Place Your Bets Now! Get to Know the 8 Queens of ‘Drag Den’
Dec 20, 2022 • Eli Magsaysay
Drag Den’s pilot episode received a standing ovation in its special advanced screening at Trinoma Cinemas last week and trended on Twitter the night it premiered on Prime Video. Fans of drag and especially its queer audience praised the show for its unapologetically Pinoy flavor, its polished technicals, as well as a format that separates it from the recently concluded season of Drag Race Philippines. All signs lead us to believe that this series created by director Rod Singh and produced by Philippine cinema’s power couple Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas is a hit in the making.
So before we go further into the season and they reach massive success, let’s get to know Drag Den’s 8 stunning queens!
Aries Night
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In the second episode, we witnessed how this introverted queen may struggle in challenges that require them to speak loudly, but as she brilliantly said so herself, one doesn’t always have to use their mouth to be loud and make a statement. Because where her words may fail her, her looks and moves certainly do not. Aries Night’s drag is inspired by darkness, a reclamation that creates joy, mockery, and awe out of all things frightening – and it is beautiful.
Barbie Q
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We love to see our transpinay talents thriving! She’s beautiful and she definitely knows how to serve looks but we’d be remiss to think this is all that Barbie Q has going for her. Because aside from her opulent, maximalist runways, this beautiful doll of a queen is a fierce performer, dancer, and choreographer who knows how to give one hell of a show. We cannot wait to see her slay a dancing challenge and the dragdagulan!
Lady Gagita
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This queen knows a thing or two about going viral. Back when it was not as easy to get clout, her ingenuity in her DIY recreations of Lady Gaga music videos brought her to the spotlight. But make no mistake. Lady Gagita is out here proving herself to be more than just a Lady Gaga impersonator. Just two episodes in and she’s already serving versatility with her comedic chops and original looks.
Maria Cristina
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One word comes to mind when Maria Cristina’s name is mentioned in the drag scene: theatrical. Anyone who’s ever seen this queen perform live can attest that they never disappoint delivering a show rich with passion and drama. And it’s no surprise considering this morena beauty is a child of the theater after all! And now that they won both the comedy challenge and the dragdagulan in the second episode, I cannot wait for what other tricks MC will pull out of her hat!
NAIA
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Arguably the winner of the face category whether in or out of drag, NAIA got Twitter’s girls and gays crushing on her hard as soon as Drag Den’s trailer was released. But don’t mistake dismissing her as just a look queen because this beauty got brains and teeth. Because aside from being a staple in the metro’s place-to-be for drag brunches, Butterboy, she also happens to be a smart queen known for her anti-fascist and anti-historical distortion TikToks. And because Drag Den is not afraid to embrace the art form’s political nature and history, NAIA must not be counted out.
O-A
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Campy, gorgeous, and wildly entertaining, local fans of drag see O-A (that’s oh-dash-ah) as one of the most exciting queens today. Her looks are polished. Her make-up is always correct. And her sense of humor is a trip. She has been a regular at Nectar Nightclub before she got into Drag Den. In fact, she has won the club’s Drag Cartel which is a key inspiration for Drag Den’s series creator Rod Singh for the show’s format.
Pura Luka Vega
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It only took me a clip of Pura Luka Vega performing Leona Lewis’ Bleeding Love to know that this one is a star. The only bearded queen in the show and often jokingly referred to as Jesus, this queen is definitely unique, to say the least. Her concepts always stand out. She is never boring nor predictable. This is an artist with a clear vision and a unique point of view determined to push boundaries and we are here for it.
Shewarma
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Shewarma is just 22 and she already looks the part of an artist who knows exactly who she is and what she wants. Because right off the bat, she made her mark when she gagged everyone with her over-the-top Higantes Festival-inspired look and her gorgeous presentation, eventually winning the pilot episode’s main challenge. Something tells me we’ve barely scratched the surface with what this queen has to offer. And if her Instagram is any indication, we best prepare for this queen’s upcoming runways. Because she’s about to kill some more.
So who do you think will take the title of the Philippines’ first-ever Drag Supreme? Make sure to tune in to Drag Den with Manila Luzon only on Prime Video, with new episodes every Thursday.
