RuPaul’s Drag Race has come a long way since those early years in 2009. The show has won 27 Emmy Awards, has birthed three spin-offs, has produced 16 international adaptations (and counting), and has become a bonafide cultural phenomenon to the point that even right-wing dimwits can’t help but feel its reach. Nevertheless, RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alum Victoria Scone says there’s still more work to be done.
As the first cisgender woman to enter the workroom on season three of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK (i.e. her gender identity matches the sex she was assigned at birth [female]), Scone believes hers was simply the first domino in a row of dominos that need to fall in order to make RuPaul’s Drag Race as diverse as it can be.
Those who watched Scone compete in the first season of Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs The World know where this is going: Scone added yet another first to her resume when she graced the mainstage as a drag king, and now she wants Mamma Ru to consider inviting more drag artists of that kind to the list of audition tapes she considers when casting.
While speaking with Digital Spy, Scone said she believes drag kings would broaden the show’s reach, specifically among the queer community.
“I did a drag king look on Canada Vs the World so obviously that’s something I’m very passionate about – getting drag kings on Drag Race.
“I just don’t know why it’s taken so long at this point to be honest. I would really love to see it. There’s absolutely, in my opinion, no reason why they couldn’t be. I think it would give the show a lovely little shake up and keep it fresh. It would draw in more people as well. More people would want to watch it because [currently] it’s blocking out a big chunk of the queer community that watch the show. And what’s the worst that’s gonna happen? Let’s just do it shall we?”
Scone also atoned for the sins of her unpolished drag king look by revealing it was her first time dressing up as such. If anything, her inexperience goes to show how accessible the art form is, even if that comes in the form of a weekly challenge for the contestants.
“I mean, when I did it, it was well received enough. I had never done a drag king look before. It was not quite polished, but I gave it my good shot because I’m not a drag king. I was just doing it to prove a point and it did alright, it won that week. So, there we go. There’s no more reason not to have them on there.”
For Scone, it all comes down to diversity.
“I think that kind of goes without saying for me, because I’m known to not really shut up about it. Diversity is just always going to be a plus in every sense. It brings variety to performance as well as the fact that everyone deserves a seat at the table, regardless of what gender you happen to be assigned at birth.”
Above and beyond all that, Scone says “We just want more hairy legs on Drag Race!”
There was once a time when RuPaul’s parting catchphrase on the mainstage was “Racers, start your engines, and may the best woman win.” As more and more transgender and non-binary drag queens entered the workroom, that tagline was eventually changed to “and may the best drag queen win.”
Perhaps there will come a day when that catchphrase is altered even further to “and may the best drag performer win.” Over the years the show has added straight men, lesbians, cisgender women, trans men, trans women, and even bearded queens. If you ask Scone, the only logical next step is to include drag kings. After all, drag is not just for gay men, just as humanity is not only reserved for cisgender, binary men and women.
Published: Jul 5, 2023 02:25 pm