The fourth installment of the Miss Fits drag shows Saturday brought personality and glamour to the House Cafe stage, 263 E Lincoln Highway, enthralling the audience with dazzling performances from divine divas.

The event, hosted by DeKalb drag queen Amethyst Vicious, featured nine drag queens from the midwest, many from Chicago. Vicious’ sparkling personality set the stage for the evening, exciting the crowd and keeping the energy high between acts.

Vicious began the evening with a bang, cutting off chunks of the wig while lip-syncing, earning the crowd’s applause and tips. She later returned to the stage in another fierce outfit, strutting and delivering a song rendition filled with power and prowess.

Another crowd pleaser was the hilarious Georgia St. Pierre, who always injects comedy and theatricality. In this show, St. Pierre rubbed a stick of HeadOn cream to her forehead, passionately lamenting her woes through lip sync and dance.

Since Miss Fits began performing at the House last year, the events have attracted newcomers as well as dedicated fans.

“I try to make it to as many as I can,” said event patron Elaina Erickson. “It’s so fun. It’s really a great atmosphere. It’s just fun to support local stuff like this and support drag queens who want to move up and gain more popularity.”

Queens Synthetic, Fay Ludes, Delikate Doll and Aura Galore had all eyes on them as they sauntered around the room with captivating stage presence. The stunning makeup and outfits donned by queens Sidney Vicious and Lucille Faux Fur speak to the art and effort it takes to maintain a drag persona, and the transformations the queens undergo to perform onstage is impressive, if not jaw-dropping.

A highlight of one of queen Gayla Genda’s performances was a dramatic costume change where she ripped off a knee-length dress and long wig to reveal a tantalizing leotard and short amber bob.

Raquel Wynn has been working for the House for three years and believes the popularity of drag shows speaks to the growing acceptance of counterculture in DeKalb.

“I honestly think it’s something that people don’t expect out of DeKalb,” said Wynn. “It’s a big thing in the world of acceptance when it comes to this community. So our first show here we were so nervous. We were like ‘Oh, I hope we don’t get any kickback.’ And instead, we were packed to the gills. It was heartwarming for someone who’s a local here and not just a student.”

At the Miss Fits shows, audience members can never be sure exactly what they’re going to get – however, it’s always something unexpected, glamourous and a blast to watch. Beyond just providing an entertaining event for the DeKalb community, the Miss Fits drag shows speak to the developing acceptance for counterculture from DeKalb locals and NIU students alike.

For more information on upcoming House Cafe events, visit the House Cafe website at http://www.thcdekalb.com.