Pangina Heals. A name that many associate with as a gorgeous, ethereal, polished queen, known for her kind heart sprinkled with a little bit of sarcasm for good measure. In short, she’s a true superstar, which she showcased perfectly on season one of RuPaul’s Drag Race U.K. vs. the World. While we all know how that series went, she made history as the first co-host to compete, winning over hearts, and for those who didn’t know who she was, well, they certainly did after.
More importantly, Pangina highlighted just how excellent Asian drag is. For those of us who watch Drag Race Thailand, we already knew what others were missing out on. It was just a case of letting everyone else catch up. A franchise that featured incredible runways, sensational performances, and casts that had us glued to our screens each week. As the co-host of seasons one and two, Pangina is now stepping into the front seat, taking the reins, and will now be hosting season 3. After a six-year wait, the Meet the Queens reveal had fans excited about what’s to come.
Since her time on the show, Pangina has been giving queens like Bianca Del Rio, and Trixie Mattel a run for their money as the hardest working queen in the business. Speaking to Pangina ahead of the season’s airing she gave us a glimpse of what to expect, the local Thailand drag scene, her love for the UK. – and making her UK sisters suffer on her Wowpresents plus show Tongue Thai’d.
Let’s start with the exciting news that Drag Race Thailand is finally returning! Not only is the wait over, but you’ll be the brand new host. How does it feel to have received such a warm response from fans who are excited to see you take over?
Pangina Heals: I feel incredibly thankful and so blessed, like I’m living a dream. For me to be able to step into this role and for everyone to come out and support means the world to me. Because it’s a huge pressure and responsibility, but I know this is something we’ve all been waiting for—the fans have been waiting for this moment. We’ve been working, dreaming, praying, and now finally, great things are happening. It just takes a little bit of time, but I am beyond excited to unveil to the world my new queens, the panel of judges, and especially the runways. It’s amazing to see how far I’ve come as a drag artist and now as a host.
Is it hard to believe that season 2 was in 2019? What was it like to finally start filming again for season 3?
Pangina Heals: Eugh, yes (laughing). We’ve all waited so patiently, right? I can hardly believe it’s real. The day before or even the day we started shooting, I had to pinch myself just to scream, “It’s finally happening!” I honestly never thought this would happen again. It’s wild because the show has been off the air for so long. But now that it’s back, it’s going to give the girls so much exposure. We can all be reminded again why we all fell in love with Thai drag that we saw in Seasons one, two—and now hopefully season three!
Do you think that, and I don’t want to focus too much on Drag Race UK versus the world, but having competed and receiving critiques, you can now share that wisdom with the girls who might struggle or feel insecure during the competition? Do you feel you’ll be able to help them more, knowing you’ve gone through it yourself?
Pangina Heals:(laughs) For sure, I think the UK versus the world season one was unlike anything the drag world has ever seen before. Which is kind of crazy because was the first of its kind, right?
Everyone was watching, and the reactions were insane. The reception and the exposure I got from that show; is something that I’ve never thought I would get. It’s really propelled me into becoming an international queen and cemented the fact that I am officially a Ru-girl. So, it gave me the push to actually live out my dream. Having experienced all that I for sure can understand the girls. Because I got the perspective of what it’s like to be a contestant, and now have a deeper understanding about what they’re going through, and how they can overcome it, and give them guidance throughout this pressure cooker experience.
And what was it like to get such a warm response when you were announced to be the host of Drag Race Thailand? Because everyone was incredibly supportive and the reactions were insane. How did that feel?
Pangina Heals: It feels so lovely to be loved, and it feels so amazing because, you know, I think in life we go through rollercoasters, and after the UK versus the world, there was a lot of love. But my god, there was also a lot of hate. A lot of hate.
Which was ridiculous. People need to go outside and touch grass; it’s just a TV show.
Pangina Heals: Or, like, throw a lamp at them so they could lighten up. (laughs)
(laughs) Go outside. Get off the internet.
Pangina Heals: (laughing) Exactly. It’s kind of nice to actually know that most of the people when it was announced about Thailand were so supportive. They were just like, you know, she deserves it. She’s been hustling and working hard. And I have; I haven’t been home in so many years.
I was going to say, you never seem to stop as you’ve got so much going on. I was going to ask later on, but what do you do to relax? Because you’ve got your nightclubs too, right? Three of them?
Pangina Heals: Oh my god, so… I’ve actually just opened club number four now (laughs). And I plan to open two more next year.
Oh my goodness, how do you rest in between everything going on?
Pangina Heals: Um, I don’t know (laughing). I originally planned to stop at two. But then this is what happens. (laughs) Honestly though, with my new club, I’ve been focusing on helping the younger generations of drag queens, and they’re really young. So I’ve been mentoring all of them, and it’s been so rewarding. Teaching someone else allows you to instill not only a positive way of thinking but also valuable life skills. Some people think that, Oh my God, what happens if you want to be replaced? For me, I would be happy to be replaced by someone with a great mindset, a strong work ethic, and who is super talented. And we all will be replaced one day. So why not embrace it, you know?
