History Main / DragQueen

Many cultures around the globe have a theatre tradition of crossdressing, such as the UK's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime_dame pantomime dames,]] Japan's ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onnagata onnagata,]]'' and Western comedians with a female persona like Creator/BarryHumphries (Dame Edna) and Tyler Perry (Madea). However, these are usually heterosexual men performing for general audiences, whereas ''drag'' performers are specific to LGBT+ culture, performing at {{gay bar}}s, [[PrideParade Pride festivals]], and other queer-centric events, and many take part in community activism outside of performing.

[[caption-width-right:189:[[PunnyName Miss Understood]]]]

* BabylonBerlin: Svetlana Sorokina performs as a Drag King singer at the Mokka Efti nightclub under the pseudonym of [[SdrawkcabAlias "Nikoros"]]. The song written for her main performance scene, "Zu Asche, Zu Staub", is the show's end credits music.

* The Arrancar Charlotte Chuhlhourne of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', who faces off against resident [[{{Bishonen}} pretty boy]] Shinigami Yumichika Ayasegawa. He also cranks the drag factor up to eleven with [[http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t280/Warugaki88/13.jpg?t=1217052133 eye-searing]] [[http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/bagabondo/bleach/?action=view¤t=bleachchap321p2.jpg results.]] He fires ''heart-shaped'' Ceros.

* In ''Literature/DisappearingNightly'', one of the performers whose assistant vanished is a drag queen of the Fishy Queen type. As some of the male protagonists are Really700YearsOld, they get a crush on the man before realizing he's a he. The lead character, Esther, meanwhile privately laments over the fact "she" is better at looking good than her...than again Esther is a low-payed actress going through a lot of stress and adventure due to finding out about magic so doesn't have ''time'' to make herself look good.

Many cultures around the globe have a theatre tradition of crossdressing, such as the UK's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime_dame pantomime dames,]] Japan's ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onnagata onnagata,]]'' and Western comedians with a female persona like Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) and Tyler Perry (Madea). However, these are usually heterosexual men performing for general audiences, whereas ''drag'' performers are specific to LGBT+ culture, performing at {{gay bar}}s, [[PrideParade Pride festivals]], and other queer-centric events, and many take part in community activism outside of performing.

* Dame Edna and her (winkwink) manager Barry Humphries.

In some quarters, drag queens are subject to controversy; for example, conservative MoralGuardians frequently dislike the emerging phenomenon of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_Queen_Story_Hour Drag Queen Story Hour,]] events at which drag queens entertain small children (usually ignoring the fact that they themselves approve of [[{{UsefulNotes/Christianity}} men wearing dress-like costumes entertaining children]]). Other criticisms come from feminists, who sometimes believe men performing as drag queens is demeaning to women -- that what it means is for male entertainers to "put on dresses, make up and high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women (bitchy, catty, dumb, slutty, etc.)," to quote lesbian activist [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cheney Mary Cheney.]] The counterargument is that drag queens really subvert and deconstruct gender norms by making fun of traditional femininity, thus helping to free both men and women from stereotypical expectations. Creator/{{RuPaul}}, for instance, has said that he should not be assumed to be trying to emulate an actual woman, as scant few actual women routinely dress like drag queens (i.e. huge wigs, garish makeup, outrageous outfits, impractically high heels, etc.).

In some quarters, drag queens are subject to controversy; for example, conservative MoralGuardians frequently dislike the emerging phenomenon of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_Queen_Story_Hour Drag Queen Story Hour,]] events at which drag queens entertain small children (usually ignoring the fact that they themselves approve of [[UsefulNotes/Christianity men wearing dress-like costumes entertaining children]]). Other criticisms come from feminists, who sometimes believe men performing as drag queens is demeaning to women -- that what it means is for male entertainers to "put on dresses, make up and high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women (bitchy, catty, dumb, slutty, etc.)," to quote lesbian activist [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cheney Mary Cheney.]] The counterargument is that drag queens really subvert and deconstruct gender norms by making fun of traditional femininity, thus helping to free both men and women from stereotypical expectations. Creator/{{RuPaul}}, for instance, has said that he should not be assumed to be trying to emulate an actual woman, as scant few actual women routinely dress like drag queens (i.e. huge wigs, garish makeup, outrageous outfits, impractically high heels, etc.).

In some quarters, drag queens are subject to controversy; for example, conservative MoralGuardians frequently dislike the emerging phenomenon of [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_Queen_Story_Hour Drag Queen Story Hour,]] events at which drag queens entertain small children. Other criticisms come from feminists, who sometimes believe men performing as drag queens is demeaning to women -- that what it means is for male entertainers to "put on dresses, make up and high heels and act out every offensive stereotype of women (bitchy, catty, dumb, slutty, etc.)," to quote lesbian activist [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cheney Mary Cheney.]] The counterargument is that drag queens really subvert and deconstruct gender norms by making fun of traditional femininity, thus helping to free both men and women from stereotypical expectations. Creator/{{RuPaul}}, for instance, has said that he should not be assumed to be trying to emulate an actual woman, as scant few actual women routinely dress like drag queens (i.e. huge wigs, garish makeup, outrageous outfits, impractically high heels, etc.).

* ''Manga/{{Gintama}}'': There is an okama bar in the Kabuki District called Kamakko Club, owned and operated by "Mademoiselle" Saigou, who decided to become a crossdresser after the death of his wife in order for his son to have a maternal figure in his life. Saigo himself is fiercely protective of his fellow okama, and will beat up anyone who insults them. At one point he [[DraggedIntoDrag forces Gintoki and Katsura to work for him]] after they incur his wrath.

