The Midwest was never going to contain this much pink.

PINK PONY is a queer rodeo dreamed up in a dressing room, with the mirror lights on and your chosen family cheering. Hot pink and cherry red collide with rhinestone white, cowgirl boots, fringe, feathers and hearts worn entirely without irony. There is small-town longing beneath the pageant makeup, which is why the fantasy lands: dressing up becomes a way of arriving somewhere you can finally be yourself.

Pull on the boots for Pride, a pop concert or a festival and decide how far the character goes. Denim and one outrageous accessory can do it; so can a head-to-toe rodeo entrance. This is western camp with a pulse, meant for singing the chorus with strangers who feel like friends by the end of the night.