Behind the Werk:
Drag Queens in Orange County
What's the T?
Drag Queen culture has transformed immensely from the high and low camp performances and the emulation of celebrities. As society has grown more understanding and accepting of it, today's queens have flourished with the freedom to create individual personas and express their inner diva/ alter ego. In Orange County, Calif., they have found homes within the clubs they perform and families amongst the other queens.
"We all came into this world naked. The rest is all drag."
- RuPaul
Twiggy
Photo by Melanie Roberts
April
Photo courtesy of April
Kunda
Victoria
Photo courtesy of Xander/Victoria
Photo by Melanie Roberts
Getting to look so flawless on stage requires these Queens to work their magic in transforming their faces by using the best tool of all, makeup.
Photos by Melanie Roberts
A little Drag Queen Lingo for you lost souls
Shade
beat one's face: a compliment to a queen with the perfect amount and shades of makeup to make her look fierce
hunty: similar to gurl/giirl, but with less negatory connotation and more endearment. It is a conglomeration of certain c word and the sweet, affection word honey
Shade, Throwing Shade, Shady: A word/phrase that implies a subtle insult or criticism towards an individual or group of people; the phrase can be used for implied face to face or behind the back insults
Dragmothers, Ru-Paul, Paris is Burning...
Educate yourself Hunty!