Meet some of the incredible Queens visiting the Habitat Pub (Burnaby Campus, Building SE2) on February 16. Read more about them and their relationship with drag!
Alma Bitches/Alma Be (she/they)
Alma Be started her journey with drag through Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a charitable organization with chapters all over the world. This charity focuses on raising funds, spirits, and skirts all while members are dressed up as queer nuns.
You can find Alma Be hosting Sanctuary Sundays at 1181 on Davie St since 2015. In May it’ll have been running for 9 years! As well, I’ll be hosting a new monthly brunch at the American on Main St starting Feb 17th called “Afternoon Delight!”
Find me on Instagram @the.alma.be or Linktree.ee/thealmabe and sign up for my newsletter or follow my Eventbrite!
Genesis (they/them)
In 2018, Genesis took a transformative step into gender-bending roles by embodying Frank N Furter in a local production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. They loved the feeling of empowerment and freedom, and inspired; they began to pursue Burlesque.
Over the next few years, their journey evolved further as they ventured into the realm of drag, giving birth to the persona known as Genesis. Genesis means “the start or birth of something,” which is appropriate considering they started their drag journey and explored new parts of themselves.
For glimpses into Genesis’s captivating world, follow them on Instagram @exclusivelygenesis.
Margaux Rita
Margaux’s journey in performance art began during their childhood in the Philippines, and when they moved to Canada, they discovered the transformative world of drag. For Margaux, drag became the perfect avenue to embody everything they aspired to be on stage: “entertaining, showcasing my talent, and expressing my femininity.”
The name Margaux holds special significance, drawing inspiration from a character portrayed by Filipina actress Maja Salvador. Additionally, given Margaux’s fondness for margaritas, the fusion of names seamlessly gave birth to their delightful drag persona: Margaux Rita.
To observe Margaux Rita’s performances and persona, follow them on Instagram @itzmargauxrita.
Bongganisa (they/she/he)
The drag name “Bongganisa” is a fusion of the Tagalog slang “bongga,” conveying notions of fabulousness, extravagance, and impressiveness, and “longganisa,” a Filipino sausage variety. They are inspired by women who yell, by men who weep, and by monsters who feel gay. Bongganisa advocates for essential causes, affirming that trans lives matter, Black lives matter, supporting land back movements, standing in solidarity with Palestine, recognizing the sacredness of queer art, and reminding all of us to drink our water!
You can catch Bongganisa’s vibrant persona on Instagram at @si.bongganisa. For an in-person experience, join them every Thursday at The Junction Pub, where they perform as the latest addition to Vancouver’s premier non-binary supergroup, ENBY 6!
Q&A:
How did you first get involved in drag, and what inspired you to pursue it as an art form?
Alma Be: “…When I first saw a Drag show, it looked like they were having the best time, but I didn’t really see myself doing it. I was told by friends that if I shaved and lost weight, I’d make an excellent Queen. For a while, I just supported Drag, whether it was carrying bags or driving Queens to gigs, until I went on vacation and attended a Bingo hosted by the San Francisco Sisters. Some of the Sisters had beards and represented all shapes and sizes, plus the event was great! I told myself that if the organization ever came to Vancouver, I would join it, and in 2010, it did!”
Are there specific themes or messages you aim to convey when you perform?
Bongganisa: ”My numbers vary with my mood, but a common thread is release and catharsis. I feel like emotive quality whether it’s happy or sad is really important in my numbers.“
Genesis: “…A lot of the songs I perform I listened to as a child or grew up hearing from my family. Performing these songs helps me connect with my family and live a childhood fantasy of being the pop icons or Broadway stars I always dreamed about. When people see me perform, I want them to feel inspired to express themselves to the fullest extent and have some fun!”
Are there any mainstream celebrities or pop culture icons who inspire your drag?
Alma Be: “There are lots of celebrities whose work I love. I don’t really try to reference them visually. I’ll look at Madonna and know that reinvention is the key to longevity. I look at Taylor Swift and see how good she takes care of the people that work for her and how kind she is to her fan base…”
Margaux: “My drag is heavily inspired by popular and strong Filipina women, such as Pia Wurtzbach and Catriona Gray. I’ve been a fan of Beyoncé since I was a little child, and she is one of my greatest inspirations as a performer.”
How have you seen the drag community evolve over time, and how have those changes affected you?
Alma Be: “As the popularity of Drag Race continues to rise, so does the number of people wanting to participate by either putting on events or doing Drag as artists. There’s good and bad with that. You have to work harder to break through and keep what you’ve worked for. Thankfully, I’ve spent the better part of my Drag career nurturing new talent and giving stages and platforms to a lot of Vancouver’s now top performers (including Canada’s Drag Race Season 4 winner, Venus!), so I’m looked upon by many as a mother figure (So they still include me in things, thank God!).”
Genesis: “I have been performing drag for two years and attending a lot of shows in Vancouver since 2017. In the time I’ve been observing the community, I have seen drag makeup and fashions elevate, and the standards have been raised exponentially. While it is great to see a high standard, this has made drag feel a bit more inaccessible to some, as the expectation can feel so high. I have also seen increased representation of different types of performers. There are more drag kings, more cultural representation, and more different body types. I was inspired to begin my drag journey by the nonbinary drag artists and drag kings that came before me, and I would not have felt the confidence to start had I not seen myself represented in them first.”
Are there any resources or communities you recommend for students who want to learn more about drag culture?
Bongganisa: “Attending local drag shows is the best way to learn about drag culture. It’s such a vibrant and nuanced community that it’s kind of impossible to understand until you’re there. Some of my favourite shows are Sanctuary Sundays at 1181, Ricecake, and King Sized.”
Margaux: “There are so many venues that showcase drag in Vancouver, especially on Davie Street. There is a weekly show at the Junction on Sundays hosted by Jaylene Tyme that educates the audience about drag and is an amazing all—ages show.”
Genesis: “I teach a class at Passion and Performance Dance Studio called Drag 101, which is an open-level class for people who would like to explore drag performance for the first time! The best way to get involved in drag is attending shows, following artists on Instagram, and just getting to know the scene in whatever way you can.”
Drag has been seen as a form of empowerment for those exploring their identity; do you agree? If so, what would you say to someone that is interested in creating their own drag persona?
Alma Be: “Drag (just like alcohol) can reveal some hidden personality traits, so when you start playing around, be mindful of that! I also believe Drag is a wonderful way to explore your gender identity. A lot of people I know have been able to reveal their Tran identities by getting involved in Drag. Vancouver Drag has, for the most part, always been a very welcoming place (I’m speaking of my own viewpoint in the last ten years). Someone is always telling us their new pronouns and we are always cheering he/she/they on!”
Bongganisa: “I think something that’s important to remember when creating your own drag persona is that it is constantly changing and evolving. Sometimes, it feels like I have to decide on a persona right away and stick to it, but something that I’ve learned is that my identity is constantly shifting and that it’s kind of a disservice to it to expect it to stay in one place. So instead, I work with whatever feels right at the time instead of placing myself in a box for the sake of branding.”
Genesis: “You can learn so much about yourself through drag! I encourage people to try out makeup looks or outfits at home, or if you’re feeling confident enough, go out to a show or event in a fun look! You never know how it will feel until you try.”
Margaux: “I would say to someone interested in creating their own drag persona to just express yourself and express your own art form. Even if others don’t relate to your drag, drag is all about self-expression and bringing out your creativity.”
Genesis leaves us with an important message: Drag is for everyone, both as performers and audience members! There are all-age shows and adult-only events (like the 19+ event at Habitat Pub on February 16th). We cannot wait to see you at BCITSA’s first official drag event!
