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Drag queen

arts Maturity 7-9 Next article →

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
RuPaul by David Shankbone

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
Pabllo Vittar Festival Sensacional 2020-1

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
Khookha McQueer autoportrait 5

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
John Hunter 1952 SLNSW FL9722539

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
Drag queens argentinas 1995 crop

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
Lorellasukkiarini

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.

Alex Mathew & Maya the drag queen
Alex Mathew & Maya the drag queen

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.

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🖼️ 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

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