Speaking of the local drag scene, how would you say the success of Drag Race Thailand has impacted it? With your nightclubs, I’m sure you have some Ru-girls and the local queens. So would you say the effect has clearly been positive?
Pangina Heals: Oh definitely. Because people have been coming to see me, though I rarely perform as much now. This year, I’ve invited so many Ru-girls from all the franchises to come to my clubs. I’m performing with Plastique Tiara on the 18th and Sasha Colby will be coming over, followed by Laganja. Oh, I also just had Marina Summers perform at my club.
That is an amazing lineup of queens. I absolutely adore the Philippine girls.
Pangina Heals: Oh my goodness, they are so awesome and so funny. What a fantastic season they just had!
This season of Drag Race Philippines was so raw and unfiltered; they don’t try to please the viewers, which is why I think Drag Race Thailand is also so popular. Why do you think Drag Race Thailand has been so well received internationally? There are now so many franchises, but people really seem to look forward to Thailand and the Philippines.
Pangina Heals: Exactly! I think with Thailand, the girls are known for their incredible runways and, yes, the fire—literally. (laughs) We’ve given so many iconic runway moments. With seasons one and two, when Art was hosting, she was deeply involved in fashion, which set the bar high. So the girls would know that they couldn’t just show up on stage in a simple leotard like they might in other franchises. Instead, if they did, we would read them to filth, and they wouldn’t even bother coming out (laughs). The expectations are incredibly high here!
Especially for this season, because the outfits on Meet the Queens were so stunning. Once the guest judges were announced, it hyped everybody up even more. Would you say having queens from the other franchise on the judging panel adds that extra dynamic?
Pangina Heals: Yes, every season has been so amazing. You have no idea how excited I am! This time, we’ve got such a diverse group of people, including Miss Universe Thailand. So we’re really covering all the bases. I think everyone’s universe was shattered a little bit when they found out that two hosts from a different franchise would be appearing. They didn’t expect us to bring that level of energy to this season; we are not playing around (laughs).
I love it! For those who haven’t watched Drag Race Thailand yet, how would you describe the difference in drag compared to the Western franchises like the UK, Canada, and US? What sets it apart?
Pangina Heals: I think, with the franchise in the US, it’s something that everyone knows and loves. But what sets Drag Race Thailand apart is that we’re such patriotic people and we have so much pride. What I hope viewers take away from the show is a glimpse into who we are and the beauty of our culture. There’s so much to fall in love with, and hopefully one day when you actually come to visit Thailand, you’ll get to experience those things firsthand like what I do on Tongue Thai’d. You’ll love the Thai food. On Drag Race Thailand, you’ll get to see our rich fabric, hear our stories, and get a taste of our culture, and rich mythology.
That is something that’s missing in the West, especially in the UK, as, let’s be real, the food can be a bit bland. Now, let’s talk a bit Tongue Thai’d. It’s so funny to watch the UK queens on that show, especially Blu Hydrangea and Lady Camden.
Pangina Heals: Oh my god, that was so funny, that poor girl—Lady Camden, not Blu. (laughing)
You could see the regret in her eyes halfway through as she was eating. Speaking of Tongue Thai’d, what was the concept of that show, and how did it come to be?
Pangina Heals: Yeah, I totally agree. I pitched this idea to World of Wonder because Thai food is loved all over the world. So why not do something really uncomfortable for drag queens because they hate to eat in drag, you know what I mean? Their eyelashes look like they’re about to fly off due to the spice levels. (laughs). It’s probably the worst thing to do in drag! So we thought, Let’s have a little fun and torture the queens (laughing). A lot of the queens, particularly the UK queens, tried to act like heroes. What a joy to see Blu and Cheryl suffer—as I love them the most!
And that’s the fun part! It was great to watch. Will there be a new season coming?
Pangina Heals: I am super hopeful. Ummm, lets just say I don’t know how much more I can say (laughs), as I don’t think we’ve announced anything yet. But I’m very hopeful. Wink, wink. (laughs)
So, if a new season were to air, who would be your dream drag queen to have appear as a guest?
Pangina Heals: Well, definitely a lot of the UK queens! UK torture is the funniest to me (laughs). So maybe Tia Kofi would be a fun choice. And of course, I’d be interested in Marina Summers.
I think Marina would do really well.
Pangina Heals: (laughs) You really think so?
Yes, she’s a super trooper. Look how she survived the UK. (laughing)
Pangina Heals: Yeah, but that’s so different when it comes to eating spicy food, though.
So true. But then she had to survive on British food (laughing)
Pangina Heals: Oh my god, you know what that’s so true, actually. That’s a struggle (laughs). Oh, I think one more that would be really fun is possibly, Laganja (Estranja.)
