Drag queens say life is nothing but just a drag

Drag queens are known for their ability to showcase the pinnacle of glamour, creativity, and self-expression. With their elaborate costumes, precision-crafted wigs, and flawless makeup, they strut their stuff on stages around the world, leaving audiences in awe.

This was the case at Molly Malones in Fourways when Shenay O’Brien and Lyz Dexia poured their hearts out on stage during Life is A Drag show to the delight of the community.

But drag culture is more than just a spectacle – it is a rich and vibrant art form that has been a cornerstone of the LGBTQ+ community for decades, said O’Brien.

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She said they named the show Life is a Drag because apart from it being a word play and centered around drag art form, there is a lot that is happening in the world that it sometimes feels like a drag to do things.

“So for the show it is the complete opposite. It is for people to have fun, have a good time and not feel like life is just dragging them down but rather having a great night out and a show, forgetting what is happening in the world.

“The show was a hoot and the crowd turnout was incredible. It was packed, and my highlight was how much people support queer artists at a place that is classified as a straight establishment – like how they open the doors to try new things and let queer performers into those spaces. It is about entertainment, and not gender, how you identify yourself or what you are but having a good time.

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O’Brien said the timing of the show was ideal because it coincided with the hype of the elections. She added that the show affirmed their ability to embrace their true selves, a privilege that remains unattainable for queer individuals in many other African nations.

“We are also celebrating Pride Month, a big relevant thing. A lot of people look at it and be like ‘but we don’t have straight month’ and that is exactly why we need to have a Pride Month because somewhere someone thinks it is still necessary to take their own lives as opposed to being who they are. It is important to celebrate it to harness a community of inclusivity, support, and upliftment to show the world that the stigmas that have been created aren’t necessarily what is happening in the world.

“We tend to fixate so much on the bad because someone is queer but at the end of the day, sexuality does not define who you are as a person; it does not define whether you would make it in life or not. It is about celebrating people for who they are.”

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