It’s been over one week since Maxie was crowned the glorious winner of Drag Race Philippines season 3. She highlighted how family values and support helped on her way to becoming the queen she is today. Competing alongside her younger sister Angel, they both showed that sibling rivalry wasn’t their style. Instead, what makes Maxie special is her commitment to uplifting those around her.
Before Drag Race, she was already a household name, having appeared on Paramount Plus’s Queens of the Universe, where she showcased her pop star potential. Although her journey didn’t go as planned, her time on Drag Race was nothing short of success. Winning three Maxi challenges and earning herself the coveted Ru-peter badges.
However, it was the final lipsync for the crown that saw her kind heart shine as she advocated for trans rights and brought her beloved sister onstage. At the core of her heart is the sisterhood she shares with her fellow queens. As viewers know, OBar is the place to see the best of the best perform in the Philippines, and rightfully so, as it’s home to Drag Race Philippines winners Precious Paula Nicole and Captivating Katkat, with Maxie now joining their ranks. She’s proof that nothing but hard work, patience, and, most importantly, kindness can go a long way.
I had the pleasure of talking to Maxie about her popstar dreams, the current Maxiverse series on Youtube, and of course her journey on Drag Race.
Kirsty Bright: Following Queens of the Universe, you had a really large following going into Drag Race Philippines as well as a strong support system from both your fans and family. How did their encouragement shape your confidence heading into the competition?
Maxie: My confidence has been shaped since the beginning of my career, largely because my family has been very supportive of me. Especially my father, and as a gay man in this community, having an open and strong relationship with your father is very important. He has taught me to be very, very confident no matter what my gender is.
KB: What was your main lesson from Queens of the Universe, and how did you apply what you learnt into Drag Race Philippines?
Maxie: To just be patient and take care of yourself. Learn to think about your decisions and to stay strong. This way, in your next journey, you will be better prepared—more stronger, more confident, and more powerful.
KB: What inspired you to apply for Drag Race Philippines? And did you feel any extra pressure because you were already well known?
Maxie: I was inspired to join the show after the queen of the universe. I didn’t reach my goal, I fell short, and the experience wasn’t the whole full fantasy I had imagined. One of my biggest dreams was always to compete on Drag Race, but when the opportunity for Queen of the Universe came up, I went for it as it was a singing competition, which is something I’ve loved to do since I was a child. Failing to win only fuelled my desire to show more of my potential, which is why I joined Drag Race. And to make it even better, I brought my sister too, which is so much more fun, right?
KB: As the third queen from the O Bar to win Drag Race Philippines, it’s safe to say that the bar has been raised for queens who perform regularly and hope to compete. What makes O bar so most well-known, and how would you describe the local drag scene?
Maxie: Because, you know, at O bar, we always had a strong sense of training and learning. Every day or night, we faced different challenges, especially in my era- which was right before the pandemic! We all have a very good relationship with each other, and we make sure that people see that we are a tight-knit drag community, and that community continues to grow. We didn’t always get a chance to showcase it, but now it’s so clear that O bar is one of the greatest bars because we do variety shows that are more like concert performances. The training and sisterhood is what matters most. You learn so many different things, especially when your sisters are genuinely supportive and generous.
KB: Your family plays a very big part in your life, and during the competition, both your mom and dad appeared. That must have been an incredible experience. How did it feel to see them on the show, and what was it like to put your dad into drag?
Maxie: I was so incredibly proud to show my parents to the world and be like these are my parents, everyone. As my upbringing was amazing because of them, my confidence comes from their love and support. This is me; this is who I am; this is how strong I am because of them. I’m very, very proud of them. So, when they featured my parents, especially my father, on national television in drag, it meant a lot.
As I said, beginnings are really important, and having a strong relationship with him has always been important to me. I know how meaningful that is for others to see, especially since some of my friends or our sisters in the community have a hard time coming out to their parents. It may not be a 100% chance, but I hope there’s a chance that by sharing my story it can be an inspiration. Hopefully it might teach lessons and maybe even change the minds of some parents, you know?
KB: You had many successful moments during the show. Out of all of them, obviously, besides winning the crown. What were the highlights and why?
Maxie: The real highlight for me was the sisterhood and the bond that we all shared. Those moments are so special. It’s not just about me; it’s about all of us. Yes, we’re all dedicated to winning the crown, and it was a competition, but there is so much love and support between us. We were all very genuine and generous towards each other. What was important was that throughout the competition we never forgot the sisterhood in the end, and that made it so meaningful.
KB: You lived out your pop star fantasy in the finale talent show. Were there any particular female pop stars who had a big influence on who Maxie is today?
Maxie: Oh my God, there are so many! Beyoncé, Donna Summers—I am very into Donna Summers sexiness, Céline Dion’s incredible voice, Mariah Carey Fabulousness, Beyoncé’s power on stage, and of course Madonna. There’s been so many divas that have helped shape my personality. My Holy Trinity is Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, and Beyoncé. I have wanted to be like them since the beginning. So, being on Drag Race and becoming a drag queen has let me live out this whole fantasy.
KB: I wanted to talk about your YouTube channel, especially the MaxieVerse. It’s very creative! For those who might not be familiar with the series, could you share what got the ideas rolling and what inspired the concept?
Maxie: The Maxieverse idea came up, and I wanted to showcase all of my looks from the show each week. I had this idea because, you know, with so many drag queens out there in this universe, I wanted to stand out in my own way. So, I wanted to be different. I know how to act and tell good stories. Which is why I came out with Maxieverse and combined skits with my looks. It’s a unique concept that I really enjoy.
KB: Who would you love to have appear next, and what can we look forward to in the future of your channel?
Maxie: Oh, I would love to feature a lot of drag queens on my YouTube channel, and I would love to see them sing. I also want to see them shine, share their stories, and highlight their versatility on my channel. It’s important to me that I give the spotlight to everyone and celebrate everyone’s unique journeys.
KB: Could you share some of your goals that you have lined up next?
Maxie: One of my biggest goals is to release an album and enter the music industry, because I really, really love singing and writing songs. That’s one of my biggest goals, and another goal of mine is to achieve success in my advocacies, which I’m very passionate about.
KB: Where can our readers see you next, and where would be your dream place to perform?
Maxie: My dream place to perform—oh, that’s a very interesting question. My dream is to perform in stadiums across every city in this fucking world. I want to show everyone my true talent and so much more of me. My goal is to be the absolute best of the best that I can be during my reign, and I hope to stay healthy until the next reign.
I LOVE THIS SO MUCH! I LOVE HER SO MUCH!