Drag has taken center stage, captivating audiences and reshaping cultural norms in ways that were once unimaginable.
Once confined to the hidden corners of clubs and bars, drag has evolved into a celebrated art form that influences beauty, fashion, and pop culture on a global scale.
Thanks to trailblazers like RuPaul and the Emmy-winning RuPaul’s Drag Race, the world has witnessed the meteoric rise of drag queens, making them icons not just in LGBTQ+ spaces but in mainstream media as well.
This evolution has transformed makeup and beauty practices, highlighting drag’s significant influence on how we view and use cosmetics today.
The Roots and Evolution of Drag
While RuPaul’s Drag Race may have propelled drag into the limelight, the art of gender transformation has ancient roots. Historical records show that gender-bending performances existed in ancient Egypt, China, and Greece.
Shakespearean plays even featured male actors in female roles due to societal norms barring women from the stage. Vaudeville further embraced this practice, with male performers adopting female personas to entertain audiences.
However, modern drag has transcended mere imitation, emerging as a powerful form of self-expression that challenges traditional ideas of gender and identity.
RuPaul perfectly encapsulates this sentiment, stating, “I don’t dress like a woman; I dress like a drag queen.”
Makeup: The Lifeblood of Drag
Drag’s impact on beauty is undeniable, with makeup being at its core. For years, drag queens relied on stage makeup to achieve their vibrant, exaggerated looks.
Now, many of these techniques and products have become staples on store shelves. “Drag introduced bold colors to mainstream beauty,” says veteran queen Sherry Vine.
The bright hues seen in ‘70s YSL makeup may have set the stage, but today, vibrant purples, pinks, and oranges are embraced and celebrated across beauty counters.
Before the digital age, makeup tips were shared in the back rooms of bars. Queens like Sherry Vine learned through trial and error, often guided by mentors such as Candis Cayne.
Today, tutorials flood YouTube, allowing anyone to learn from the best with just a click.
Drag’s Influence on Beauty Techniques
With drag queens enjoying a celebrity status comparable to pop stars, it’s no surprise that their makeup techniques have permeated everyday beauty practices. Monét X Change, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 4, notes that drag’s influence is omnipresent in modern makeup. “Celebrities bring photos of drag looks to makeup artists for inspiration,” she shares.
Techniques such as contouring, highlighting, and bold lashes have transitioned from the drag stage to mainstream makeup. Willam, another Drag Race alum, observes, “Women wear more lashes now, thanks to drag queens. Everyone wants to feel a bit more glamorous in their daily life.”
Drag’s Integration into Mainstream Culture
From reality TV ratings to viral Instagram posts, drag’s presence in popular culture is palpable. The sharp contours seen on Kim Kardashian, the precise cut-creases on Megan Thee Stallion, and the bold blush on Doja Cat all nod to drag’s influence.
Willam puts it simply: “Makeup is makeup. The techniques used by drag queens for decades are now evident thanks to social media.”
Drag queens have also carved out a place in the beauty industry as collaborators, models, and entrepreneurs. The first significant milestone was RuPaul’s campaign for MAC’s Viva Glam, but queens like Kim Chi, Trixie Mattel, and Miss Fame have since launched their own beauty lines.
Biblegirl, CEO of DragQueenMerch, points out how brands now include drag queens in marketing campaigns, such as Sunday Riley’s collaborations with Shea Couleé and Gia Gunn. “Including drag personalities has become an effective branding tool,” she adds.
Drag, Beauty, and Black Culture
Drag and black culture are deeply intertwined, with black culture long influencing mainstream beauty and fashion. Bob the Drag Queen, a black queen and RuPaul’s Drag Race winner, underscores this relationship: “The culture of drag is black culture.
They’re not mutually exclusive.” Monét X Change echoes this, noting the appropriation that black culture faces: “Society takes trends from black culture and repackages them as new.”
One example is the resurgence of baby hair styling, a trend rooted in black and brown communities that some now mistakenly attribute to drag.
“Baby hair was popularized in the ‘90s, and it’s important to acknowledge where it came from,” Monét asserts.
A Lasting Legacy
Drag has transformed the relationship we have with makeup, making dramatic and bold looks accessible to all. Techniques that once belonged exclusively to queens are now found in makeup tutorials, product launches, and everyday beauty routines.
Miss Fame, a season seven contestant and beauty icon, aptly says, “Drag has forever changed how we relate to makeup. It’s a celebration of identity and personal expression.”
Willam sums it up perfectly: “Do what you want, and if it doesn’t look right, a drag queen will probably tell you.” In an ever-evolving beauty landscape, one thing is certain: drag’s influence is here to stay, pushing boundaries and celebrating creativity like never before.