So obviously, with Tongue Thai’d, you’ve done Drag Race UK versus the World Drag Race and recently Drag Race Live. If you could do any other TV shows, what would you want to take on next?
Pangina Heals: Oh my God. Um, probably survivor. (laughing)
Oh my God, you really like to challenge yourself?
Pangina Heals: (laughs) You’re not living until you do things that really freak the fuck out of you. And I think the reason that I’ll be great at doing survivor is because I am so high maintenance. I really dont if I could survive.
You clearly love a challenge, especially with your new role on Drag Race Thailand. It seems like you’re always doing something. Your social media shows you as always busy, whether it’s walking the catwalk or participating in fashion campaigns. Do you have a specific goal in drag, or are you just tackling everything to push boundaries and break new ground?
Pangina Heals: So the thing about me is that I am so OCD, and I am the biggest planner in life. I’m always thinking ahead, asking myself, “What’s happening in one year, three years, or five years?” Every single time I’ve wanted to do something and set a goal, I believe in myself. I’ve gone on to push down every single door. So, I think Fashion Week is one of those things too, as I did my first New York Fashion Week about three years ago, but because I’ve been travelling so much and away all the time I’ve never done something like Fashion Week in Thailand. But I’ll actually be walking today for BIFW (Bangkok International Fashion Week). I’m finally here.
How exciting. How do you prepare for something like that? Do you get nervous?
Pangina Heals: I do get nervous because I’m walking with, like, the best of the best in the industry, like actual supermodels.(laughs) But what really helps me is my drag. It is my armour—nobody can tell me anything, and no one can touch me.
That was clear at the Drag Race Thailand press conference. You looked incredible, and again, the fans had such a positive reaction. It must feel great to receive that kind of response from people.
Pangina Heals: Thank you! It really is. I think I’m finally having a lot of fun with fashion. Because before it used to scare me, but now it’s something that I love to live and breathe.
So when you first started drag, how do you think it has helped shape your drag identity from then to now?
Pangina Heals: You know, the one thing that has never changed is that I feel so alive when I’m doing drag. That sense of fear and that rush that I get. There’s no other feeling that I have than when I’m in drag. I feel so powerful; so confident, and truly alive, and I don’t get that feeling from doing anything else. That’s why I never quit drag.
That’s it; it’s the only calling you’ve ever really had.
Pangina Heals: For sure, 100%! I’ve done many different things, but nothing has given me as much joy as drag. I’ve been a curator, an artist, a dancer, and a choreographer. I’ve worn so many hats. But for me, drag is the ultimate form of art.
So from your start in drag to the present day, what has been the biggest pinch-me moment? I’m sure you have a lot to pull from (laughs).
Pangina Heals:(laughing) Oh my god, what a question; there’s a lot. But I think getting the YSL campaign was one of the big ones. That was huge and being the face of Sephora. Goodness what else? Oh, obviously all the fashion weeks, but having my own show on Wow presents plus, like, that’s what winners get.
On the Wowpresents home page, you’re literally among the winners like Lawrence Chaney, Krystal Versace, and Vivienne; you’re sitting right next to them, which is powerful.
Pangina Heals: Incredibly powerful. And I mean, even being in Drag Race live, there’s only 30 of us, and that’s like, out of all the Ru-girls, there’s like 600 of us now (laughs). So to be one of the 30, to be able to do it, I think that was unexpected, and I was the second international queen to be there. So it was just surreal.
How did Drag Race Live come about? It was filmed in Las Vegas; how was that experience?
Pangina Heals: Yes, since we were doing Drag Race Live, they also decided to film Drag Race Untucked too. Walking in a hall of 2,000 people who all know who you are is so surreal, and it shows the power of drag. But one thing that over the years has been really monumental for me is my parents being so supportive. When they send me an emoji and say I’m so proud of you. That really just moves me to the core, especially because my mom didn’t like me doing this job in the beginning.
To get that approval from your parents must have been a very beautiful moment, as Asian parents are a lot more strict, right?
Pangina Heals: (laughing) Oh, they are. Girl, that is the understatement of the century. (laughs)
Finally, what’s next for you? With three months left in 2024, I’m sure you’ve got plenty planned!
Pangina Heals: Yes, I do! I’m bringing a lot more international queens to bridge the gaps and to make sure that the queens here can see a lot more from around the world. What else am I doing? Let me check my schedule (laughs). I have sleep in between, I promise. I am literally living day by day at this point!
Will fans get to see you in the UK anytime soon?
Pangina Heals: Yes, well, next year there’s Dragcon UK, right? So, I’ll definitely be there for that!
Ah yes, the most chaotic weekend of our lives (laughs).
Pangina Heals: (laughs) Oh my god, no sleep, but we all love it. We got to hang out!
Drag Race Thailand airs on Wednesdays starting tonight over on @wowpresentsplus worldwide:
🇺🇸 5AM PST / 8AM EST.
