Eva Le Queen Puts the ‘Queen’ in Drag Queen: Her Thoughts on Being Top 4, DRPH, and Her Advocacy

It's crazy to think that we could've missed out on the opulent Le Queen if she hadn't joined the drag scene in 2017 for fun while residing in Singapore (SG).

"I started out just playing with blankets and curtains until I joined an amateur Drag Competition in Singapore and finished 1st Runner Up," she recalls. "I started getting booked for major events in the SG Drag Scene and became a resident diva in one of the clubs while working as a corporate project manager during the day."

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Le Queen couldn't escape the limelight, not even if she wanted to, as she was inaugurated as a resident performer at Nectar Nightclub right before the pandemic.

She adds, "It was when I founded Drag Playhouse in 2020 that I decided not to return to the corporate world and do drag and events full-time."

Le Queen saw drag as her purpose in life. "I do drag because this is my 'Ikigai'. Ikigai is a Japanese concept referring to something that gives a person a sense of purpose, a reason for living. It happens when one has found what he/she loves to do, what his/her talents lie, what the world needs, and what they get paid for. It’s the beautiful intersection of purpose, profession, and vocation in one. Drag is definitely something that embodies all these things for me and I imagine myself doing so much more with it," explains the artist.

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"Drag for me is an artistic expression," she continues. "It is an output that translates one’s feelings, fantasies, emotions, pain, stories and things very personal and intimate. Like music to a musician or a painting to an artist, the drag persona brought to life through wigs, make-up, and textile is the Obra Maestra. I always say that drag doesn’t start when the music is on. It all starts once the last piece of acrylic nail or the last puff of perfume is worn and the fantasy comes alive."

But like every artist starting out, Le Queen had to seek a personality that truly made her "come alive". 

"I started out as a “Spooky Queen” with demonic eyes and a very sinister aesthetic. I have also explored being a Pop Star, a comedy queen, a campy queen, a classic diva and to where I am now – The Opulent Queen with a pinch of Stupid. Drag evolves as the person goes through different phases in their lives and embraces parts of themselves–new and old—that influence how they present their art form to the world. So, I would say that I am at this point in both my drag and personal life that I choose to live my life on my own terms and be at the helm of the community I wish to uplift and elevate.

Stripped down of her voluminous gowns, lush wigs, and pearls, Le Queen is still a superstar in her own right. She stood out among the 12 queens who are also undeniably talented.

"The thing about Drag Race Philippines is that it does not look for a singular or particular kind of drag. In fact, even with other franchises, there seems to be no sure-fire formula to becoming the ultimate Drag Superstar. The crown looks for a well-rounded and holistic personality that exudes Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve, and Talent. Hence, the entertainment value is only a part of the equation.

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"As Mama Pao always says in his closing lines, 'puso, puso, at puso pa rin.' My Drag Race journey was really filled with heartfelt love for my art, my sisters, and my community. There was not a moment in the competition that I did not tell myself to do my best as if my entire life depended on it. As if it will be the last time I will ever do a lipsync or walk the runway. My Drag Race run was powered by my determination to live my best life and a burning curiosity about how it would feel to push myself like I have nothing to lose.

Le Queen, whose quick-witted humour and situational jokes often leave the audience laughing or wide-eyed, isn't afraid to be frank about her advocacies either—especially when it's about serious matters.

She says, "If you come to think of it, everything that we do is political. It’s not just about the choice of a certain political party in this country can we only say that we are political. Whether you choose to segregate your waste to save the environment or advocate for equality and champion labour rights or mental health, it is all political to some degree. As a drag queen and an artist, my performances are usually 'story-telling'. Having the platform allows me to start conversations and convey important and relevant messages to my audience through my performances and appearances. My mere presence as a biological male dressed up as the overt and extravagant opposite sex is already a political statement amidst a very conservative and oppressive society towards the LGBTQIA+ community."

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During the pandemic, the queen started a podcast titled Evangelism where she got candid about certain topics including those that are difficult to discuss yet needed to be heard.

"I’ve always been a person preoccupied with a dozen things I wish I had said. Hence, with a little push from my Drag Playhouse sisters, I bought a nice microphone for recording and started writing my thoughts down and completed a season for Evangelism," she recalls. "Admittedly, I have been really busy since 2021 and have not had time to write new episodes but I am currently working with a team to bring in more episodes in the near future."

Le Queen continues to perform at live shows in the Philippines. Compared to the shows before, the crowd has grown since Drag Race Philippines aired which shows a promising future for the drag scene in the country.

She explains, "I believe it is important to have drag in the mainstream because it normalizes the conversations about queer talent and allows us to inject a fresh narrative into the lives of the members of the LGBTQIA+. Queer characters in the Filipino movies and TV have always been on the sidelines, commonly bordering as comedic relief, sexual predators, or a depressing story of an incurable disease. Drag in the mainstream is something new to Filipino screens. It is captivating and entertaining in the visual and gives us great opportunities to be appreciated beyond the stereotypes. And just maybe, more people will get to see us eye-to-eye and understand our struggles and plea for equality."

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