Log in Sign up
Back to Discover
🎨

Drag queen

arts Maturity 7-9

Drag queens are fun performers.

DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
They wear bright clothes. They use lots of makeup. They might sing or dance on stage. This helps them show who they are. It is a way to be creative. Do you like to dress up?

49 words

Drag queens are fun performers.

DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
They wear bright clothes and big wigs. They use lots of makeup to look different.
Lorellasukkiarini.jpg
Lorellasukkiarini.jpg
Some queens sing or dance on a stage. They might also lip-sync to music. This is a way to show art. It helps them show who they are. Some people do this for a job. Others do it just for fun. Drag kings are also performers. They dress in clothes that look strong. It is a way to be creative.

89 words

Drag queens are artists who use clothes and makeup to perform.

DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
They often use bright colors and big wigs. They may exaggerate female looks for fun. This can include wearing very high heels.
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
Some queens sing or dance on a stage. Many also do lip-syncing. This means they move their lips to music. People do drag for many reasons. It can be a way to show who they are. It is also a way to make art. Drag shows happen at many places. You might see them at pride parades or clubs. Some people do this as a job. Others do it only sometimes.

There are also drag kings. These are performers who dress in masculine clothes.

Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5.jpg
Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5.jpg
Drag has a very long history. In ancient Greece, men played female roles in plays. In the past, some performers were called female impersonators. They did this to entertain crowds in theaters. Today, many different people perform drag. This includes men, women, and non-binary people. It is a way for everyone to be creative.

194 words

Drag queens are artists who use clothing and makeup to perform. They often use costumes to imitate or exaggerate female looks. This can include wearing huge wigs or very high heels.

RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
Many performers use these tools for entertainment or self-expression. Some shows include live singing or dancing on a stage. Others use lip-syncing, which means moving lips to recorded music. These performances happen at parades, clubs, or big carnivals.
Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1.jpg
Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1.jpg

There are many ways to do drag. Some people are professionals who star in films. Others might only perform drag for fun on special days. While many drag queens are men, other people join in too. This includes women and non-binary people who perform drag.

Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5.jpg
Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5.jpg
There are also drag kings who dress in masculine clothes. A performer like Landon Cider is an example of a drag king. Some artists even prefer to use different pronouns while in character. They might use "she" or "he" depending on their persona.

Drag has a very long history in theater. In ancient Greece, male actors played female roles in plays. This tradition lasted for many centuries. Later, performers were often called female impersonators.

John Hunter 1952 SLNSW FL9722539.jpg
John Hunter 1952 SLNSW FL9722539.jpg
During the vaudeville era, some men became famous for this work. Julian Eltinge was one of the highest-paid actors in the world. Another performer named Andrew Tribble gained fame on Broadway. In the past, some performers had to hide their identities. This was because being part of the LGBTQ community was sometimes illegal.
Drag queens argentinas 1995 crop.jpg
Drag queens argentinas 1995 crop.jpg

The term "drag queen" has changed its meaning over time. In 1950s New York City, it had two main uses. One meaning described amateur performers who did drag for fun. The other meaning described men who wore women's clothing on the streets. In 1971, a magazine described queens as being very flamboyant.

Lorellasukkiarini.jpg
Lorellasukkiarini.jpg
Today, the art form is much more diverse. Many artists now call themselves drag artists to show they are creative. In Brazil, some people use the term "drag queer" for gender neutrality. This shows how much the culture has grown and changed.

Drag is now a global art form with many fans. In India, drag culture is growing very quickly. Artists like Maya the Drag Queen perform in major cities. India even started its own drag magazine called Dragvanti in 2020. In Canada, drag has been part of plays and films for years. The film Outrageous! was one of the first to reach many people. From Lebanon to Brazil, people use drag to share their stories. It remains a powerful way to celebrate creativity and identity.

458 words

A drag queen is a person who uses clothing and makeup to imitate or exaggerate female gender roles.

DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
Most drag queens use these tools for entertainment purposes. They might perform through lip-syncing, live singing, or dancing. These performances often take place at nightclubs, cabarets, or LGBTQ pride parades.
Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1.jpg
Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1.jpg
Drag is a way for people to express their creativity or their identity. It can be a professional career or a hobby for some. Some artists star in films and spend most of their time in persona. Others only perform drag occasionally for fun.

