Life's A Drag... Our Viv, Miss Taipei & Thailand's S3!

¿¡La cuarta temporada?! ¡La carrera de España sigue prosperando! Come on, bring us another Spanish 'AllStars!' A UK drag legend in the making was taken from our world way too soon! 'The Vivenne' will be forever missed! Serving 'equality and freedom', I loved spending one week in Taipei, Taiwan! Thai Tea? The comeback of all comebacks, we've got 'Drag Race Thailand' back! 

My favourite European edition of 'Drag Race' returned as the fourth season premiered during September 2024 with another stellar cast of queens! From cat fights to Rusical showdowns, this Spanish incarnation of 'Drag Race' had me gripped even thought my viewing habits were all over the place! A pit crew member had made the cast as a competing queen? Yes, 'Megui Yeillow' brought muscle and mascara at the very same time, not to forget their dancing prowess! Now, I am going to keep things short because I could ramble on about this franchise for the longest of time, 'Season 4' brought a wannabe 'protagonista!' Who am I talking about? 'Angelita La Perversa' stirred up a lot of mierda, it was unbelievable the arguments she stoked! Now, I see 'Shani La Santa' return on a Spanish speaking or International 'AllStars' format because she has more to tell and she's got those English speaking skills to boot! 'La Islas Canarias' had a new representative, 'Dita Dubois' brought a different energy and I loved to see it! I just love DR-ES!

For me both 'Porca Theclubkid' and 'Miss Khristo' didn't leave a lasting impression for me, no shade chicas! 'Kelly Passa!?' showcased a punk rock persona with a complexed personality for us to admire! A friend of 'Choriza May?!' Yes, Valencia's own 'La Bella Vampi' hailed from the same place as her cross-country 'Drag Race UK' compañera! Venezuela was in the house for the second time with 'Mariana Stars' bringing her unstoppable Venezolana pageant beauty to the Spanish runway and Werk Room! 'Mariana' bossed both her 'Snatch Game' and 'Acting Challenge' appearances! 'Chloe Vittu' brought 'Coño' in Finnish after telling the other queens the origin of her Drag name! 'Le Cocó' brought a rawness, using her childhood pain to be the best queen she could be, I hope she gets her cabaret up and running! Serving 'Trans Excellence' had to be 'La Niña Delantro', shining bright she did, going very far in the contest! The grand finale got a live revamp with an appearance by the current 'Global AllStars' winner, 'Alyssa Edwards!'

'The Vivienne' became the first winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK' in November 2019 after the inaugural series. Before appearing on the first edition of 'DRUK', 'The Vivienne' was already a 'Drag Race Ambassador!' Born in Colywn Bay, Wales on the 21st October 1992 as 'James Lee Williams', the 'Viv' was born on the Gay scene of Liverpool, England with her name being made before RuPaul ever came to our shores with the BBC! We all got to know this 'Scouse Drag Powerhouse' on that premier season after she proclaimed "Don't get too comfy, girls! This isn't gonna take two minutes!" With wit sharper than any razor, 'Viv' created one liner after one liner during that founding season! Alongside 'Baga Chipz' they stormed the first UK 'Snatch Game' as POTUS 'Donald J. Trump' and 'Baga' as former Conservative leader 'Margaret Thatcher!' "All tea, no collusion!' Both 'Viv' and 'Baga' were a match made in 'TV Gold' with their chain smoking antics and sarcastic banter with the other queens, it was just hilarious! "Who put 50p in Cheryl?' 

It was giving 'Lily Savage' and I was here for that next generation incarnation, we didn't know it but that first crowning would show the 'UK' what a 'Drag Race Superstar' actually was, 'The Vivienne' was unstoppable! Making her way through 'U.S Customs', 'The Vivienne' became the first 'UK Winner' to be on an 'All Stars' season when she ru-turned for 'AllStars 7: All Winners!' Hand on heart, 'World Of Wonder' knew what they were doing because I stand sure that 'Viv's' appearance on 'AS7' was the blueprint for the 'International' injection for such formats! Premiering her hit, 'Bitch On Heels' during the talent show was a moment I won't ever forget! Post-All Winners, 'The Vivienne' became the first 'female impersonator' to compete on a 'Dancing On Ice' ITV series. Treading the boards became something new for us to see a stellar queen take on the West End and tour with credits to name. I thought we would see 'Viv' return to 'DRUK' as a guest judge or even as host but 'James Lee Williams' died at the age of 32 years old. 

