Paris Burns Brighter: The Evolution of Drag 

Whether they’re dancing around your table at brunch or lip syncing to Lady Gaga, drag queens have entered the modern zeitgeist, and everyone seems to have an opinion on them. Prism Health North Texas embraces drag in all its many forms, more recently by hosting its own annual drag pageant to raise funds for accessible healthcare. Drag has had a series of looks over the years, and loving it unconditionally means accepting the full evolution of drag.

A Brief History of Drag 

There’s many a history lesson online about the origins of drag. Here’s a recap: 

• The term “drag” was first used to describe female impersonators in theater in the 1800s, particularly during Shakespearian performances. The term references the male actors’ petticoats as they dragged across the floor. However, history has seen reference to drag in theater in Greece, China, and Japan as well. 

• Drag, and female impersonation, as an art form and performance were adopted by the gay community around the 1920s. 

• In the 1980s, drag balls were held in secret to avoid persecution. Balls involved different categories for competitions like best dressed, best walk, and more. 

• In 1990, the documentary Paris Is Burning introduced drag to the mainstream, displaying both gay men and trans women performing drag. 

• Although male impersonation took place before this decade, drag kings became more widely acknowledged in the 1990s. 

• Around this same decade, the LGBTQ+ community started to more clearly differentiate between drag queens and trans women, ensuring more people understood that transness is not a performance but an identity. 

• As the LGBTQ+ community is more widely accepted, so too are its art forms. RuPaul’s Drag Race and all its iterations put drag in the spotlight, and other media quickly followed suit: We now have Pose, Dragula, drag TikTok Influencers, and so much more to look forward to. 

If you would like more information on the history of drag, we recommend watching Trixie Mattel’s drag history lesson on them. You can see a timeline of media drag representation through the years here.

Miss LifeWalk 2017 Winners

What Is Drag? 

The timeline above relies heavily on the understanding that drag is strictly female impersonation or “cross dressing.” The word “cross” here implies “either/or,” which lends itself to a gender binary PHNTX does not recognize. We value and validate all gender identities. Likewise, drag has evolved over the years to be more inclusive of queer folks, gender minorities, and allies alike. 

Who Can Do Drag? 

Expanding who can perform in drag has also expanded the look and feel of drag. Here, we’ll use RuPaul’s Drag Race as a primary example, since it’s arguably the most visible portrayal of drag and its culture. 

In season 7, Violet Chachki occasionally performed without wearing a breastplate, proudly serving more androgynous, curveless looks, an act that would have docked points from her overall performances a few seasons prior. Drag Race has featured trans male performer Gottmik in season 12, trans women starting as early as season 5, and nonbinary performer Raja, the winner of season 3.

Miss LifeWalk 2023 Winners

Drag Race has now featured three cisgender women as drag performers across its Spain, Canada, and Germany seasons, and Pandora Nox most recently won the latter season, making her the first cisgender woman to win in Drag Race her-story. 

Season 14 even had its first straight cisgender male contestant, Maddy Morphosis. 

Drag, the show seems to say, is for everyone, and we at PHNTX couldn’t agree more. 

So, Wait, What Is Drag? 

If it’s not wearing the “opposite” gender’s clothing, what is it? 

Drag personas and presentations hyperbolize the spectrum of gender expression, creating caricatures of the feminine and masculine and every identity in between. Drag can be satire or high fashion or both. Performers can serve “fishy” realness or get “campy,” leaning more heavily on comedy than beauty. 

Beyond the attire, drag involves runway walking, dancing, lip syncing, and comedy. Beyond the act, it’s a certain je ne sais quoi. It’s chuzpah. It’s boogie. Perhaps most importantly, drag is about donning a different persona, a way of accessing a different part of oneself.

2019 Miss LifeWalk Contestant

Are These Examples of Drag Then? 

With all this in mind, one might argue Chappell Roan, Jojo Siwa, and Peach PRC are all drag queens, though the latter referred to the three of them as “WWE lesbians” in a TikTok video. Chappell Roan’s most famous quote is “I’m your favorite artist’s favorite artist,” a reference to Sasha Colby’s famous quote, “I’m your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen.” Even if these queer artists do not consider their performances strictly drag, they at least see the connection there and make homage to its history. 

Maybe @saracampz, the “queen of maximalist fashion” on TikTok, is performing drag each time she assembles an outfit. 

With straight men making headway in drag culture, maybe now we can say the band members of Kiss dressed in drag. Perhaps it could be said of all the ’80s “hair” bands. Maybe other bands and musicians like Slipknot, Gorillaz, Sia, and Deadmou5, who each have a different persona on stage than in their everyday lives, are all drag performers too. 

While these artists don’t consider themselves drag performers, the resemblance to and possible inspiration from drag is apparent in their performances.

2023 Miss LifeWalk Contestant

We Read Lips: Dallas Drag Performers Define Drag 

The most important definitions of drag come from the queens themselves. 

Drag performer and ex-Dallasite Thai Mai Shu told PHNTX, “Drag is an art and performance, much like burlesque, that transcends gender and identity. It’s about using creativity, makeup, and persona to express freedom and challenge norms. Drag isn’t just about looking a certain way—it’s about how you make people feel. Whether you’re new or experienced, the essence of drag lies in captivating an audience and pushing the limits of self-expression. It’s a transformative art form where anyone, regardless of background, can embody and explore the possibilities of who they are. That’s the true essence of drag.” 

Aunt Marge, Miss LifeWalk 2023, with a Nice Package condom vending machine at Dallas Woody’s

Aunt Marge, PHNTX’s Miss LifeWalk 2023, says:

“I think drag can be and is different for everyone now. That’s how it may have changed. I officially did drag for the first time 10 years ago, and I’ve been doing it consistently for the past 8 years. It is one of the greatest gifts life has given me, and I’m glad I get to share it with the community and the world. I think there are all kinds of drag, and they are all valid and important parts of humanity. Drag can be an escape or an illusion for some, but for me, Aunt Marge helps me embrace every part of myself. It brings out some of the best parts of me. Aunt Marge is funny, sassy, and all heart. Russ is all of these things, too, but I feel like Aunt Marge makes others more comfortable to be their full selves.” 

A Dallas Drag Pageant with Purpose

PHNTX hosts an annual drag pageant to raise funds for its accessible healthcare services, including HIV testing and treatment, PrEP services, transgender healthcare, primary care, and much more. Our annual fundraiser was once a traditional 5k, LifeWalk, but we thought a drag show wouldn’t be as much of a drag. In recent years, Miss LifeWalk stepped out of her older sibling’s shadow to shine her light, and we invite all local drag performers, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation, to compete for the title of Miss LifeWalk 2024. 

Miss LifeWalk 2024 is our 20th anniversary of honoring the diverse LGBTQ+ community in the name of more accessible healthcare for all Texans. 

Are you a drag performer? Become a contestant. 

Just want to watch? You’re in good company. Get tickets now. 

Have a big heart for philanthropy and big pockets? Sponsor the event. 

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Author’s Note: While I am queer, nonbinary, and a long-time drag fan, I should state plainly that I am not a drag performer myself. This blog includes some researched truths and fun speculation, but as an outsider to drag culture, I could not hope to speak to drag in its entirety. If you have questions about drag, ask a drag performer for their thoughts.