DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines' PrideFest is less than two months away and organizers with Capital City Pride have announced some iconic performances to look forward to.
On Friday, June 7, PrideFest attendees can get down with queer pop singer Rebecca Black and "RuPaul's Drag Race" star Monét X Change.
Black rose to prominence in 2011 with the infamous song "Friday". While Black is still most well-known for the song, her music has evolved since the viral hit. In 2023, Black released her debut album "Let Her Burn", described by the Associated Press as "an eclectic range from power pop ballads to electro-pop dance songs".
Monét X Change is a mainstay in "RuPaul's Drag Race" history. The drag queen first appeared in season 10 of the beloved show, before going on to win season four of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars". X Change also appeared in the seventh season of "All Stars", the first-ever all-winners season.
When she's not on stages or on TV screens, X Change cohosts the podcasts "Sibling Rivalry" and "Ebony and Ivory".
On Saturday, June 8, two other drag queens will sashay on to the PrideFest main stage: Shea Couleé and Gottmik.
Like X Change, Shea Couleé is "Drag Race" royalty. The star first appeared in season nine, before going on to win "All Stars" season five. Later, Couleé would compete against X Change in the seventh season of "All Stars".
Gottmik is a more recent addition to the franchise. The queen became the first openly trans man to compete on "RuPaul's Drag Race", coming in third place in season 13. Gottmik is also slated to compete in "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" season nine, which premieres May 17.
Beyond the stage, Gottmik hosts a podcast with fellow "Drag Race" alum Violet Chachki, and released a book "The T Guide" in May 2023.
These four artists are just the headliners of what's shaping up to be a colorful weekend. The main stage will also feature performances from local acts and artists.
PrideFest is a free event that will take place June 7-9 in the Historic East Village. Learn more on the Capital City Pride website.
