‘Be yourself unapologetically:’ Lubbock drag community navigates shifting cultures
Despite a recent decline in acceptance of drag shows in Lubbock, Texas, the drag community connects through a love of performance and self-identity.
Trina D'Angelo, a Lubbock drag queen, performs at the Un-Official Pride Fest After Party at Culture as the audience waves dollar bills in downtown Lubbock June 28, 2025. Lubbock as been a hotspot of recent anti-drag sentiment sending backlashes to the annual Pride Fest celebrations in the city, D'Angelo said that the art fo the performance is what gets her through the difficulties. “As far as makeup-wise, I'm always gonna have glitter on my face. No matter what number I'm doing. If I'm doing a sad song, I'm still gonna have glitter somewhere on my face,” D’Angelo said. “It just comes a lot from what I was brought up with in the drag community.”
Vanessa Stefani, a Lubbock drag queen, interacts with fans while performing at Lubbock PRIDE's Pride Fest at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in downtown Lubbock, June 28, 2025. Stefani said that despite recent community sentiments towards the drag community, “We still have to be proud of who we are every day of the year here. We're doing shows monthly here now,” D’Angelo said. “We still have a safe space for us to come and be together. Being together and having that sense of community is really important.”
Lilianna B. Davenport, a Lubbock drag queen, holds money while performing at Lubbock PRIDE's Pride Fest at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in downtown Lubbock, June 28, 2025.
Vanessa Stefani, a Lubbock drag queen, hugs an audience member after performing at Lubbock PRIDE's Pride Fest at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in downtown Lubbock, June 28, 2025. Stefani said that the Drag community in Lubbock uses houses to teach and help performers through the early stages of their journey. “My mom and dad didn't know anything about being gay in the world, about using protection and how to survive in the gay world, because it could be cruel, surviving jobs and all that stuff,” Stefani said. “They (Drag family) molded me and told me to build a backbone because eventually you're gonna inspire the next generation.”
Attendees walk around Culture Club at the Un-Official Pride Fest After Party at Culture in downtown Lubbock June 28, 2025. Whether it be in Club Luxor, Ohm Night Club or Culture, Stefani said Lubbock Drag continues to be a source of empowerment for members in its communities, providing an outlet to escape and be free. Stefani said, drag is a necessity not just to Lubbock’s culture but the people it encompasses.
Vanessa Stefani, a Lubbock drag queen, interacts with fans while performing at Lubbock PRIDE's Pride Fest at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in downtown Lubbock, June 28, 2025.
Lubbock drag queens get ready in the dressing room prior to performing at Lubbock PRIDE's Pride Fest at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in downtown Lubbock, June 28, 2025. After the recent backlash after 2024's Pride Fest, which led to the defunding of the arts in Lubbock, James Dees, vice president of LubbockPRIDE, said new restrictions have been put into place. “The contract states if you do a reveal, you have to keep the amount of clothing on that's the same amount as a one-piece bathing suit,” said Dees. “If you have music, you have to take out any profanity. If you are doing dances, steer clear of provocative movements.”
Malaysia, a Lubbock drag queen, combs through an assortment of makeup brushes while getting ready for their performance at Lubbock PRIDE's Pride Fest at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in downtown Lubbock, June 28, 2025.
Vanessa Stefani, a Lubbock drag queen, smiles while getting ready to perform at Lubbock PRIDE's Pride Fest at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in downtown Lubbock, June 28, 2025. “If it had not been for drag queens, I wouldn't have been able to survive,” Stefani said
‘TTU Barber’ cuts path to dreams
In between two twin beds and the opposing desks of a Texas Tech dorm room, ring lights illuminate a solo barber chair surrounded by hair trimmings and a row of cutters.
The makeshift barber studio in Coleman Hall is one that reflects its self-made captain. Juan Aguirre — known on social media as the TTU Barber — chases his dream through the electric buzz of his cutter while studying Business at Tech.
“I really love cutting hair,” Aguirre said. “I feel like I could do it, like, forever.”
