Cover Learn more about Maxie, the new Drag Race Philippines winner (Photos: Instagram / @maxieandreison; stylised by Angela Nicole Guiral)
Learn more about Maxie, the new Drag Race Philippines winner (Photos: Instagram / @maxieandreison; stylised by Angela Nicole Guiral)
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A new queen has been crowned. Meet this year’s Drag Race Philippines winner—Maxie!
Filipina drag queen Maxie has worn many hats (or crowns) in her life—as a singer, actor, and breadwinner. But in the grand finale of Drag Race Philippines Season 3, she donned the ultimate crown and was named the season’s champion.
At 26 years old, hailing from San Andres, Manila, Maxie has been chasing dreams for years. “I finally have a crown,” she shared after her victory. “Since I was a kid, I’ve been joining contests. There were ups and downs—sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. But never tire of fighting for your dreams because someday you’ll make it, just like me today!”
Above Maxie vlogs her day with the queens at the Drag Race Philippines Season 3 finale viewing party
Her win wasn’t just about the crown, though. Maxie’s journey was filled with standout moments, including three RuBadges, a tear-jerking performance with her father, and a breathtaking lip sync to Lipad Ng Pangarap in the final battle against runner-up Khianna with a K.
More from Tatler: Born to Do Drag: A day in the life of Marina Summers
Apart from her recent win, here are five things to know about her inspiring rise to the top.
Maxie got her drag name from a stage play
Maxie’s drag name is a tribute to the career-defining moment that came when she landed the lead role in Maxie The Musical: Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros. It was an adaptation of the 2005 Filipino film Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, a story about a young boy navigating his identity in a tough Manila neighbourhood.
Above Jayvhot Galang was 14 years old when he bagged the role of Maxie in ‘Maxie: The Musicale’
Above Jojo Riguerra as Kuya Victor and Jayvhot Galang as Maxie in ‘Maxie: The Musicale’ last 2013 at PETA Theater Center
Jayvhot Galang was 14 years old when he bagged the role of Maxie in ‘Maxie: The Musicale’
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She then decided to embody the character’s resilience and spirit in his drag persona, cementing Maxie as a powerful extension of his personal and artistic evolution.
She is the third queen from O Bar to win Drag Race
Maxie is part of the queens in O Bar, a prominent queer performance venue in Manila. Following the footsteps of season one winner Precious Paula Nicole and season two winner Captivating Katkat, Maxie proudly carried on the legacy of O Bar queens, proving that this celebrated bar continues to shape the future of Filipino drag.
This is not her first competition
Before her Drag Race triumph, Maxie was no stranger to the spotlight. She competed in several local pageants and drag contests, including Queen of the Universe. Those years of experience prepared her for the fierce competition on the Drag Race stage, honing her skills in lip-syncing, fashion, and performance.
Related: Filipino Experience: Olivia Rodrigo ‘Guts Tour’ in Manila 2024
She’s starred in a film
Above Maxie in ‘Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs. Zombies’
Maxie in ‘Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs. Zombies’
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Maxie’s talents go beyond the theatre and drag stage. She has appeared on the big screen, in the role of Melo in Trip Ubusan: The Lolas vs. Zombies. Her passion for performing arts has made her a multifaceted artist, and her on-screen appearances have gained her recognition in the industry.
She is one of the youngest HIV-awareness advocates in the Philippines
Maxie’s journey has always been about more than just the glitz. She is one of the youngest HIV awareness advocates in the Philippines, a role that set her on a path of activism long before she graced the Drag Race stage. Maxie particularly amplified critical messages about health and self-care in a collaborative project between TLF Share, UNICEF Philippines, and the National Youth Commission titled Bekitaktakan.
Above This quirky video combines evidence, human rights, and bekinese humor to dismantle stereotypes about lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders. Featuring Jayvhot Galang, star of Maxie the Musical and a Talentadong Pinoy stand out, Bekitaktakan hopes to catalyse a rethinking of how Filipinos view LGBTs.
In the HIV-themed episodes, Maxie and other advocates unpack the facts about HIV, sharing life-saving information and dispelling myths about the virus. Her role wasn’t just educational; it was personal. Maxie’s heartfelt message to those living with HIV was clear: “It is not the end of the world. With the right treatment, HIV is now manageable,” she says in one of the videos.
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Angela Nicole Regis Guiral is a digital editor at 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.
