Musings from the Slaysian Royale muses: Arizona Brandy, Khianna, Bernie and Siam PhuSri

Siam PhuSri, who openly shares her experience as an Asian living in San Francisco, takes great pride in her Thai heritage and sees joining the show as an opportunity to further cultivate and showcase Asian representation, especially in spaces where Asian voices are often underrepresented.

“I’m proud to represent my country, Thailand. We have all trained for many years as Asian performers. I grew up in San Francisco, where I have many Asian friends. When you’re outside your home country, Asian friends often become the people you relate to the most because they look like you and share similar experiences. That’s how you stay connected to your culture in a new place.” 

When asked about the fresh elements they will bring to this new season, the queens confidently acknowledge how much they have evolved. “This time around, I have already seen the fun part of drag, so now I want people to see me and realise the same thing,” Arizona Brandy says. “I agree that growth is important, but let’s not forget ourselves in the process.” 

Bernie, who has been part of the drag scene for more than two decades, shares an important lesson with younger artists: to recognise the roots of drag and to honour those who have paved the way. “Since I’ve been in the drag industry for a long time, I just want today’s drag queens to remember the roots of drag. Things are different now because some queens act a bit too entitled. Not everything is about pushing and pushing; sometimes you also need to take a step back and give yourself a break,” she asserts. 

See also: It’s Lukresia’s world: meet the Filipino queer model who walked for Mugler’s return to the runway

Khianna, the youngest member of the group, shares that she hopes to highlight her personal growth throughout the competition, embracing the changes she experienced while staying true to herself on camera.

“Besides showing local and international audiences that there’s so much culture in Asia, I also want them to see the growth I have had. I experienced a lot of change during filming, not just at the start. I had to embrace that, because everything I did was filmed, and people will see that I was being true to myself,” she says. 

“I think evolution is very important both as a person and as a drag artist. It’s just how life goes. The purpose of life is change,” she adds. 

The artist, who recently appeared in the third season of Drag Race Philippines, takes pride in the strength and authenticity she brings to every performance. “Failing doesn’t mean you have to give up. We have to make sure people see that we’re still fighting.” 

Related: 5 things to know about Maxie, Drag Race Philippines’ season 3 winner

As the queens reflect on why they do drag, Siam PhuSri shares where she draws her inspiration from and, like the others, expresses how deeply drag holds meaning in her life. “The more you do drag, the more you appreciate those who do drag. This is not easy, and it takes a lot of effort. I have seen everyone’s effort. I see everyone’s hard work, and I am so glad of my Asian roots because I learnt from so many professionals from around here.”

For viewers of Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale, Siam PhuSri promises performances that go beyond entertainment. This time, she aims to offer a deeply personal and heartfelt expression of her journey as an artist.

“I want people to see more of who I am. A lot of people start doing drag because they want a job or they want to make money. But for me, those things are secondary. I do drag to humanise myself. I started because of my best friend, who took her own life. I want to be present, to be there for her, and for others like her,” she says. 

She shares that drag has played a crucial role in helping her manage her emotions and navigate difficult times. “If you’re not happy with the life you’re living right now, drag can be a way to create a new version of yourself. It allows you to become someone else, or someone you relate to, someone you love. I want to stand here and tell people that if you’re feeling lost, sad or unsure about life, look at me. I’ll be here for you. And I believe people will find their path by seeing me walk mine.”

Bernie, who admits she initially struggled to communicate in a language she didn’t grow up with, says that in the end, it didn’t stop her from showing her talent and true colours in the show. “Just because this is an international competition, it doesn’t mean that it should be a barrier to your dreams. I am not very fluent in English, yet I am here,” she says. 

She adds that the secret to success is perseverance. “After doing 20 years of drag, I learnt that you just need to stay focused. If you want to succeed in drag, always be bold and never give up.”

For Arizona Brandy, drag is a profoundly humbling art form because it is not just about expressing herself but also about giving visibility and voice to those who long to be seen and celebrated.

“I don’t just want to represent myself as a drag queen; I want to represent the entire local drag scene, because they deserve to be seen. When people see me, I feel like I carry every local Filipino drag queen with me,” she says. 

“I’m inspired by all of them. During the competition, whenever I feel down, I think about what the local Filipino drag scene would do, and it pushes me to keep going,” she adds. 

Khianna carries a deep sense of gratitude for her fans and supporters who believe in the power of drag to transform lives. 

“I love my fans deeply because their love is unconditional. They show up and support me whether they get anything in return or not. I hope I can bond with them even more and that they never get tired of supporting me,” she says. “Ako lang ‘to,” the drag queen jests. 

NOW READ

Born to Do Drag: A day in the life of Marina Summers

Drag Race Philippines’ winner Precious Paula Nicole on the dynamic world of drag

Pride in F&B: How Butterboy Bakehouse and Gay Drinking with Carlos celebrate queerness