Texas Tech freshman business management major Juan Aguirre, right, cuts a client’s hair while his roommate completes his homework inside Coleman Hall, in Lubbock. Aguirre is known online as the “TTU Barber” where he posts the haircuts he gives students.
Texas Tech freshman business management major Juan Aguirre eyes the level of hair as he prepares to cut a handful of hair inside Coleman Hall, in Lubbock. Aguirre said as a barber he emphasizes the importance of the fine details, making sure that every client is satisfied once they walk out of his dorm.
Aguirre prides himself on his small talk while giving fades out to students saying “Sometimes, just go out to get Chick-fil-A, and people go up to me and tell me, ‘Yo, you're that barber on TikTok, right?’ and I'll be like, ‘Yeah.’ Then I tell them to come book an appointment,” the freshmen business management major said.
Juan Aguirre, a Dallas native, brushes his teeth before starting his day full of classes and appointments.
Juan Aguirre, also known as the “TTU Barber,” rides the bus to the center of campus to go to class and study.
Aguire walks to his Business Management classes before cutting up clients in the second half of his day.
Aguirre joins his girlfriend in the library to study and talk about their days.
Walking out of class, Aguirre talks to one of his friends inside the Texas Tech Student Union building.
Aguirre completes his homework next to the razors and clippers of is part-time barber business.
After Aguirre finishes his day, he turns on his razors and flicks on the ring lights inside his dorm and begins cutting the clients of the day.
Juan Agguire, a business management major from Dallas, cuts a client as its reflected on his eyes inside of his dorm in Coleman Hall.
A collection of scissors, clippers and products sit on the shelf near Aguirre’s desk inside his dorm.
Aguirre finishes up his cuts for the day and then sweeps up the mounds of hair scattered around the floor of his dorm in Holden Hall.
‘It’s Crazy:’ Brown, Centennial Champion takes practice from stables to stadium
Ellie Brown, the 63rd Masked Rider, prepares Centennial Champion, her horse, for gameday activities during Texas Tech's football games. The runout, while being a traditional part of Tech football gamedays, takes time, effort and care to prepare for.
Centennial Champion, Texas Tech Masked Riders horse, eyes the Jones AT&T Stadium while Tech plays a football game in Lubbock, Texas, Nov. 9, 2024.
Ellie Brown, Texas Tech's 63rd Masked Rider, saddles up Centennial Champion prior to the daily warmup routines that the mascot duo undertakes before each gameday at the Tech Equestrian Center in Lubbock, Texas, Aug. 30, 2024. “He's always looking to grab a treat, and he really just wants to be your best friend,” said Brown, a fourth-year animal science major from Canyon. “Getting to ride him (Centennial Champion), I definitely pay tribute to all those horses that taught me and gave me the chance to learn,” Brown said.
Ellie Brown, Texas Tech's 63rd Masked Rider, puts on her boots before practicing the gameday run with Centennial Champion at the Tech Equestrian Center in Lubbock, Texas, Aug. 30, 2024
During the early hours of the morning, Ellie Brown, Texas Tech's 63rd Masked Rider, walks Centennial Champion to the Livestock Show Arena at the Tech Equestrian Center in Lubbock, Texas, Aug. 30, 2024.
The Masked Rider's trailer, filled with gear and tools for the duo, sits a jar outside the Tech Equestrian Center before Ellie Brown, the 63rd Masked Rider, prepares to practice in Lubbock, Texas, Aug. 30, 2025.
Ellie Brown races around the Livestock Arena while practicing for her gameday run as the sun peeks over the horizon at the Tech Equestrian Center Aug. 30, 2025. “I'm out here morning and night, pretty much every day, depending on how many appearances we have,” Brown said.
Ellie Brown races down the Jones AT&T Stadium while Texas Tech football follows suit before they face a Big 12 opponent in Lubbock, Texas, Sept. 28, 2025. “Getting to ride him (Centennial Champion), I definitely pay tribute to all those horses that taught me and gave me the chance to learn,” Brown said.