Bald Eagle Area graduate finds self-expression through drag at Penn State
Wearing a hoodie, patterned joggers — and impeccably groomed eyebrows — Colton Lucas looks like a typical college student during the week. But, under stage lights on the weekends, he sports a blonde bob and corset as Nikki Capri, State College’s Dolly Parton-loving, Capri-Sun-throwing drag queen.
Colton Lucas, a sophomore studying digital and print journalism, is a rising queen in State College’s drag community. Lucas became involved with drag during the fall 2018 semester during his first few months at Penn State through the university’s drag ambassador club, Opulence. Through drag he has immersed himself in a welcoming faction of State College’s queer community and has found a way to challenge personal and social boundaries, especially when it comes to gender.
In heeled boots, a dress, corset, wig and full face of makeup, Lucas is looking to push the social boundaries on what gender is perceived as when he performs as Nikki Capri. Becoming involved in drag has encouraged Lucas to question gender in his own life, and he hopes to provoke others to question it as well whenever he dons his ultrafeminine drag persona.
“Before I got into drag I had a very set definition of what my gender is but ever since doing drag and being in college it’s completely changed,” Lucas said. “I’m definitely more gender queer now; I go by he/they and gender’s just not this construct like it used to be for me.”
Drag has become a new way of self-exploration and expression for Lucas. After three hours of preparation for a show — two for makeup and one for costume — he has transformed to show and explore his femininity, which doesn’t always get to stand out. And while busting energetic moves at shows and interacting with audience members, he is able to have fun and immerse himself in performing.
Because self-exploration is such an important part of drag for him, he hopes other people see drag as an opportunity to explore themselves and their identities as well through being a part of the community and experiencing something new.
Fellow drag performer and Opulence’s treasurer Benjamin Nasal, a sophomore, describes Lucas as a positive influence on the State College drag community. To him, Lucas brings something new and different to the community through Nikki Capri.
“His style of drag is something that there’s not a lot of at Penn State so he’s a really good role model for people that might share his point of view,” Nasal said. “They feel like they can be part of our group because they have someone to look up.”
Growing up just 20 miles from State College in Yarnell, Lucas wasn’t exposed to drag until his senior year at Bald Eagle Area High School and didn’t begin performing until coming to Penn State. There was little to no exposure to drag culture in his home community and once in college, Lucas gained a newfound freedom in the diversity and acceptance of the drag and queer communities in State College.
One of Lucas’ close friends, Penn State junior Kylie Crawford, expressed her support of Lucas’ performing and involvement. Crawford was introduced to drag by Lucas and has been attending his shows over the last year.
“I love that he was able to find drag and find ultimately another form of expression for himself,” Crawford said.
Even though his hometown lacks much awareness and exposure to drag, Lucas takes inspiration from his life in Yarnell. He channels his roots into Nikki’s appearance and persona, often lip-syncing and dancing to Dolly Parton songs, folk songs and old country hits.
While Nikki’s character comes from the more feminine, country side of Lucas, she is also very different from whom he sees himself as in day-to-day life. Being Nikki allows Lucas to make statements centered around appearance, while outside of drag he is more political in his speech, community involvement and social media. In addition to being a member of Opulence and the club’s social media coordinator, Lucas is also part of the student organization LGBTQA Student Roundtable at Penn State.
Even though his drag does have personal political meaning behind it, Lucas’ main intent with drag is to have fun and encourage others to have fun as well, stressing that he wants to make people feel good while also bending gender.
And according to Opulence’s president, senior Seneca Hill, Lucas is succeeding in his goals.
“She brings a different energy than a lot of the other queens because you can tell how much fun she’s having and she wants the audience to have fun with her,” Hill said about Nikki Capri. “I see that she definitely just loves to make other people happy with her drag. She’ll come to a drag show loaded with a whole pack of Capri Suns, ready to hand them out to the crowd.”
Lucas hopes that the drag community in State College continues to grow and gain exposure and acceptance. For those who are new to drag, as spectators or as performers, he wants them to know that drag has no strict definition or parameters.
“To me drag is anything and everything and also nothing,” Lucas said. “At the end of the day drag is whatever you want it to be, you can do whatever you want to do.”
This story was originally published January 12, 2020 at 5:00 AM.