GMA Brandtalk
Tracking
Archives
8 Filipino drag queens weigh in on the state of drag in the PH entertainment industry
_2024_06_17_12_16_36.jpg)
The year 2022 was a big year for Filipino drag artists as it marked a whole new era of opportunities – big opportunities – to showcase their talents to audiences beyond the usual nightclubs.
In August that year, the pilot season of "Drag Race Philippines" (DRPH) streamed on HBO GO, showcasing 12 of the country's best drag queens.
To say it was a revolutionary moment for all Filipino drag artists would be an understatement. There may have been only 12 contestants on the show, but drag artists everywhere in the Philippines finally saw themselves on the small screen. It was all that mattered.
Shortly after Precious Paula Nicole won and became the first Drag Race Philippines superstar, the all-Filipino drag race reality pageant, "Drag Den Philippines," began airing on Prime Video.
Created by Rod Singh, Drag Den showcased Philippine drag culture, serving history lessons with every informative episode. It wasn't just entertainment. It was education.
Fast forward to today, and drag artists seem to be everywhere. Taylor Sheesh has taken on her worldwide domination as a Taylor Swift impersonator. Marina Summers has finally received her Miss Universe Philippines moment. Drag queens are landing major endorsement deals and starring in mainstream television commercials. not to mention regular appearances on TV.
But is the Philippine entertainment industry actually getting better at drag representation?
In this GMA News Online Pride Month special, we speak with local drag artists about the state of drag in the country and how far we have come in accepting drag as an art and profession.
Arizona Brandy
Arizona Brandy sees significant progress in the drag community compared to 10 years ago, when drag artists had little visibility in mainstream media.
"Before, you can only see us during pride month. We only appear as backup dancers or just the funny sidekick characters in films," Arizona said.
"But now, we get to be treated equally as other artists. Some of us even get to be the main characters in films," she added.
While there are more representation of drag artists in the mainstream media, Arizona said there are still more local talents waiting to be discovered in drag.
"I just wish that more people would support their local drag artists; there are a lot of talented artists who don't get as much support as they deserve," she said.
Arizona Brandy was the first runner-up in "Drag Race Philippines" Season 2.
NAIA
While NAIA agrees that drag artists are finally getting their much-deserved attention, the drag supreme of of Drag Den Season 1 said it also put the community under scrutiny for their art.
"With the mainstreaming of drag, we've had more opportunities to showcase our art on bigger platforms," NAIA said.
"This comes as a double-edged sword as the wider reach also entails putting our art under the scrutiny of people who might see it as inappropriate or even subversive," she said.
Precious Paula Nicole
For Precious Paula Nicole, the inclusion of drag artists in mainstream media has been progressive.
Crediting DRPH and "Drag Den," Precious said, "These shows have provided a platform for local drag artists to showcase their talents and gain local and international recognition."
"There are also many more movies, TV shows, and songs that feature the art of drag," she added.
Eva Le Queen
Eva Le Queen relates to the uplifting quote, "Malayo pa, pero malayo na," regarding the state of Philippine drag.
"In my experience as both a drag artist, producer, and manager for queens, I would say we've come so far because I see the demand for drag queens everywhere – in TV series and appearances, brand campaigns, and even corporate and private events," Eva said.
"Doors have opened, and we now have seats at tables we were once never invited to," she added.
But while drag is now widely known in the Philippines, Eva also acknowledged there are still people who refuse to think of drag as an art form.
"There is resistance, and I believe this is more of a perception issue and lack of understanding rather than a deliberate effort not to include and alienate," she said.
"So, it is up to drag artists to represent themselves to everyone in a way that would create a good and positive impact for everyone in the community," she added.
Eva Le Queen was one of the finalists in "Drag Race Philippines" Season 1.
Viñas DeLuxe
Viñas DeLuxe never thought that the time would come when she would get invited to prestigious events as a drag artist until "Drag Race Philippines" changed her life.
"Now, we are considered in various campaigns and events," Viñas said. "People are becoming more aware of our art and curious to learn about our culture."
"The future of drag and entertainment is bright, and I'm excited for it!" she added.
Viñas DeLuxe competed in "Drag Race Philippines" Season 1.
Brigiding
According to Brigiding, the Philippine entertainment industry has come a long way in terms of drag representation.
"I strongly think drag started to blossom during the pandemic," Brigiding said. "It was when all of us lost our jobs, so we started performing through livestreams."
The move to online allowed drag to become "more accessible to Filipinos, unlike before, when drag was only seen in nightclubs," she said.
Brigiding also thanked DRPH for giving drag artists a bigger stage and a wider audience to protest for their rights.
"While we're still far from how the LGBT+ community should be seen and accepted and be given equal rights, drag will remain a form of protest to showcase how the life of our brothers and sisters in the community should be celebrated," she said.
Brigiding competed in "Drag Race Philippines" Season 1.
Hana Beshie
Hana Beshie has DRPH to thank for its impact on the Philippine drag community.
"DRPH gave us, queens, a platform to showcase our talents in major platforms like HBO Go," Hana said.
"We get to be appreciated by people outside of nightclubs," she added. "Our art form is being treated more seriously now than before."
Although drag artists now receive more publicity, Hana said that the mainstream media could still improve inclusivity.
"We are slowly getting there," she said.
Hana Beshie competed in "Drag Race Philippines" Season 2.
Tiny DeLuxe
For Tiny DeLuxe, inclusivity for drag artists in the Philippines "has a long way to go."
"Discrimination, prejudice, and backlash from many people, especially the conservatives, still persist, which makes it hard for the mainstream acceptance of drag as an art form," Tiny said.
"However, these challenges also become a driving force for us to fight for our advocacy and promote understanding and acceptance not only of the drag culture but also of us, the LGBT+ community.
Tiny DeLuxe competed in “Drag Race Philippines” Season 2.
