of university elects drag queen as homecoming queen

George Mason University Awards Drag Queen Title of 'Ms. Mason': George Mason University elected a drag queen as Ms. Mason for the first time in the school's history.


Ryan Allen waves to the crowd at the Patriot Center after being crowned Ms. Mason

Reann Ballslee, also known as GMU senior Ryan Allen, won the title as part of the Mr. and Ms. Mason contest, an annual competition held during the school's homecoming. Allen, who represents GMU's Pride Alliance and hosts the campus' annual drag show, received the title during halftime at Saturday's basketball game against the Northeastern Huskies.

Allen told Connect2Mason,

Personally, it's exciting. But I feel like the win is bigger than me. It says a lot about Mason and the student body. Not only do we go to a very diverse school, but that diversity is celebrated regularly - even at the homecoming game.

Read more at Washington Post ("Work That Tiara, Boy!").

Watch the Ryan Allen (Reann Ballslee) video at Vimeo.