RuPaul’s DragCon UK 2024 aimed to be bigger and better than 2023’s convention. This year housed over 100 queens from across the globe (literally) who came to celebrate the power of drag with fans across the two days. RuPaul’s Drag Race arrived on people’s screens back in 2010, and since then, the franchise has gone from the US to the Philippines and seemingly everywhere in between. With the popularity of the show growing, in 2017 Wow Presents Plus was launched. The subscription service, which is a hub of LGBTQIA content, includes Drag Race franchises, as well as original series such as UNHhhh and The House of Avalon.
2022 saw the first season of Drag Race Philippines begin, and while the series brought incredible looks highlighting the beauty of Asian culture, it was much more important than that. It was a platform for the queens to have the chance to shine and educate audiences about the current LGBTIA issues in the country. These elements have led to the season being firmly cemented in the hearts of fans across the world.
Amongst the hustle and bustle of the weekend that is RuPaul’s DragCon UK, I was lucky enough to talk to the iconic look queen from Drag Race Philippines season 1, the belle of the ball, Eva Le Queen. Besides her glamour, Eva is a multi-talented person, excelling in the talent show with her poignant spoken word poetry piece. During the Bring Back My Girls season 2 reunion, she exclaimed, “Drag is not a crime. You can bring it everywhere, and anyone can enjoy it.”
Known for her looks, she didn’t disappoint at DragCon, looking like a Disney princess in a golden floor-length gown that Belle would be jealous of. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but she is also wise, disclosing during our chat that being single by choice is what real queens do (and amen to that).
Editor’s note *I had to keep in Eva’s adorable opening comment to me “ Nice to meet you, little lady.”
(laughing) Lovely to meet you, so starting with our main question of the weekend, what did you want to be when you were younger? And what do you think, younger you would think of what you do today?
Eva Le Queen: You know, when I was a kid, there were photos of me holding a fan or a hairbrush that I was pretending to sing into. So, even when I was a kid, I think my parents knew that I was made for something that was show business of some sort. Well, the voice, all the thrills, and the voice box didn’t turn out to be the stereotypical Filipino singer, but I was sure I was still meant to be in the show business industry.
Speaking of which, how has it been since you’ve left your season? What’s the reaction to it been like?
Eva Le Queen: It’s been amazing. You know, in the Philippines, because it’s just a small country in Southeast Asia, it’s still very conservative, highly Christian, and with very conservative people. But surprisingly, Drag Race was able to be embraced in such a way because it met people at an entertainment level and made them realise the lives of the LGBTQIA. Plus, it’s unlike anything that was seen before, so now our lives have catapulted.
Which is great because we get to see some incredible looks. Everyone seemed to enjoy your season much more than, say, some of their Western counterparts. Your season was always featured and referenced everywhere. Not only the looks but also the personalities seemed to be very popular. Why do you think that is?
Eva Le Queen: I think because it was very raw and refreshing. Imagine that we filmed our season two years after the quarantine. It was a lockdown with all the limited resources, and we were still able to bring that. I think because Filipinos are very talented, and I always say this, it was just a matter of us having access to the platform and the same exposure as everyone else. Everyone is so good, but the Philippines and Asian queens, in general, are very proud of showing the kids out there that kind of excellence from that side of the country.
With a cast full of such beauty, if you ever had to do a freaky Friday body swap with one queen from your season, who would it be?
Eva Le Queen: Alyssa Edwards. Oh, wait from my season?
You can body-swap with Alyssa if you want. We’d all want to, let’s be real. We’ll break the rules for you. (laughs)
Eva Le Queen: (laughing) Okay, well, so if I’m going to swap with anyone, okay, let’s go back to my country. I could probably swap with Marina Summer.
Mmm, well she is beautiful.
Eva Le Queen: Just imagine the things that I could do. Oh my god, I wouldn’t need to pad (laughing). I just love her feminine beauty, and I could just put on a blanket or something and be like, done, this is drag. (laughing) Just not having to wear corsets and getting to just show off with that beautiful body.
Not having to suffer a whole weekend during DragCon like the rest of you (laughs)
Eva Le Queen: (laughing) Oh my god, I’d be so free.
Is this your first Drag Con?
Eva Le Queen: This is my first one in the UK, but I did LA last year.
How does the LA event compare to the UK?
Eva Le Queen: You know, the energy of the people here in the UK is… I would say it is much bigger and warmer over here. They’re more excited to see us queens; the fans here just love drag in general. It’s just much more inviting. Probably because, like our season, Drag Race UK is also raw, as is the variety in the cast.
It’s certainly enjoyable to watch more raw seasons, and as a viewer, it makes for exciting viewing. You do so many interviews, so what’s the one story you wish you could tell but don’t get a chance to?
Eva Le Queen: You know what? I think it would be about my love life because right now I am single by choice. Like a lot of people nowadays, they just focus more on their careers and themselves. Especially when it comes to gay dating, they have this idea that having a relationship is like a lot of things; it is like butterflies or your life is going to be different, and it’s going to be so magical. But you can create that happiness for yourself. You are in the full capacity to give the happiness that you need in this world.
I think we need to hear that more as well. So many people think so differently, of course, but as you said, people need to realise how important loving ourselves is, and I think lately a lot of people are slowly starting to see it that way.
Eva Le Queen: Right? We so need to promote more of that. Like fuck Prince Charming, I’m a mother fucker, and I’m a queen (laughs).
For that reason, Eva truly is a queen for the people and who everyone should be following on social media: Twitter/ Instagram
