Spring 2017.
Austin Evans, a.k.a. “Sasha Shook,” performing at Vice Versa in Morgantown, West Virginia. March 30, 2017. Photo by Amber Swinehart
Austin Evans preparing for his drag queen performance on March 30, 2017. Morgantown, WV. Photo by Amber Swinehart.
Austin Evans preparing for his drag queen performance on March 30, 2017. Morgantown, WV. Photo by Amber Swinehart.
Austin Evans, a junior fashion merchandising major at WVU from Wheeling, WV, has a passion for overcoming adversity and pursuing things that make him happy. Evans is man by day, and woman by night as he enjoys dressing in drag and performing at shows at a popular Morgantown nightclub called “Vice Versa.” Through the course of this project, Evans progresses as drag performer and builds upon his alter ego persona, “Sasha Shook,” while at the same time keeping up his day-to-day life as a passionate and dedicated student, part-time employee, intern, fraternity member, and boyfriend.
Post performance, Evans (left) and his boyfriend, Ashton Hamilton (right) cheers away the nervousness Evans had while preparing to be on stage. The two spend the rest of the night together close to the bar, as Hamilton will only be in town for the night.
Friends, peers, and strangers to Evans wait during an intermission between before his performance. From right to left includes friend, Jaclyn Conrad; boyfriend, Ashton Hamilton; and friend, Corinne Triplett.
Evans performs another Thursday night to the song “Flawless” by Beyoncé, as boyfriend Ashton Hamilton videotapes the entire performance.
) Evans applies his jewelry in his bedroom as his boyfriend, Ashton Hamilton, asks what time they are planning to leave and reminds Austin that they cannot be late.
Evans performs another Thursday night to the song “Flawless” by Beyoncé, as boyfriend Ashton Hamilton videotapes the entire performance.
Post-performance, Evans returns to the crowd to join friend, Jaclyn Conrad (left) and boyfriend, Ashton Hamilton (right) to grab a drink and let the show nerves settle. After recently turning 21, Evans consumes the benefits of “finally” being of age.
Evans steps out on stage as his alter ego, Sasha Shook, as the song “Once Upon A Time” by Mariahlynn plays. The audience goes wild and chants his name, as they hold out dollar bills for him to come over to them and dance.
With careful precision, Evans applies his makeup for the evening’s drag show that will be held at Vice Versa in downtown Morgantown.
Evans takes a photo of his finished makeup for his SnapChat, where he writes a caption inviting all to see his show and posts it publically.
Austin Evans in his apartment in Morgantown, WV applying his makeup for the evening. Over his left shoulder he hangs photos of the things he holds closest to him, including friends, family, and his boyfriend.
After a weekend-spent at home away from WVU for the Easter holiday, Evans and his friend, Jaclyn Conrad, share a moment during their Monday night “boxed wine and movies” endeavor.
) In Evan’s apartment in The Domain at Town Centre, he decorates his bedroom with items he loves. The front left “puzzle piece” is the craft he received to reveal his “big” within his fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. AKPsi is the business fraternity on WVU’s campus.
Evans reluctantly eats a piece pineapple at a barbecue, despite his allergy. He couldn’t resist the temptation to face the consequences of the allergic reaction because, according to Evans, pineapples “are just too damn good.” He then utilized the Miller-Lite in hand to reduce the stinging sensation in his mouth.
Evans and his friend pinky promising to follow up on plans they made for a future date as his friend head out for the night.
At his shift at American Eagle Outfitters, Evans folds shirts precisely with the techniques he’s learned. His tattoo on his right forearm symbolizes “mother and son,” and below his reads “forever.” He and his mother vowed to get matching tattoos together after she survived a surgery to remove a brain tumor. He and his mother share the same Irish sign, while his mother’s tattoo has the word “always” in place of the word “forever.”
Evans and his manager, Dawn, sharing a moment during their Wednesday night shift at American Eagle Outfitters in the Morgantown Mall. Evans explained the two of them mostly joke around during shifts as she simultaneously directs him to the next task he should do or explains how to do new things. “She makes the shifts go by faster with her goofy attitude.”
Evans steps out on stage as his alter ego, Sasha Shook, as the song “Once Upon A Time” by Mariahlynn plays. The audience goes wild and chants his name, as they hold out dollar bills for him to come over to them and dance.
