This post contains topics that may not be suitable for certain audiences. If topics like homosexuality and artistic expression are offensive to you, please skip this post.
DISCLAIMER 2:
There are a few sections in this post.
Each model has their own section with pictures first, interview second.
If you would just like to see the pictures, please scroll past the interview at the bottom of each section.
If you would just like to read the interviews, they're below each group of pictures. Small parts of the interview may have been edited for clarity, but I have left most of everyone's own words and how they answered via email.
The fourth section is where I have shared a few "outtakes" from the day. I will write a little bit about my own reflections, too. Fast summary: Know that I admire these brave souls for letting me into their world to talk openly about life. I hope you enjoy the pictures and interviews as much as did and do.
THE GIRLS:
It was through late night, hurried conversations on the train and at work that I met Alex. I don’t know how we got to this topic so quickly, but I didn't mind.
He was very open and willing to talk about his life, which was very refreshing to me. Many people are understandably guarded about certain topics, but Alex’s frankness was welcomed.
He talked about coming out to his family and then shortly after, he told me he started getting into the drag world.
I have recently tried to become more brave about asking people if I could photograph them, but I still didn't and don't have a good technique.
With Alex, I hesitated for a few days wondering how I could ask if he and his roommates would like to do a before/after type of photo shoot. I tried my best to avoid the creepy photographer stereotype, but also wanted him to know I was curious about drag queens and wanted to know more because I had a feeling that drag could be greatly misunderstood. I wanted to hear their own words. I learned a lot from these queens and I didn't learn just makeup tips.
Jeremy / Eve Devorié
Both lovingly and and maybe slightly spitefully, Alex calls Jeremy his drag aunt.
Out of this group of three, Jeremy has been doing drag the longest. Jeremy knows how to work a room. He said performance and charm were natural to him at a young age. He grew up in a Baptist household (Alex and Justin are from religious backgrounds as well) in a plains state where circumstances were challenging, not just because he was gay, but because of his skin color. He is saucy and will not be doormat for anyone. He said up until the day he moved, he did not just deal with homophobia, but also racism. It seems that the challenges of coming out to family, most of whom have accepted him for who he is, and other life experiences have refined him into a sharp, confident person.
Please see the end of the pictures in this section to read the interview.
I asked the same interview questions for everyone.
- What does drag mean to you?
- How did you decide to do drag and why?
- If you could clear up any misconceptions about drag, what would they be?
- What do you most want the non-drag world to know about your world?
Then some non-serious questions.
- Tell me about your before and after skin care routines (name products if you wish)?
- What is one product you cannot live without and why?
- What is one product you think is overrated and why?
- Are their any people and/or videos that have inspired your makeup, techniques, or style?
Jeremy's Interview:
What does drag mean to you?
Drag to me not only is a freedom of creative expression but I consider Eve like my personal super hero. She's gorgeous, strong, powerful, and goes for what she wants and for a lot of my life, she's been my rebellious outlet. I could do no wrong as long as I'm Eve. She was my scapegoat and someone I admired. Someone who I wished I had as much confidence and appeal as when I was a boy. I'm continuously merging the two together but she's still inside of me always wanting to come out and play. If life was school, drag is my recess.
How did you decide to do drag and why?
I started doing theatre in high school and like a lot of people, gay or straight, I avoided drag cause I didn't understand it. I thought it was just men wanting to become women. I never paid any attention to the performance ad theatrical aspects of it.
After discovering my natural love of acting and performing, I translated it to drag. Drag encompassed my love of the stage with my innate feminine flair and I though it was the best of both worlds.
In the gay community, there is a HUGE stigma against feminine gay men, especially drag queens. We're the clowns of the gay world or the "comic relief" to any movie, tv sitcom, play, satire etc alive. In drag, we're understood and praised more than just being gawked at as another "flaming homo". I started drag to perform but I continue it for the acceptance and the small family I've created out of those that share my passion.
If you could clear up any misconceptions about drag, what would they be?
All drag queens are not transsexual.
I feel that that's a big misconception, that all drag queens want to become women. Queens who do transition, I believe come into drag assuming that they are doing it for a certain reason and then realize that their connection to the feminine outlook lies deeper than just wigs and rhinestones. For most queens, drag is a part time (or full time) job. We get dressed to perform, make appearances, or just cause we need a fun escape for a few hours.
Then when we get home, our alter ego goes down the drain and into various packages and makeup cases and that's that. I hate when men say that someone is "Too cute to do drag" or looks down on someone because they do it. It's a job that most of us love doing which is far better than what most people can say about their job. I don't go to Starbucks and say, "Aww but you're too cute to make coffee" so why say something like that to me when I do my job for less hours in the day than you do.
I feel that that's a big misconception, that all drag queens want to become women. Queens who do transition, I believe come into drag assuming that they are doing it for a certain reason and then realize that their connection to the feminine outlook lies deeper than just wigs and rhinestones. For most queens, drag is a part time (or full time) job. We get dressed to perform, make appearances, or just cause we need a fun escape for a few hours.
