As the 7th season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race' comes to a close, we look back on 11 fans we met at DragCon in mid-May.
On May 16 and 17, RuPaul took over the Los Angles Convention Center to host the first ever DragCon in herstory with well coifed results. For two days, icons from every season of Drag Race led panels covering topics runway walks, wig styling, comedic timing, vogue dancing and even a Sunday service. Legions of fans strutted between booths, autograph stations and screenings to get the full experience—one that was less about makeovers and more about being one's true self. In between shouts of "Amen" and squeals of "Yassss," we chatted with some of DragCon's colorful attendees.
Melanie, 41
Hometown: Rialto, CA
Favorite RuPaul Moment: I love when he says, "And now it's time to lip-sync for your life."
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: Blend.
Current screensaver: Culture Club.
Last thing that you put in your mouth: Toast.
Stephanie, 21
Hometown: East Los Angeles
Earliest drag memory: When I was four years old, I went to this family party and the guys were all circled around and they brought two drag queens and they started lip-syncing to them. I said, "No Dad, they're going to take you away from mom!"
Favorite RuPaul moment: This past season happening now where Hello Kitty came out and Michelle V says, "Look at her little knickers" and then RuPaul said, "What the fuck did you call me?"
Favorite catchphrase from Drag Race: "Not today Satan, not today."
Go-to song to lip sync to: "What Does the Fox Say" by Yelvis.
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: Hairspray.
Current screensaver: Steven Universe.
Jeremy Darling, 36
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Earliest drag memory: Heaven in Detroit, which was an after-hours club that was all-fabulous, all-black, and I was like the only white one there. It was amazing. They were very vigilante though. They had razor blades in their hair.
Favorite RuPaul moment: Supermodel of the World.
Favorite catchphrase from Drag Race: "Sissy that walk."
Go-to song to lip sync to: In the car on the way here it was "Sissy that Walk" and "Glamazon."
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: Listen to the professionals.
Current screensaver: A Tom of Finland artwork.
Raul, 24
Hometown: Riverside, CA
Earliest drag memory: It would have to be RuPaul when I was a kid in the 90s.
Favorite RuPaul moment: When he was on Sabrina the Teenage Witch.
Favorite catchphrase from Drag Race: "Good luck and don't bleep it up."
Go-to song to lip sync to: "Sissy that Walk."
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: Don't try to do more than you can do.
Current screensaver: It's a new phone, so it's the default.
Tito Soto, 23
Hometown: Puerto Rico
Earliest drag memory: Lady Gaga
Favorite RuPaul moment: This last lip sync was something. That split and then the other split and then Katja split. Everyone at the eagle was living.
Favorite catchphrase from Drag Race: "C'mon," whatever. "C'mon snatch" or "c'mon natch" because everyone uses it and it's popular.
Go-to song to lip sync to: "Break Free" by Ariana Grande.
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: If you grow a beard, you don't have to contour.
Current screensaver: Me on a cliff with Seam Morales.
Ratchet Trailer Trash
Hometown: Trailer Park
Earliest drag memory: I've been doing drag since before school. I would wear whatever I could find and dance and twirl and be very, very gay.
Favorite RuPaul moment: Supermodel of the World. I was a little gay boy doing drag at home and then this bitch came on the TV and it was like "Yasssss, mama. I'm not alone! There are others!"
Favorite catchphrase from Drag Race: "Yasss, mama."
Go-to song to lip sync to: "When Doves Cry" by Prince. Anything that's way emotional and theatrical and I can go to church.
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: Everybody should know that your feet are gonna hurt and bitches are gonna hate, but pay them no mind.
Current screensaver: Whatever came with the phone. I don't know how to change it. I don't know how to work this thing.
Daniel, 23
Hometown: Montebello, CA
Earliest drag memory: When I was 13 when I would put on my mom's shoes.
Favorite RuPaul moment: The show.
Go-to song to lip sync to: "Scream for my Ice Cream" from Blood on the Dance Floor.
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: Try and just be yourself.
Current screensaver: An eye with rainbow makeup.
Mickey, 24
Hometown: North Hollywood
Earliest drag memory: Seeing someone walking on the street and thinking they were obviously not a woman when I was 15. It was really alien to me. I was really not informed back then and I would confess I actually did have prejudices. At this point I'm just another person.
Favorite RuPaul moment: I became aware of RuPaul because friends that know me and have seen my pictures on social media, they always kind of associated me with RuPaul and the show even though I'd never seen it. It wasn't a trigger for me to experiment with the way I dress and the way i express myself, but this DragCon is my favorite so far.
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: Just embody what you put in the outside, embody it on the inside.
Current screensaver: A flower.
Danny Davidson, 22
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA
Earliest drag memory: Probably dressing up as Dopey from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves and mouthing the songs along to myself. My mother used to film me.
Favorite RuPaul moment: From All Stars when Raven and Jujube had to lip sync against each other and just all the motion and it was nice seeing the sisterhood there.
Favorite catchphrase from Drag Race: "You better work." I say that to myself when there's a deadline coming up for a convention or a show or something.
Go-to song to lip sync to: "I Can't Decide" by the Scissor Sisters.
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: For Drag Kings, I would definitely say a stipple sponge is your best friend. If you're going to do beards, stipple sponge.
Current screensaver: Alternations of Dr. Who pictures.
Miles Jai, 22
Hometown: Lompoc, CA
Earliest drag memory: Probably when we had to cross-dress for the cross-dressing event at school. Boys had to dress up as girls, girls had to dress up as boys. It was my first time wearing a tutu.
Favorite RuPaul moment: In the new season when Pearl questions… they just have an awkward moment. A tension in the room that escalates and Ru's just like "Okaaaayyy…".
Favorite catchphrase from Drag Race: "Shantay you stay and sashay away."
Go-to song to lip sync to: "Sissy that Walk." I could work it to that. I would slay.
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: I think everyone should have some hairspray. Hairspray has many different functions. Contrary to popular belief, you can put it in your hair, you can put it on your face to set your makeup. You can put it in your armpit for a nice extra fresh spritz of perfume. There are all kind of uses for hairspray.
Current screensaver: A Japanese pop group.
La Gozard, 37
Hometown: Ottawa, Canada
Earliest drag memory: Three years ago I happened to turn on the television and RuPaul's Drag Race was on the TV.
Favorite RuPaul moment: Probably when she said as gay people, we get to choose our family, especially if our family isn't exactly supportive of us.
Favorite catchphrase from Drag Race: "Water off the duck's back."
Go-to song to lip sync to: "What About Debby."
One tip/trick/secret of drag that everyone should know: Don't be afraid to do it, even if you think you might not be good at it, have fun with it and the audience will have fun with you.
Current screensaver: Katja.
