While the “All Stars” season of “Drag Race France” is in full swing on France Télévisions, the Wow Presents Plus platform launched this Wednesday “Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale”. Twelve emblematic Asian Queens, having participated in “Drag Race Philippines” or other international editions of the franchise, will compete for the crown. Among the candidates: Kitty Space, who contributed in season 2 of “Drag Race France”. “Even if it’s in English, even if you’re not fans of me, look at this season anyway,” she encourages. You may well change your mind on Asians and the Asian drag. We are often invisible, so you will discover that we too are there. »»
How did you find yourself participating in “Slaysian Royale”?
WoW [World of Wonder, la société qui détient les droits du concept « Drag Race »] Contacted me to find out if I wanted to participate in an international season, without telling me more. I did not expect “Slaysian” at all, which I had not heard of. It’s funny, because, with friends, we told ourselves that it would be cool that one day there is a season made up only of Asian Queens to, precisely, highlight the Asian Queers and their drag. We are not often visited. Strictly speaking, we see one per season of “Drag race”, just to have a quota, and it is the first or the second eliminated.
How did you prepare for this competition?
The first question was that of the budget. I had no big means, but I wanted to show my talent in creating clothes and sewing. Apart from one or two outfits, out of the twenty that I prepared, I did everything myself. In “Drag Race France”, I had played the Asian card to highlight my Vietnamese culture. There, I took out that of fashion and French chic, with obviously, a little twist to evoke my Vietnamese origins. I also wanted to show a very side camp.
The shooting took place in the Philippines, in English. Have you quickly found your bearings?
Rather, yes, even if, because of the jet lag, the first days were quite complicated, it stung a little. We had to compete, concentrate, avoid being eliminated the first, managing the interviews … But as I had the experience of “Drag Race France”, the fear of filming was less present.
Was speaking English permanently, was it complicated?
No way ! I am so better in English. I am more confident, I don’t know why, I let myself go anymore. It is not my mother tongue, but the vocabulary of the drag is a lot in English.
Since your participation in “Drag Race France” in 2023, you have made your coming out …
Yes, I was therefore much more comfortable with my body, with myself. In my look for the promotion of “Royal Slaysian”, I show much more skin, I appear like a warrior, almost naked. I am at the start of the transition, I started taking hormones and, even if my body does not yet look like what I want, I am less ashamed to show it. I gained confidence and it feels, I think. Several friends to me, including Ginger and Paloma, told me that it was seen.
You have said, in your presentation portrait of this season, that your participation was a way for you to announce your family to your family.
A few years ago, I had made a post to reveal my transidentity on Instagram. Half of my family, who is not on the networks, has not seen it and I know they will look at this season when I talk about my transition. I don’t really apprehend the reactions. A few weeks ago, my mother called me and I did my Coming Out Trans, because it might have been a little brutal that she learned it via the show.
What can the public expect with “Slaysian Royale”?
Expect to see drag with a large D. We, the Asians, have incredible looks. It’s going to be energetic, funny, moving. There will be, maybe a little drama, I don’t know … about me, you will see me under a new facet. The new me, the real me. In English, I don’t have the same attitude at all. I hope that the assembly will not make me pass for the villain [la méchante] Because I was kind and I helped everyone!
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You will animate “views parties” of “Slaysian Royale” in Paris …
It will be every Wednesday, from 7 p.m., from August 13, at Food Society (Paris 14th). Entrance is free. In addition to viewing the episode, there will be shows. I will invite my Asian sisters, in particular that of the Rice Queens collective (Aaliyah Xpress, Madame Wasabi, rue St-Dénis, Lily Pinz…) and new talents for open scenes. There too, we will highlight the Asian drag.
