changed to Vicci Laine.
Alexis Mateo Pacheco, best known as Alexis Mateo, is a Puerto Rican drag queen, performer, reality television personality, fashion designer, and the winner of All American Goddess 2016, Miss Gay Days 2016 and National Showgirl 2017. She became internationally known as a contestant on season 3 of RuPaul's Drag Race, and seasons one and five of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. Alexis Mateo is also drag mother of viral sensation and "RuGirl" Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.
Erica Andrews was a Mexican international and national beauty pageant title winner, drag performer, actress, entrepreneur, and activist.
Justin Dwayne Lee Johnson, best known by the stage name Alyssa Edwards, is an American drag performer, choreographer, and businessperson. Edwards was known for competing in drag pageantry before rising to international attention as a contestant on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, becoming a fan favorite during and after her time on the show. Edwards subsequently appeared on the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and starred in her own web series, Alyssa's Secret.
Michael W. Feliciano, known by his stage name Roxxxy Andrews, is an American drag performer who came to international attention for being a contestant on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and the second season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Coco Montrese is the stage name of Lenwood Martin Cooper, an American drag queen, entertainer, and reality television personality. Montrese came into the spotlight after being crowned Miss Gay America 2010 when Alyssa Edwards' title was revoked. She subsequently appeared on RuPaul's Drag Race season 5 as well as RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars Season 2.
Timothy K. Wilcots, better known by the stage name Latrice Royale, is an American drag performer, recording artist, and reality television personality. She is best known for her appearances on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2012 and on the first and fourth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars. She finished fourth on her original season; in its final episode, she was crowned Miss Congeniality. She placed fifth on the fourth season of All Stars.
Roy R. Haylock, better known by the stage name Bianca Del Rio, is an American drag queen, comedian, actor, and costume designer. She is known for winning the sixth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Since her time on Drag Race, Del Rio has written and toured several stand-up shows, including It's Jester Joke (2019), which also made her the first drag queen to headline at Wembley Arena. She has also performed as a host for various international tours, most notably Werq the World. In 2018, she published her first book, Blame It On Bianca Del Rio: The Expert On Nothing With An Opinion On Everything.
Naysha Lopez is the stage name of drag performer and beauty pageant participant Fabian Rodriguez, who won the 2013 Miss Continental competition and appeared on the eighth seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
The Junction Public House, also known as The Junction Pub and most often abridged as The Junction, is a gay bar and nightclub in Davie Village, Vancouver, British Columbia. The club was formerly known as Pulse.
Antwan Mason Lee, better known by the stage name Asia O'Hara, is an American drag queen, reality television personality, and costume designer. She is most well known for competing on the tenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, in which she placed fourth. Since her season aired in 2018, O'Hara has been a staple of several domestic and international tours that feature Drag Race contestants, including Werq the World, Christmas Queens and Drive 'N Drag. She has also appeared on a number of web series produced by World of Wonder, including Can Do Queens, which she co-hosts with Kameron Michaels. In June 2018, she released "Queen for Tonight", her debut single. Her second single, "Crown Up", was released on May 20, 2019, along with an accompanying music video. Since January 2020, she has been a staple cast member of RuPaul's Drag Race Live!, a residency show in Las Vegas, and also stars in the accompanying VH1 miniseries RuPaul's Drag Race: Vegas Revue.
Reuben Asberry Jr., better known by the stage name Kennedy Davenport, is a drag queen, television personality, and dancer from Dallas, Texas, who came to international attention on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, placing fourth overall, and on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, where she was the runner-up.
Victoria "Porkchop" Parker is the stage name of Victor Ray Bowling, is an American drag performer and actor who came to international attention on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race. He is notable in part for being the first contestant ever eliminated in the history of the franchise. Parker has also appeared elsewhere on television in and out of drag, and he has also served as a backup dancer for Miley Cyrus.
Nina West is the stage name of Andrew Robert Levitt, who is an American drag queen, queer activist, actor, and singer-songwriter based in Columbus, Ohio. He rose to national prominence with his appearance on the eleventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where he placed sixth and won Miss Congeniality. He was named the Top Local Artist of 2019 by Columbus Underground. Levitt has also created three EPs—Drag Is Magic, John Goodman, and The West Christmas Ever, which were all released in 2019.
Miss'd America is an annual drag pageant held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. It was founded in the early 1990s as a spoof of the Miss America pageant. It ran through 2005, took a five-year hiatus, and resumed operation in 2010. Contestants compete in four categories: swimsuit, evening gown, interview and talent, with the winner receiving $5,000. Part of the proceeds from each edition of the pageant are donated to local LGBT charities and initiatives. The event is produced by Rich Helfant, directed by Mark Dahl, and hosted by Carson Kressley. The current reigning Miss'd America is Freeda Kulo, who was crowned on September 9, 2023.
India Ferrah is the stage name of Shane Richardson, an American drag queen and costume designer best known for competing on the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race. Richardson was raised in Roanoke, Virginia, and came out as gay and started performing in drag as India Ferrah during his teens. He later lived in Dayton, Ohio, and performs regularly in Las Vegas. India Ferrah competed on the fifth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars.
Paradise is a gay nightclub in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It is known for its fundraisers and drag shows, most notable of which is the annual Miss Paradise pageant. The club is integrated with the Empress Hotel; both are owned by record producer Shep Pettibone. Paradise's 1999 opening is credited as one factor that improved Asbury Park's struggling economy and drew the LGBT community back to the city after a period of local unrest. The venue is a popular Jersey Shore destination in the summer, and it has received praise for its welcoming atmosphere. After several months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paradise reopened its outdoor pool and bar area in summer 2020.
Rise Bar, or simply Rise, is a gay bar in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. Opened in 2015, it is a small establishment surrounded by a number of larger LGBT nightlife venues. The bar is most popular among gay men and some women. It features pop music and hosts weekly entertainment including drag shows, open-mic nights and karaoke. Though Rise's owners invested in soundproofing before it opened, noise concerns from nearby residents initially led the local community board and state liquor authority to require the venue to close at an earlier hour than its competitors. Following a contentious series of applications to modify Rise's operating schedule and liquor license, this requirement was overturned for weekend nights. The establishment has received praise for its welcoming, diverse atmosphere.
Media related to Axis Nightclub at Wikimedia Commons
