Life's A Drag... España: All Stars, Gypsy Weddings & A Contact Sport!

Drag is my escape, it can be an escape for many people packaged in a manor of different fashions. From seasons such as; 'RuPaul's Drag Race: UK Vs The World ' or 'All Stars: Drag Race España', more Ru-Girls are getting their comeback moment! Mary, mother of Jesus! There's never enough 'diamantes' for those 'Gypsy Wedding' girls! Haka on the pitch, they better did! 

Spain's 'Drag Race' producers made those 'All Stars' moves with the swiftest 'movimientos' with 'All Stars: Drag Race España' confirmed before any other international franchise hadn't already adopted the 'Vs The World' format. Bursting onto my 'World Of Wonder Plus' screen during February to March 2024, I was way behind the original screenings! Packed into seven episodes with nine queens from across the first three seasons of the Spanish franchise, I was very excited to see what kind of 'fuego' would be brought onto that Iberian Main Stage! Representing 'Season One' had to be 'Pupi Poisson' because she had appeared on every other season after her own, truly part of the fabric! Keeping the drama fresh, fellow 'Temporada Uno' queen, 'Sagitaria' brought a few face cracks during that Spanish season of seasons. Season Two and three brought more than two queens, multiple entries brought opportunities for a complete 'Supremme' style 'Ru-demption!' 'Onyx Unleashed' brought Temporada Dos 'Re-Up Realness!' Spain, bring it on! 

Spanish-Belgian 'Season 2' Trans icon, 'Juriji De Klee' came to make a statement, shaving her hair during 'Snatch Game' was something else indeed! Keeping her cup full, bringing a revved up persona, 'Samantha Ballantines' brought her A-Game with growth served on the Spanish All Stars Main Stage! Let's leave that Canarian entrant for now, that was some entrance! Yes! Fresh from their recently filmed 'Temporada Tercera', three queens from 'Season 3' Ru-turned to 'All Stars: Drag Race España' with more to show! 'Hornella Gongora' got herself to the finale, her second chance allowed her to step things right up! 'Pink Chadora' shined but became the 'Spanish All Stars Porkchop!' Serving,'Pakita' served it right up! I wanted to see her on a 'VS The World' franchise! Oh, the Canaries brought a controversial champion in the form of the 'pocket rocket of Drag!' 'Drag Sethlas' claimed her victory from day one, taking the game to new heights, leaving no crumbs at all! Bebé, I want to see 'Diamante Merybrown' and 'Clover Bish' next! OK!

'My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding' unlocks the door to the secretive world of 'Travelling People's' celebrations with that 'Drag' style present. A firm favourite of mine since it was first broadcast on Channel 4, there's always been something captivating about the way the Irish and English Gypsy women and girls adorn themselves in thousands upon thousands of Swaroski jewels or the next best thing! From their 'First Holy Communion' right through to their 'Wedding Day', even 'Baptism' calls for a dolled up gown! I loved the 'larger than life' concepts the 'Brides To Be' put on 'Thelma Madine' because she's fashioned dresses from ideas of 'pineapples' and 'cats'. I remember attending a 'First Holy Communion' when I was about 13 years old, it was like a sea of colour, curls and stilettos had descended upon the church! Adorned in their brightly custom made dresses, those 'Travelling' ladies added much needed vibrancy to that church service! It has always been remarkable to see these 'decked out' brides struggle to then make it in the end! 

There's a certain 'Camp' when their 'chalets' and 'caravans' are showcased on the show, decorated with an opulent style, those cream sofas and pristine kitchens remind me of my own Aunty Mandy's former residence. Her living room was always for 'best', whereas she and my Uncle Fudge would spend most of their time in an extension that had been built onto the side of the kitchen. Back to those brides, well not just them but every single female at each wedding reception because they certainly know how to twirl and drop on the dancefloor! There's definitely an element of 'performance' surrounded with these weddings and events connected to the 'Travelling' community. I would definitely consider this facet of religious life as 'Drag' because their commitment to such hairstyles, fake tan and custom made dresses all make for a spectacle one way or another. For the matrimonial duties these women go on to embrace, they deserve every bit of fabulousness and sparkle possible. So, you can either go 'Gypsy' or go home! 