She's got many things to boast and for the right reasons she should! I'm talking about 'Miss Taipei' because I had never travelled to such a free and liberal capital city before that October 2024 moment! Travelling into the eye of a super typhoon, I remained unfazed because Taiwan's capital boasts resilience and acceptance at the very same time! Boasting 'Marriage Equality', the mood along those Taipei city streets felt correct because those 'Taiwanese' men sashayed down those pavements with their rights and liberties in check! Pop off, girl! Flying over the Taiwan Strait from a certain Asian country had me feeling like my wings had been unclipped in the biggest way, it felt amazing to see that 'Rainbow crossing' in Ximen! Miss Taipei knew to pour me another 'Toxic Fairy' because Ximen was about to show me a lot of life! Taipei was like the oxygen that I needed, being in that capital city helped me breathe! Yes, Drag Race Season 16 winner 'Nymphia Wind' hails from Taiwan by way of the United States, 'Banana Fever' for all! 

Following a government closure order during the second, third and fourth days I spent in Taipei, I did my best to brave those gale force conditions because I refused to let that tropical weather front rain on my Taiwan parade! The bars were open even when the weather didn't impress me and the theme nights at 'HUNT' took me to new levels, 'Fundoshi, She Better Do!' Even the children in the shopping centre food court I saw behaved well, people were quiet and they didn't act the fool! I loved the order, I loved the shared cultural connections but most of all I loved just being me in Taipei! Taking my last night in Taipei to new heights, I knew deep down that almost missing my flight back was potentially all part of the plan! I really need Taiwan back in my life, just not during typhoon season I might add! The world needs to be more free and easy, the world needs to be more like Taiwan! Miss Taipei showed me the way and I know that hitting up 'Kaohsuing' and 'Tainan' sounds like an absolute diamond of a plan! 我愛台灣! There I said it! 

Drag Race Thailand became one of the first international 'Drag Race' seasons with the premier season back in 2018 with a second season following behind just one year later in 2019! Thailand's 'Kantana Group' did this part of the franchise dirty as they left season two winner, 'Angele Anang' the longest reigning winner for a space of six years until 2024 then only 'Drag Race Thailand, Season 3' was announced! Would both 'Art Arya' and 'Pangina Heals' both return in the same shared capacities in the newly announced third 'comeback' season in 2024? 'Pangina Heals' hadn't be a stranger, she had competed on the first season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs The World' in 2022! That 'AllStars' appearance was enough currency for 'World Of Wonder' to push for a reboot, this Asian part of the franchise deserved another day in the sun! 'O4 Media' and 'Fullhouse Asia' took the reigns to bring back 'Drag Race Thailand' with 'WOW' closely watching! The Thai version boasted a new look, aligning with other versions of Drag Race! Yes!

Eleven queens entered the Thailand's S3, bringing much needed life to this once dormant reality television situation! I personally found it very challenging to keep up with the subtitles and the Thai language sounding unlike any other DR presented language, I stayed with the season because I wanted to get it right! Both the acting challenge and Rusical impressed me much, it was an injection of life with the Drag Race formula present! I stayed with the 'Snatch Game' even though I didn't get any of the humour! The queens had love for each other, they were gracious and only once did they throw any serious shade. 'Gigi Ferocious, Zepee, Gawdland and Frankie Wonga' all caught my attention, bringing different aspects of drag from different parts of Thailand kept my viewing attention consistent. I know we have a lot to look forward to, having Thailand back really feels correct after being away for the time that it had been! Thai Tea is back! Now, I am ready to watch 'Drag Race Down Under' and 'Canada's Drag Race!' Drag never stops! 

Rest In Power, Viv! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure

Comments

Popular Posts