12 queens ready to stun, sashay in new season of ‘Drag Race PH’

“Drag Race” Season 2 queens (from left) Arizona Brandy, Astrid Mercury, Captivating KatKat, Bernie, M1ss Jade So, main judge KaladKaren, DeeDee Marié Holliday, Hana Beshie, host Paolo Ballesteros, judge Rajo Laurel, Matilduh, ØV CÜNT, Nicole Pardaux, Tiny Deluxe and Veruschka Levels —PHOTOS COURTESY OF HBO GO

The much-awaited second season of “Drag Race Philippines” started airing on HBO Go on Wednesday night with one of the 12 queens being sent home after lipsynching for her life. No spoilers here, but this batch is one for the books with not one or two, but three transwomen competing for the P1-M cash prize and the chance to be crowned as the country’s next drag superstar.

“Drag Race PH” is the official franchise of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” the multiseason, Emmy-winning reality competition show launched in 2009. It has since given birth to spinoff franchises in the UK, Canada, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Sweden, Thailand and Spain.

On the eve of the season premiere of “Drag Race PH,” HBO Go invited select media to interview the queens who were decked out in finery that ran the gamut from camp to glam. Several of them wore evening gowns that wouldn’t look out of place at an international beauty pageant, while others, like Arizona Brandy, took the campy route and came dressed as a cocktail table complete with champagne flutes affixed to the “table” part of her dress.

“One of the queens is wearing an P800,000 gown tonight,” designer Rajo Laurel told Inquirer Entertainment. As one of the regular judges on the panel in the first season, Laurel received much flak online for his brutal assessments of some of the contestants’ capabilities.

Fierce

In one instance, Season 1 contestant Eva Le Queen broke down crying backstage after the outfit she made using unconventional items from Divisoria for a design challenge was described as trash.

Laurel did not mince his words then. “It’s like something you glued on to a bodysuit and that for me is a mortal sin… I’m being fierce because I know you can do better and I’m being hard because I have seen what you can do—and this is trash.”

The backlash against Rajo was swift and plentiful, but it eventually died down. He’s back as one of the regular judges along with host Paolo Ballesteros, “Drag Race” alumna Jiggly Caliente and actress KaladKaren. Some of the season’s guest judges include actors Maricel Soriano and Anne Curtis, influencer Bretman Rock, interior designer and socialite Tessa Prieto, and former beauty queen Gloria Diaz.

Asked if he was more lenient this season—all episodes of which have already been filmed—Laurel said he was the same. “I was just being me. And no, I wasn’t told to tone it down. Si Tessa (Prieto) yung bitchessa,” he said.

Not that it mattered to the queens, several of whom claimed to be inured to being judged. DeeDee Marie Holliday put it best. “In every event, we get critiqued a lot, we get called names, so that’s our training ground,” she said.

Laurel was excited to watch the first episode along with everyone that evening, saying this would also be his first time to see it.

“Madaming away this season, backstage. Hair pulling, boxing (mimics punching). I think it’s because there are three trans contestants, maybe it’s hormonal,” he said.

“Drag Race PH” Season 1 winner Precious Paula Nicole

Visuals-heavy competition

During the Q&A with the queens, however, they were all smiles and sparkles, careful to be on their best behavior with some good-natured ribbing thrown in. All of them were grateful to be part of Season 2 even if they admitted it wasn’t cheap to prepare for a visuals-heavy competition. The outfits, the shoes, makeup, wigs—all of this adds up.

The winner of the main challenge this week earned a “cash tip” of P80,000 which, the queen later joked, covered all of her expenses to much laughter from the audience at the viewing party. Taking everything in stride and making light of the situation—well, most situations—might be the combination that wins the race.

We asked all 12 queens to share the lessons they learned while on the show that they think others—LGBTQIA+ or not—can relate to and learn from.

Hana Beshie: Algebra? (laughs) May mga madi-discover ka sa sarili mo. You thought you couldn’t do it, but in the long run, when you’re tested by challenges … magugulat ka. Kaya mo pala. And hindi ko lang pala kaya, pero nag-excel pa ako!

OV Cunt: Dive in. Hindi ka dapat kinakabahan. Just go there, do it and like Mama Ru said, “Don’t f*ck it up.” Just slay it, do your best.

Nicole Pardaux: I’ve learned to improve on everything. Seeing myself from a different perspective, nakita ko ‘yung proof. Not just from me, but from all the queens of Season 2.

Bernie: Huwag natin i-judge ang mga kasama natin at huwag tayong maging pabaya kasi this is a competition. Huwag din tayo masyadong magtitiwala sa mga taong nakakasama natin (other queens murmur). This is a competition, general truth ‘yan.

Astrid Mercury: It’s OK to be vulnerable. During the filming, ‘di namin kasama ang families namin. Before I joined “Drag Race,” I felt so brave, feeling ko kakayanin ko.

‘Enjoy the moment’

Arizona Brandy: I learned to let go of things. Let loose, it’s fun. I-enjoy na lang natin ang moment kasi hindi naman tayo sure kung anong mangyayari. Live in the moment.

Tiny DeLuxe: I learned how to do drag (laughs). Ang dami kong firsts on “Drag Race” and I’m so happy dun ko nagawa.

Veruschka Levels: I learned to collaborate with people when before I used to do everything on my own. I learned to talk to people.

M1ss Jade So: Natutunan kong maging independent because I’m a brat, and cannot do sh*t. They helped me (gestures at the queens).

DeeDee Marie Holliday: When I’m in drag, it’s like I’m a superhero. It’s a yassified version of me.

Captivating Katkat: Hindi lahat ng tao pwede mong biruin. May mga times na wala sila sa mood at hindi mo alam kung ano ang pinagdadaanan nila. ‘Yan ang tumatak sa akin. Matilduh: Since sobrang tahimik at shy boy ako out of drag, natuto akong mag-speak out on “Drag Race.” Kapag nasa harap ka ng camera, kailangan mong magsalita. I learned it’s OK to express yourself. Natuto din akong dumedma kahit anong sabihin ng isang tao. Now, even when I’m not in drag, I can speak up and speak out.

New episodes of “Drag Race Philippines” Season 2 air Wednesdays at 7 p.m. on HBO Go. “Untucked” episodes will also be uploaded on the same day.