Cover Filipina drag queen Minty Fresh (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
Filipina drag queen Minty Fresh (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
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Following her exit from ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World’, Filipina drag queen Minty Fresh discusses her evolution from Manila ingenue to a fully realised global force
The trajectory of a Drag Race alumna is now following a predictable arc: the initial splash, the frantic touring and the eventual, inevitable call to return to the fray. For Minty Fresh, the stakes for her second outing were considerably higher. Stepping onto the set of RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK vs. the World Season 3, she carried the weight of a nation known for its devotion to the craft (cue: Filipina drag!). While her time in the competition was cut short following a turn as a unicorn during the Snatch Game segment, her presence remained a definitive highlight of the season’s early episodes.
Even as RuPaul delivered the final blow, the host could see the star power radiating from the Filipina queen, describing her as “crisp, cool and destined for global stardom.” Minty’s exit, though premature in the eyes of many who watched her lip-sync against Fontana, was handled with the poise of a seasoned professional. She leaves behind a portfolio of runway visuals that challenged the very definition of drag architecture, proving that her reputation as a visual powerhouse remains entirely undisputed.
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In an interview during the season’s premiere at Rampa Drag Club, Minty appears remarkably unburdened by the elimination. There is a sense of completion in her words, a feeling that the quest for a crown matters far less than the consolidation of one’s artistic identity.
Above Filipina drag queen Minty Fresh (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
Above Filipina drag queen Minty Fresh (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
Filipina drag queen Minty Fresh (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
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How does the Minty Fresh we see on the world stage differ from the one we first met in Manila?
Compared to Drag Race Philippines Season 1, where I was still exploring, this time, Minty Fresh was fully realised. I know what I am capable of doing. My strengths—I know them. I also know the things I cannot do. My weaknesses, where I am weak, I know those too. I am fully aware. I know the best I can give to people.
Your drag is known for being polished and fashion-forward. How did you prepare to elevate your looks for an all-star season like UK vs. the World?
Thank you if that is how people see me. But of course, there is added pressure, especially with the looks, because that is the title people gave me. For them, that is my strength—the visual part of drag is the best I have to offer. So, there is pressure for everything to be perfect. I want to have no regrets, unlike in Season 1 where I had looks that made me think, “Hmm, why did I wear that?” (laughs). This time, we brainstormed. Everything should be more than beautiful; everything must have meaning and stories.
See also: Drag queen Brigiding’s run on ‘Slaysian Royale’ centres on healing and a “royalty” of her own
Above Filipina drag queen Minty Fresh (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
Filipina drag queen Minty Fresh (Photo: courtesy of Team Brigiding)
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During the season’s premiere, what was going through your mind as the world got to witness this new chapter of your journey?
Actually, when I watched it earlier, I was quite anxious because I was watching it along with the whole world for the first time. We had no access to watch it in advance. Now that I have seen it, I am so proud. I am so grateful, and I am so excited for everyone to experience and watch the whole season.
How did competing internationally change the way you see yourself as an artist?
Going there, even though I said I am fully realised, I still leave room for growth. The things I learned on UK vs. the World were immense. It is a different world entirely.
What do you hope young Filipino queens take away from seeing you on UK vs. the World?
I remember when I was young, I saw a drag queen named Marla Gorr. I was inspired. I hope that through this path I am on now, being in the show, I can inspire someone, too.
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Credits
Interview: Chris Palentino and Angela Nicole Guiral
Topics
Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is the assistant digital editor of Tatler Philippines. She studied journalism and has since written features that look closely at how culture, lifestyle and social impact converge, while occasionally wandering into the worlds of style and travel.
