Travel to Planet Drag and explore the styles, influences, artists, and events that have made the art of drag so outrageously popular in 15 countries around the world. Exquisitely styled by top drag queens, and with a foreword by
Canada’s Drag Race judge Brooke Lynn Hytes, this is the ultimate guide to drag—
a glittering, feathered foray into the past and present of this much-loved art form.
Gloriously embellished with historical photos—many never seen before—along with stylish contemporary shots of some of the world's biggest drag stars, this is a
deep dive into drag’s meteoric rise to the mainstream.
The carnival court of drag has exploded and it now holds a fierce place in popular culture. And while
Rupaul's Drag Race does highlight some nuanced differences between national drag styles,
there’s a lot more to the story that you don’t know…
In this
extravagant exploration across Planet Drag, we’ll stop at:
- The UK, where pantomime culture gave us a wicked comic attitude that still prevails
- Germany, home to ‘tuntens’ who don’t see themselves as impersonating women at all
- The USA, a unique melting pot of drag culture
- France, where Joan of Arc is considered by some to be the very first drag king
- Australia, the country that birthed blockbuster film Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, which saw drag reach a whole new audience.
Plus, 10 more countries that have altered and expanded the art of drag in ways you might not expect.
This is drag unashamed, unneutered, unapologetic... and world-conquering.
A must-have for any drag fan. Courtney Conquers is a Canadian drag performer and writer who specializes in drag media archiving and live events. She is best known as a co-creator of the queer media collective Drag Coven. Courtney has a Master of Arts in Women’s and Gender Studies and is an outspoken advocate for equity in drag and queer spaces. Her time at Drag Coven has enabled her to witness and film drag across the world, working with countless of drag's biggest names along the way. Drag Coven is the world's first and biggest contemporary, free online drag media archive.
FOREWORD Brooke Lynn Hytes
INTRODUCTION Courtney Conquers
AUSTRALIA Beyond Priscilla, Here is the Former ‘Drag Capital of the World’ Courtney Norton
NEW ZEALAND Radical Drag, Coffee Lounge Cruising and Maori Performance Courtney Norton J
APAN Land of the Rising Illusionists, Water trade Workers, and Drag Queens Weird and Pop Kat Joplin
THE PHILIPPINES From Barangay Pageantry to World-Class Stunts Tsarlotte Lucifer
THAILAND Fierce and Joyful Transformations, from Tiffany’s to the World Stage Presley Stewart
FRANCE Cabaret, Burlesque and Excess Jeffrey Rowe
GERMANY Beauty and Joy in the Face of Horror and Adversity Tsarlotte Lucifer
ITALY High Heels, High Culture Sara Altea Balestra
HOLLAND Theatre, Sexual Revolution and a New Dutch Way Gigi Rajkumar Guerandi
SPAIN Drag Queens on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown! Javier Izquierdo Cubas
SWEDEN The Nordic Royal Families Viktor ‘Caffeine’ Skancke
UNITED KINGDOM A Panto-Dwelling, Deeply Political Drag History Zephyr Aspen
CANADA True North Strong and Fierce Courtney Conquers
UNITED STATES Rebellion and Resistance Alex Nolos
BRAZIL All Eyes on the Carnival Juliana Santos
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND FURTHER READING
SUPPORTING LOCAL DRAG
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
INDEX
PICTURE CREDITS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Other versions by this Author