episode 14: Pageant Queens (Ariel Zetina & Miss Twink USA)

Two Chicago icons collide as Pageant Queens (Ariel Zetina & Miss Twink USA), bringing relentless sounds and energy to captivated dance floors worldwide. Two of the Windy City’s sharpest selectors sat down with me for our long-overdue AFTERS chat ahead of summer 2026, and a time was had!

We got into their origins, artistic journeys, and took a deep dive into the zeitgeist, something these two have become known for. We veered into pure comedic territory as I fumbled my first-ever Zoom recording, but I kept it all in because it made for the realest (and funniest) way to hang with the Pageant Queens.

Listen to the Pageant Queens Mix for AFTERS on SoundCloud.

Press play and ride the chaos with us.

Ariel Zetina is a multi-hyphenate artist and all-knowing force at home in Chicago and the global underground. In addition to producing original music and DJing, Ariel has scored and acted in independent films, and has her sights set on poetry, screenwriting, and the performance stage. Ariel co-founded Rumors and continues building spaces that center our trans and queer siblings. Ariel will be releasing a new EP on Local Action in winter 2027.

Miss Twink USA aka Del Hale is a superstar from the heart of Chicago, commanding and moving entire rooms with their high-energy fusion of techno, house, and club. Del followed up their 2025 single Fourth Wall with the Lead / Dismissed EP this summer in collaboration with Drumset. Miss Twink USA was recently featured alongside Ariel Zetina and a cast of Chicago cover stars in The Nocturnal Issue.

Listen for a special message from Mizz Softee inviting you to her upcoming party at Signal on October 11th and a big announcement from the QT*BIPOC collective TRINA on their first-ever party outside of Whole Festival in Berlin on November 14th at LARK.

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