Then when we get home, our alter ego goes down the drain and into various packages and makeup cases and that's that. I hate when men say that someone is "Too cute to do drag" or looks down on someone because they do it. It's a job that most of us love doing which is far better than what most people can say about their job. I don't go to Starbucks and say, "Aww but you're too cute to make coffee" so why say something like that to me when I do my job for less hours in the day than you do.
What do you most want the non-drag world to know about your world?
A lot of queens do drag for art but a lot are looking for acceptance too. What we do requires a LOT of physical, theatrical, and artistic skill. We're not just "fags in dresses". Most straight men aren't even man enough to put on a pair of heels, let alone dance in them. We do the exact same things Beyonce, Rihanna, Christina, and Britney do, we just weren't born with the parts.
Tell me about your before and after skin care routines (name products if you wish)?
I make sure to wash my face with an oil free cleanser and I use a combination skin moisturizer before applying makeup. It keeps the skin preserved and helps with better application of makeup. When I take it off, I follow the same steps.
What is one product you cannot live without and why?
I'd have to say my highlight. I'm NOTORIOUS for "cooking" (applying makeup and letting it sit on the skin until it is body temperature, then blending) on the way to the club or reapplying highlight various times throughout the night. Keeps the face looking new after a night of partying, drinking, and sweating lol
What is one product you think is overrated and why?
Eye primers. I know many queens who use them and to be honest I probably will be too in a few years (who knows) but its cheaper and just as effective to use a light concealer as a primer in my opinion than paying 20-30 for a makeup primer in a tube the size of my index finger.
Are there any people and/or videos that have inspired your makeup, techniques, or style?
Petrilude on YouTube pretty much taught me how to do my makeup. A LOT of it was trial and error, watching other queens paint and picking up tips but a lot of the basics I learned from him and when I started getting a better grasp on makeup, I was able to use his tutorials more effectively.
Alex / Lilyianna Kunt
Alex is new to drag. He tries to practice putting on his face at least once a week.
He was very candid about how drag queens get dressed. It involves things like foam, padding, body shapers, multiple bras, taping the genitals back (tucking), and practicing everything in high heels. Here are some of his pictures.
Interview:
What does drag mean to you?:
Drag means to me a way of expressing my inner self. It is the part of me that has always wanted to come out but couldn't because it was afraid to. With Lilyianna it's a whole new world and concept. She has always been a part of me. She's my alter ego pretty much.
I have always been a fan of like X-men and power rangers and the marvel, DC comics. Basically everything that has to be dealing with transforming and having super powers.
How did you decide to do drag and why?
For a couple of years I knew wanted to do it. Over that time I've collected a few things here and there but mostly makeup. Just at that time I never had the money or resources to start it. I know I could have done it if I just got the right stuff but I'm more of a hands on person. I like a teacher to teach me how to do it.
If it wasn't for Justin I would have never started doing it. Also I wasn't that confident enough to really do it. I'm a procrastinator and I need that extra push to get the ball rolling. He gave me that push to actually do it. In that time I have found my own confidence.
If you could clear up any misconceptions about drag, what would they be?
There are a couple.
People think that all drag queens are bottoms. That's not really always true.
The other is that some people think that we want to become women over time. Honestly most of
the time, that isn't true. Yes there are a few drag queens who have transitioned into becoming women but I think that was thought out before their careers started or before they wanted to become drag queens. I that know transition to become a woman isn't something for me because at the end of the night I want to take everything off. I like being a guy. Heck, I love being one.
What do you most want the non-drag world to know about your world?
We are not freaks of nature. What we do is solely to entertain people. It is an art form, not something to be gawked at or made fun of. It takes balls to do what we do. It is fucking confidence at its best. Some of us risk our lives just to entertain yours.
Tell me about your before and after skin care routines (name products if you wish)?
I always take a shower before I get all dolled up. I wash my face with St. Ives apricot scrub.
You always want to moisturize before you cake that make up on. I use Nivea's moisturizing
creme which is not only for the face but for body and hands. I mostly use it for my face though.
What is one product you cannot live without and why?
It's two actually. My scrub and moisturizer. Let's be real and say that I'm not getting any younger here. Those two things keep my skin looking young. I use them every day not only when I do drag.
What is one product you think is overrated and why?
I don't think there are any products that are overrated because each one, whatever it may be, is used to help you make you feel better about yourself. Makeup is used to enhance ones beauty. Lotions, cremes and moisturizers are used to make your skin feel and look better and younger. Not only are the designed to make you feel better but also to make you look better over time.
Are there any people and/or videos that have inspired your makeup, techniques, or style?
Like I said, Justin has taught me my simple face. Meaning the face that any drag queen should start out with. But there are still a lot of things I need to learn. Every time I practice my face I'm always doing something different. I rarely ever watch a tutorial on how to do something. I think I inspire myself a lot of the times because every time I do a certain eye or lip it turns out great.
Justin / Tiffany Jives
Alex's dragmother and the youngest of this group. He has passion for makeup and artistry at the same time just graduating high school and taking a bunch of difficult AP classes like calculus and advanced science classes. Justin has a makeup channel on YouTube with a really great transformation video and a Facebook page for Tiffany if anyone would like to follow her journey.
