Break out the wigs & butt pads that would put certain lady rappers to shame! Did you know it was Drag History Month? I don’t know about you– but I absolutely adore a gorgeous man with Raspberry Sorbet lipstick! With the approaching end of this national month-long celebration and the kickoff of the third season of my beloved RuPaul’s Drag Race, I think it’s quite fitting to discuss some things biological women can learn from queens.
Impeccable Make-up Techniques
The most important of them all: contouring and highlighting- used in drag to create a more feminine shape, these techniques can be employed by all, as a means to define and emphasize features. Look at pictures of fiercely painted queens and see where they have contoured. You don’t have to be as dramatic with the colors used, because
Honestly How can you look at this face and not wanna step your game up
queens are doing a theatrical makeup for the stage, but the technique is still the same.
Confidence
For the lack of a better term, it takes well balls to bend the gender lines and strut about in 6 inch stilettos with head held high. Queens know they stand out, and they mean to– command your attention and demanding your respect. This is clearly a character trait that all womankind should possess; you must believe in yourself and your abilities, in order for others to.
Develop Thick Skin
Gossip exists. People talk. Haters will try to break you down with harsh words. The thick skin of a drag queen is a result of facing this reality and overcoming it by realizing that nobody has to be you, except you. Nobody else walks in your stilettos, or knows the inner intricacies of your soul– so let their words be just that; THEIR words.
Know Who You Are and Deliver At All Times
A drag persona is based on specificity- queens serve up their style and understand the importance of maintaining it at all times, whether it’s high or low camp. As women, we must constantly be aware of self and make sure we live up to our own best potential. Regardless of WHO it is that we ARE, we must realize it and OWN it.
“We were all born into the world naked. The rest is drag.”
Drag Superstar Rupaul
Present Your Best Illusion
There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors that accompanies the art of drag– contouring, highlighting, tucking, taping, etc with the end result being a spectacular vision of femininity. You can adopt this ideology in your own life, of presenting the best image of yourself, even at times when you don’t feel your at your best.
Beyonce is good at tapping into her inner Drag Queenbest. You may feel low on confidence, you may feel uncertain of self, you may be hurt by the words and actions of others-- but the world won’t know it, unless you show it.
Hair Hair Hair
I remember years ago looking at Rupaul thinking I wonder why most female entertainers don’t go to get their hair done where he does. Now this may be a double edged sword since we have now seen the burst of Lacefronts flood the market. But If done correctly You could learn a lot about dramatic hair from the “Ladies”. Nothing changes a look and an attitude like hair so cut it, weave it add it Just get Fierce. If you do something different with your hair TRUST you will have a brand new attitude.
Go Big or Go Home
I remember one excursion to my local MAC store and this lovely young man was making up my face I asked him to tone it down, since I wasn’t going to the Grammy’s and he reminded me that “Every day is My Grammys. ” As a woman, sometimes we forget to put ourselves first and forget to project your inner sexy outward. Drag is a form of creativity in the highest form of expression. And and what girl doesn’t need that every now and again.
In what ways will you access your inner drag queen? Will you exude confidence in adversity? Will you allow the words of sharp tongues to roll off your back like rain water? Whether you present your best illusion, or opt for bolder eye shadow… You Better Work!
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I appreciate this article very much and think every woman can benefit on advice from Drag Queen Superstars