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While getting ready to go out on Friday night, Ryan Sheehan decided to throw on a navy blue dress with small glittery flowers. Sheehan also wore a long blond wig, along with smoky eye makeup that complimented the junior's bold blue eyes.
What really topped off the outfit, though, were his gold stilettos that helped exemplify what would turn out to be best-in-show-legs at UNH Alliance's 9th-annual Drag Ball.
Sheehan was one of 225 students dressed in glitz and glitter at the ball, which had dancing, live music from a disc jockey, a fashion show and other live entertainment.
"Being ridiculous is completely accepted and well-received," said Sheehan, the ball's master of ceremonies. "The dress code is whatever makes you feel good. People here can have a good time here."
The Drag Ball was put on to not only have a great time, but to also celebrate one's self in a safe and supportive environment.
"Gender is all about a social role," said Jean Elson, an assistant professor of sociology. "[A Drag Ball] can be an excuse for people to experiment."
Sam Rheaume, a psychology major at UNH, agreed.
"It's very exciting, yet risqué," said Rheaume, who was a runner-up in the fashion show competition. "I've never been to an event like this.
"Here you get a lot of compliments and a lot of encouragement in a friendly community."
Camilla Brett, a physical education major, said it was her first drag ball, as her hometown didn't have drag dances.
"They had nothing for the gay community," Brett said. "The UNH Alliance makes me so comfortable here. At this dance I was happy.
"At events like these you not only have the gay community here to make me comfortable, but also a straight community here, too."
Drag balls give people the opportunity to dress out of the norm, said Elson. She said the situation is different when one's in drag and out of the party.
"People don't want to be seen as different, especially if it's stigmatized," Elson said. "Gender is so strongly socialized that it can be very unconformable to see other people stepping out of that role."
Elson said some people don't event want to talk about the reasons they don't want to go, and could also be unaware of why they are uncomfortable.
"People who change in a bathroom only wanted to be seen in drag in a comfortable place," she said. "There is a strong socialization of the division they are supposed to be in."
Abbie Brunelle, a UNH student, was one of the entertainers for the night. Brunelle was the lead singer of the lip-syncing band Güther and the Sunshine Girls, and was dressed as male Swedish singer Günther, whose trademark is a thin black moustache and thick mullet, as well being surrounded by a group of scantly clad women.
Despite the humorous attire, Brunelle said she wouldn't wear it outside of the spotlight.
"I was in the Phillbrook Dining Hall once after a performance and people were staring at me… like ridiculous," Brunelle said. "I felt uncomfortable and pretty nervous."
Jessica Wallance came to the dance with her partner, Bryan Bennitt. Wallance said it was her first dance at UNH and said she had a fantastic time dancing to music and enjoying the live entertainment.
"I didn't think I'd go to a dance like this at all," said Bennitt, who was wearing a gray metallic bra and a pink-bowed, light green mesh thong over his jeans and T-shirt. "I didn't think I would like it. I didn't want to go. But then I came here and [had] fun. When you get here everyone here is chill and I was surprised."
Wallance said she asked some of her friends to go with her to the event, but most of them said no.
"Too bad, too - it was really carefree here," said Wallance. "If you go out of your comfort zone once in a while you'd be surprised."
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