Drag saves lives. It’s a point the show has brought up repeatedly and when speaking to Michelle Visage – host of this year’s battle – it’s one of the first conversation points that comes up: “It’s an escape and at the same time, it’s an approval to these kids to know that they belong somewhere.”
Like many members of the LGBT community, it’s common to feel misunderstood, excluded and most dangerously – alone.
“Our audience is currently about eighty percent LGBT, twenty percent heterosexual, and it’s a beautiful thing,” says Visage. “All these kids, straight or gay, learn they have a place in the world. It’s OK to be weird, to not fit in, and to be creative in ways the world doesn’t always understand.”
Looking over the line up for this year’s show, it’s proves that the approval spreads wide and far. Just for example: Jinkx Monsoon is a narcoleptic cabaret queen who learnt drag from her grandmother. Adore Delano is a former American Idol contestant whose mother told her to ‘be less gay’ on television. Ginger Minj is a self-proclaimed ‘glamour toad’, one of the first plus-size queens to almost take the crown. Manila Luzon does the most incredible Imelda Marcos impression I’ve seen in my life.
“But they’re much more than one note,” reflects Visage. “We push them to be more than just a queen. When they grab a hold of that they’re unstoppable. They’re all fully rounded performers and have gone on to create their own brand.”
When pressed for details of what to expect on the night, Visage is tight lipped.
“It’s the full gamut of all the entertaining elements of drag. On the TV show you only get to see these girls in a competitive sense. What’s great about the live show is you get to experience how well rounded a drag performer can be.”
Visage also let drop that she herself will be performing “a few numbers” over the course of the night, which is exciting for someone who’s rarely seen her not sitting behind a judging panel.
As someone who’s dabbled into the world of drag, I was eager to hear Visage’s impression of the Australian drag scene. “I’m very lucky to visit Melbourne twice this year; I was blown away by the talent I’ve seen here. Some of the queens are definitely on par with the talent we’ve had on our show. I’m also literally obsessed with Kath and Kim. Half of our audience wouldn’t even notice how many references I sneak into the show.”
With some of the biggest names in drag on the bill, it’s tempting to ask who Visage’s favourite performer is. “It’s an impossible question to answer,” she says. “It’s almost like choosing your favourite daughter. They’re all so unique with what they do with their drag”
Regardless, one can expect comedy, burlesque, stage tunes and some very sexually confusing moments for heterosexual men from RuPaul’s Drag Race: Battle of the Seasons.
“It’s a night of zero judgement and immerses you into the incredible world of drag.” Visage surmises.
It is an incredible world, full of lace front wigs, borderline offensive humour and impossible looking eight-inch waist lines. It’s not all about looking fierce though. Despite being a counter-culture in many regards, the world of drag is also all about family, acceptance and being the person you want to be no matter what. Sometimes it just takes three hours of make-up and a corset to do it.
BY LUKE FORESTER