A 'Drag Race UK' production with a cash prize? The BBC & Word of Wonder both confirmed that the second series of 'RuPaul's Drag Race: UK Vs The World' was on the way with eleven queens from different franchises. The cast was highly anticipated since the first season that battled against Pandemic restrictions for those non-UK based queens. Serving 'Filipina Winna', I was overjoyed to see Drag Race Philippines, Season 1 superstar, 'Marina Summers' enter that international series. France sent their first contender in the form of 'Le Grande Dame!' 'Down Under' served 'Hannah Conda' with her humour and Aussie charm! Spain brought their 'Arantxa Castilla La Mancha' back from 'Drag Race España, T1', that's Temporada to you! Following on from 'Janey Jacké', it was a treat to see 'Keta Minaj' represent. From the U.S seasons, we saw 'Mayhem Miller' and 'Scarlet Envy' represent the original 'Drag Race' franchise. 'Team UK' served 'Tia Kofi', 'Jonbers Blonde, 'Choriza May' and saw the return of 'Gothy Kendoll!' Let's go! 

This second 'Vs The World' series contained a £50,000 cash prize, to which left 'Blu Hydrandea' dumbfounded as she returned to welcome the new reigning queen. The challenges saw the queens showcase their talents, I for one loved Marina's own mix of 'Maymay Entrata's 'Amakabogera' into her own winning rendition! Tia Kofi brought her comedy during the roast, donning her best 'Sonia from EastEnders' look! Snatch Game saw some of the international queens falter but Gothy Kendoll was saved once again! 'Strictly Come Dancing' really need to cast a 'Ru-Girl' after bringing a challenge with their namesake, of course 'Motsi Mabuse' shone bright as a guest judge! Holland's Keta Minaj served spooky, she also served 'Asian Excellence' alongside Marina as both Indonesia and the Philippines were both in the house. The U.S queens didn't impress me much, Mayhem became the 'Porkchop' and Scarlet wasn't the 'Drama! Choriza May made me laugh. Jonbers brought fashion and Gothy was very lucky! Congrats Tia! 

Oh, 'Mama Ru' made the famous declaration 'Drag is NOT a contact sport!' That was after 'Mimi Imfurst' put 'India Ferrah' on her shoulder during a very memorable 'Lip Sync For Your Life' during an almost original season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race!' Well, Rugby is very much a 'contact sport' with those scrums and tackles ensuring that players from both teams get up close and personal all in the name of that sporting game. Rugby for me, well it's not my chosen sport because I don't have one, I am showcasing it in this blog because there's a performance art to it. To be honest, Rugby has a certain all round quality because the spectators genuinely are there for a good, honest game without any hooliganism present. Fans are even trusted to have a few drinks inside the stadiums without halfwit individuals kicking off. One team that comes to mind when I think of 'Drag' must be the 'New Zealand' team with their time-honoured 'Haka'. Sure, their 'Haka' holds major significance and adds a certain spectacle to that pre-match moment!

I must stress that sports aren't my thing but it doesn't take a fool to see how other high profile sporting events go, football has to be the pits when it comes to production. Those overpaid pampered babies roll around on the pitch at the slightest sign of a tackle let alone a foul! Whereas, Rugby players commit to their art with full-frontal collisions on the pitch for the world to see, they don't hold back! Like a Drag performer on the Main Stage, they have to give it their all when Mama Ru and Michelle Visage are reading them for filth, see where I'm going with this? As far as living ones truth, Rugby has been seen to embrace LGBT players without fuss from the team members. I don't think that we are going to see such openness within games like football anytime soon, there's always a price? Whether it be 'France' or 'New Zealand', the lines are blurred because we could well be speaking about 'Drag Race' or Rugby! Be more Rugby, embrace the game, celebrate the culture and commit to that tackle! It's time to 'Haka' for your life! Serve! 

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