Interview:
What does drag mean to you?
Drag to me is more than a form of expression. It is a way of giving ourselves a platform in not only the gay community, but wherever people are willing to listen to us. Drag queens are put on a pedestal in gay culture and, therefore, have a voice that they might not otherwise obtain. People come to see what we have to offer and hear what our opinions are. These opinions can range from gay marriage, adoption, bullying, or even fashion. Sure, drag in a great way to exploit our talents in nearly any given form, but it is so much more than that to many of us.
How did you decide to do drag and why?
I have been immersed in the arts since I was very young. I loved being on the stage, no matter where it was, and showing people what I had to offer creatively. I was also very talented at drawing, which transferred into my love for makeup.
I was fifteen when I discovered drag for the first time. I was watching RuPaul’s Drag Race on VH1 and was instantly intrigued by the idea of it. So, the following Halloween, my friend and I came up with the idea to put me in drag for the first time, just for fun. I looked awful, but inside I had never felt more powerful. It was like I could say and do whatever I wanted, and nobody could tell me I was wrong. It was empowering. This was the moment that changed my life, only I didn’t realize it at that time.
It wasn’t until I was seventeen that I took drag seriously, and wanted to do it for more than just Halloween. I wanted to combine my artistic skills with my love for performing, and put them all together to create my alter drag ego. All I needed was a name.
If you could clear up any misconceptions about drag, what would they be?
The most common misconception that I get is that we want to become women. This is not always true. Some men do drag because it is a way for them to express their creative talents, or whatever other motive they may have, but have no desire to change genders. It is just a job like any other. Some, however, do drag because they feel more comfortable appearing and acting as a woman. Whether or not they realize it varies from person to person. As one transgender drag queen said, “Trans is what I am. Drag is what I do.”
What do you most want the non-drag world to know about your world?
We are more than just men who happen to dress as women from time to time. Some of us are doctors, lawyers, public representatives, priests, personal trainers, and so much more. We have lives outside of drag and enjoy being men. I personally run my own cosmetic business that is built on making others feel more confident in themselves. I am also a full-time student, a part-time sales associate, a son to a single mother, a suicide survivor, and an artist in my own right. Drag queens are people just like anybody else. We just have an interesting way of expressing ourselves.
Tell me about your before and after skin care routines (name products if you wish)?
Clear skin is the MOST important part of makeup because it is the base for whatever you put on your face, and it is ideal to have a smooth surface to work on. I wash my face twice a day with my Glycolic Facial Cleanser by Anthony followed by a moisturizer with SPF 30. Once a week I also clear all the built up dead skin with Pure A-Peel by Onsen, exfoliate with Warming Anti-Blackhead Cream Cleanser by Biore, and finish with my daily facial cleanser and moisturizer. Since I am a man, I also shave every other day followed by Sensitive Post Shave Balm by Nivea and my moisturizer. This routine works fantastic for me, and leaves my skin clear, clean, and always smooth.
What is one product you cannot live without and why?
One word… PRIMER! I had terrible acne until around the end of high school, so there is a lot of scarring and enlarged pores on my face. What primer does is fills all of those creases and pores to make my foundation go on smoother and last longer. The one I use also corrects the redness in my skin by cancelling it out with green. My all time favorite foundation primer is Photo Finish Oil Free Foundation Primer by Smashbox.
What is one product you think is overrated and why?
I am a major fan of MAC Cosmetics, however, their Carbon eye shadow is entirely too overrated. It is a great matte black, but it is not worth fifteen dollars. There are plenty of black eye shadows that are just as good as Carbon for less than half the price.
Are their any people and/or videos that have inspired your makeup, techniques, or style?
I find inspiration everywhere so it’s hard to mention just a few. I really enjoy watching makeup tutorials on Youtube to learn new things all the time though. Some channels that I personally think are great to follow are petrilude, michaeljames, and BoyWithBrushes.
As far as my drag character goes, I pull a lot of inspiration from Audrey Hepburn.
A FEW EXTRAS
NO CAPTION NECESSARY:
NO CAPTION NECESSARY:
QUEENS NEED TO EAT, TOO, YOU KNOW:
NOT EVEN HALF OF THE MAKEUP USED DURING THE DAY:
COOKING:
SELFIE:
TEACHING:
CHANNELING GRACE JONES:
MORE TEACHING:
QUIET MOMENT:
I had a camera battery mishap in the middle of the shoot, but that allowed for some time for the guys to talk to me about some more serious topics, like coming out, religious families, friendships, relationships, and life goals.
One of the things that struck me the most, though, was when all of them agreed that if you do drag, you must know how to defend yourself. I'm not talking about dance offs or queens throwing shade. I'm talking about literally knowing how to fist fight and get away from someone trying to hurt you because you're gay and/or in drag.
They've all had close experiences with violence committed by strangers. It is sad because people shouldn't have to live in fear of someone beating them up because of their sexual orientation or the ways they may choose to express themselves. Jeremy, Alex, and Justin are very brave to let me into their world and to be so honest about it.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. I know I learned a lot and I'm forever grateful to them for teaching me.