* Music/{{Queen}}'s video for "I Want to Break Free" had the members dressing up in drag.

** Also, in the secret 5.5th level of Impel Down, former "Queen" of the Kamabakka Kingdom Emporio Ivankov has created the New Kama Kingdom, filled with even more okama (including himself).

** Also, in the secret 5.5th level of Impel Down, former "Queen" of the Kamabakka Kingdom has created the New Kama Kingdom, filled with even more okama (including himself).

%%Per this ATT https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/query.php?parent_id=114200&type=att, we trope drag queens' personas as characters, not as real people, so please do not add real names or other personal information that is not explicitly given via one of the queen's works (e.g. in credits or within the work itself).

%% This also means that we can't reference Administrivia/NoRealLifeExamplesPlease tropes that apply to the real performer rather than their drag persona.

Many cultures around the globe have a theatre tradition of men dressing as women, such as the UK's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantomime_dame pantomime dames,]] Japan's ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onnagata onnagata,]]'' and Western comedians with a female persona like Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) and Tyler Perry (Madea). However, these are usually heterosexual men performing for general audiences, whereas ''drag'' performers are specific to LGBT+ culture, performing at {{gay bar}}s, [[PrideParade Pride festivals]], and other queer-centric events, and many take part in community activism outside of performing.

* Despite his reputation for homophobia, Music/{{Eminem}} is well known for dressing in drag in his music videos, playing both original characters and campy celebrity impersonations. He's also worked with career drag artists, most prominently Derrick Barry (who plays Music/BritneySpears in the video for "We Made You").

* WebVideo/UNHhhh, hosted by Creator/{{Katya}} and creator/TrixieMattel.

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': For the [[Recap/InterviewWithTheVampire2022S1E7TheThingLayStill Krewe of Raj float]] during the Mardi Gras festivity, Lestat de Lioncourt is dolled up as UsefulNotes/MarieAntoinette (so he's a French drag queen who is costumed as a French queen), complete with makeup, wig, sparkly tiara and necklace, a giant bedazzled frilled collar, FluffyFashionFeathers, a [[PimpedOutCape fur-trimmed cape]], HighClassGloves, a gown and a corset (which is worn backwards for some reason).

* Paul O'Grady is a British comedian who made a living through the 1980s and 1990s as Lily Savage, his sharp-tongued drag queen alter ego. O'Grady has since dropped Savage and mostly appears as himself these days.
* Verka Serduchka, the Drag personality of Ukranian singer Andriy Mykhailovych Danylko finished second in the Series/{{Eurovision|SongContest}} 2007 contest. He is also a very popular singer in both Russia and Ukraine and successfully performed as a stand-up comedian. Note that he is heterosexual.
* Comedian Creator/EddieIzzard has performed in drag for almost his entire stand-up career.
** Izzard even does a bit on the differences between being a drag queen and a transvestite (a transvestite being a "male tomboy.") He even identifies himself as the latter, rather than the former.
** Izzard does not only dress in female clothes for performances. It's a personal thing. He's ''not'' a drag queen. In ''Dress To Kill'' he claims to be "un travesti executif.. un travesti d'action!"

* The Arrancar Charlotte Chuhlhourne of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'', who faces off against resident [[{{Bishonen}} pretty boy]] Shinigami Yumichika Ayasegawa. He also cranks the drag factor up to eleven with [[http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t280/Warugaki88/13.jpg?t=1217052133 eye-searing]] [[http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/bagabondo/bleach/?action=view¤t=bleachchap321p2.jpg results.]] He fires ''heart-shaped'' Ceros/Doom Blasts.

** There's also the Kamabakka Kingdom (which translates almost literally as filled with Okama), where everyone has the heart of a maiden. Much to his despair [[spoiler:Sanji]] lands here.

* Grell Sutcliffe in ''Manga/BlackButler'' has some of the traits of one, but is ultimately a subversion; that's what she's actually like.
* One of the episodes of ''Anime/MichikoAndHatchin'' has the two meeting a man who has an acting career dressing as women (though in a normal style, instead of campy and exaggerated). His son crossdresses 24/7 in hopes that he can be a good actor like his dad when he grows up.
* ''Manga/CityHunter'': A recurring character and owner of a gay pub is one and employs others. He often tries and fail to seduce straight men, including main character Ryo (who is the one who won't run, as they're friends).

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': For the Krewe of Raj float during the Mardi Gras festivity, Lestat de Lioncourt is dolled up as UsefulNotes/MarieAntoinette (so he's a French drag queen who is costumed as a French queen), complete with makeup, wig, sparkly tiara and necklace, a giant bedazzled frilled collar, FluffyFashionFeathers, fur, HighClassGloves, a gown and a corset (which is worn backwards for some reason).

* ''Series/InterviewWithTheVampire2022'': For the Krewe of Raj float during the Mardi Gras festivity, Lestat de Lioncourt is dolled up as UsefulNotes/MarieAntoinette (so he's a French drag queen who is costumed as a French queen), complete with makeup, wig, sparkly tiara and necklace, a giant bedazzled frilled collar, feathers, fur, HighClassGloves, a gown and a corset (which is worn backwards for some reason).

* Parodied in ''Series/{{Metrosexuality}}'' where the LocalHangout's bouncer is a tall, imposing and massively built ScaryBlackMan ([=DeObia Oparei=]) who speaks in a very deep {{ba|dassBaritone}}ritone register, despite wearing incredibly flashy colours and feathers.