Don't be a Drag just be a Queen
Even if it may seem to some that drag queens magically appeared recently with shows like “Pose” or “RuPaul’s Drag Race” rapidly rising in popularity, drag itself is an art form that has always been around. Drag queen RuPaul or better yet “the queen of drag” and other queens have helped establish drag queens rising role in pop culture by continuing to spread their “charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent” to the world through television, movies, music and activism and are now branching their way out onto magazine covers, high fashion campaigns and runways.
Photo Credit: Vanity Fair
Mini “Herstory” Lesson
Drag itself began in the theater with men playing the roles of women in plays. The actors’ dresses would drag on the floor, and they dressed resembling a girl. However, it wasn’t until the 1800s when activist and former slave William Dorsey Swann called themself a “queen of drag.” That was one of the first known times someone used drag as a way to self-identify.
Later in the 1900s underground ball culture, similar to what television series “Pose” depicts, began to flourish in New York City. These balls were looking for realness through the category and extravaganzas of the night. Queens would represent their Houses and drag families with their sickening looks in the hopes of getting “tens across the board.” No matter what, where, or how big of a safety risk it was, queens would still serve with their makeup, fashion, moves and personalities.
Photo Credit: Vanity Fair
Photo Credit: Esquire
From pageant to comedy to spooky to high fashion and everything in between, queens can do it all. Whether they are seen lip-syncing live, when you’re scrolling on social media or when you’re watching a show, these queens are staying true to the essence of drag culture which is to entertain.
Now, drag queens are making their mark in the world of high fashion. A seamless transition considering their camp looks have always been iconic, but now many queens like Bimini Bon Boulash, Symone and Aquaria can be seen sashaying down the runway, attending the hottest shows, going to the Met Gala or working closely with designers.
Brands like Moschino, Prada and Art School are using drag queens as models for ad campaigns or the catwalk, embracing the fashionable nature of drag and elevating the style of the icons. The worlds of drag and high fashion are coming together, breaking boundaries and looking fabulous while doing so.
Photo Credit: L’Officiel
Photo Credit: Entertainment Weekly
Copyediting by Trinity Gates
Graphics by Ned Feininger