Performing drag involves a specific set of techniques to transform an appearance. Artists use heavy makeup and elaborate costumes to change how they look. This often includes wearing very large wigs or extremely high heels.

Lorellasukkiarini.jpg
Lorellasukkiarini.jpg
Some performers use these tools to create a heightened version of femininity. Others may use drag to perform an exaggerated version of their own gender. The goal is often to create a persona that is larger than life. This transformation allows the artist to step into a different character on stage.

There are several different types of performers within this art form. Drag queens are often associated with feminine presentation. Their counterparts are called drag kings, who are performers that dress in exaggeratedly masculine clothing.

Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5.jpg
Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5.jpg
While many drag queens are cisgender men, the community is diverse. Transgender women and non-binary people also perform as drag queens. Some cisgender women perform drag and are called faux queens or bioqueens. The term drag artist is also used by many to describe nonbinary performances. These different categories show the many ways gender can be explored through art.

History shows that gender impersonation has existed for a very long time. In ancient Greece, male actors played female roles in theatrical plays. This was because women held a lower social status at that time. This tradition continued for centuries until motion pictures became popular. During the vaudeville era, some men became famous as female impersonators. Julian Eltinge was one of the most successful and highest-paid actors in the world. Another performer, Andrew Tribble, gained fame in Black Vaudeville and on Broadway.

The term "drag queen" has a complex history in the United States. In 1950s New York City, the term had two distinct meanings. One meaning described amateur performers who did drag for fun at pageants. The other meaning described men who wore women's clothing on the streets. At that time, wearing such clothing in public was illegal in New York.

Drag queens argentinas 1995 crop.jpg
Drag queens argentinas 1995 crop.jpg
Performers often had to distance themselves from queer identity to avoid criminal charges. This was because it was often illegal for LGBTQ people to congregate. Even as late as the 1970s, performers worked hard to maintain respectability with mainstream audiences.

Modern drag has become a global phenomenon with many notable figures. RuPaul is a famous American drag queen, actor, and musician.

RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
In Brazil, Pabllo Vittar is a well-known drag queen and singer.
Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1.jpg
Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1.jpg
Drag culture is also growing rapidly in India. Following a 2018 Supreme Court ruling, drag has become a mainstream art form there. Artists like Maya the Drag Queen perform in major cities like Mumbai and Delhi. India even launched its first drag magazine, Dragvanti, in 2020.

Drag connects to many different social and legal systems around the world. In Canada, the history of drag is tied to legal struggles. John Herbert was convicted of indecency in the 1940s while dressed as a woman. He later wrote the book *Fortune and Men's Eyes* based on his experiences. In Lebanon, drag is a visible scene in the Arab world. These connections show how drag is linked to law, theater, and human rights. It remains a powerful way for people to navigate and celebrate identity.

660 words
🖼️ Images & Media (13)
File:DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014 (15567688849).jpg
DC High Heel Drag Queen Race 2014...
File:Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1.jpg
Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1.jpg
File:RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
RuPaul by David Shankbone.jpg
File:Drag queens argentinas 1995 crop.jpg
Drag queens argentinas 1995 crop.jpg
File:John Hunter 1952 SLNSW FL9722539.jpg
John Hunter 1952 SLNSW FL9722539.jpg
File:Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5.jpg
Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5.jpg
File:Alex Mathew & Maya the drag queen.jpg
Alex Mathew & Maya the drag queen.jpg
File:Manifestation pour le mariage pour tous Paris 16 12 2012 13.jpg
Manifestation pour le mariage pour tous...
File:Eddie Valdez "José Maria González" Wild Side Story 1977.jpg
Eddie Valdez "José Maria González" Wild...
File:ESC2014 - Austria 16.jpg
ESC2014 - Austria 16.jpg
File:Sofia Pride 2019 Drag Queen.png
Sofia Pride 2019 Drag Queen.png
File:Lorellasukkiarini.jpg
Lorellasukkiarini.jpg

+ 1 more

Up Next
🎨
Drag show
Arts
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.