In this short, three participants reminisce about their connections to the drag scene, focusing on Jaja from Drag Race Thailand, their drag mothers Eva Papaya and Mama Lettlet, and the early Manila drag venues like Malate and Red Banana. They note that Jaja performed in English despite not speaking Thai, which resonated with Asian viewers. The conversation highlights that one speaker began professional drag in 2009, marking roughly 16 years of experience, and reflects on the significance of attending a Drag Convention where fans meet the performers in person, describing it as one of the best experiences of their lives.
Eva Papaya, Mama Lettlet. They are my mothers. And Jaja from Drag Race Thailand. She's my jam.
I love Jaja. You know, we were talking a little bit about this before. The first international iteration was Drag Race Thailand. I was so elated because any Asian representation was enough for me to feel represented. So when I watched that season and I saw Jaja on there with like the only— she didn't speak Thai. She just fully was just there speaking in English as much as she could to understand what was going on. And she made it pretty far. She made I just remember watching that season and having so many fun memories. So that's incredible to know that you have a connection to Jaja.
I have a connection with Jaja too, and I first saw her in Malate. There was no OVR yet even then. Yeah, before she was already popular.
Yeah. Was it Red Banana days?
Yeah, some—
or Min started doing professional drag in 2009, right around the same time when Drag Race came out.
So that's like almost 16, 16 years of experience doing drag. How many Drag Cons have you done? Or just one? Just one.
It is— yeah, it's one of the best experiences of my life. Like, you get to meet people from all walks of life, fans from all over the world who has only seen you on television before, and now they would be saying hello to you and telling them stories and how you impacted their lives.
