Slaysian Persuasian Ep3: Drag Race Philippines S4 Ep3 Review

Hello and welcome back to Slazian Persuasion.

We are now on episode 3. Yeah, so fast.

I know, it's really flying on by. Well, if you didn't— for if you need a reminder, I'm Calypso.

My name is Virginia, please.

And we're gonna be discussing Season 4, Episode 3 of Drag Race Philippines. Yes.

And thank you so much for all of those who are watching. We are gaining more viewers.

I know. Our last episode was one of our most viewed ever. Thank you all so much for your support and tuning in. And we're just adding to the discussion. That's my favorite part of it.

And more viewers, more haters as well.

Right. Literally, that one comment really got to us. I was like, oh, girl, I know my eyebrows looked rough, but damn. So we were— We look like brick. I know. We got called Bricky.

Girl, check us out today.

But we're soft today. We have our big— we have our big hairs on, looking proportional. I know when we were discussing what to wear for this episode, we were like, do we want to do something on theme? But where are we giving? What are we giving?

I think I am a rich mom, a parent going to a PTA meeting.

Exactly. Well, I agree. So when Regina said that, I'm like, OK, well, I'll be the other rich mom coming to the PTA meeting. And now we're like fighting because we want to see like who's going to be So it's both of us, it's both of us like campaigning to become PTA president.

We've used both of our monies.

Right, exactly. I just finished watching Desperate Housewives, so it feels very much like we're just, we're like, we're like Desperate Housewives. We're like, we're like trying to claw our way.

Well, we're not gonna be housewives and we're not desperate either.

Yes, and we have, we have no children to put into school either, but we're feeling it. But we're living the fantasy. The fantasy, exactly, exactly.

Yeah.

So shall we get on with the episode? So, uh, well, at the start of the episode, it is a little, you know, a little sad because this is the official, official farewell to Miss Hoa from the competition.

Yeah, I noticed how quickly that changes. I mean, I understand, you know, last episode was primarily dedicated to Miss Hoa, but I just thought when I was watching it, it's like, oh my God, we've moved— like, have we moved on? Like, right.

I mean, like, I think it— I almost forgot that this was happening. I was like, okay, well, you know, that was our episode for Miss Hoa. I didn't— like, I wasn't knowing what to expect for this one. But I think it was a beautiful tribute having all of the girls write a little message on the lipstick, like, you know, write a little lipstick message. I think it was a— it's a great way to, like, not forget about her, but to, like, give her— it gave her closure so that now they can move forward with the rest of the season, you know?

And what a way to depart this world and be celebrated on TV.

Right?

Should I be saying that? Oh my God.

No, absolutely. I'm— that's what I was thinking too. I'm like, she lived her dream. She did something that she loved, and now we're saying goodbye. But she's gonna— this is a season dedicated to her. We'll always remember Miss Wa.

Yeah.

And of course, her sisters are gonna be posting all of the looks. I'm excited to see all the looks that she would have done for this ball, you know? So I'm looking forward to it. So her legacy will live on. Yes.

Okay, let's get on with it.

Oh my gosh. So immediately in the fallout of the episode, Well, there was another moment that I wanted to talk about. Girl, they were all holding their heads and praying immediately. I know that feels bad for us to laugh, but as soon as the lights turned back on and they were like, dear Lord God, I was like, oh, here we go again.

It's really a different frame of mind. You know, the Philippines has been colonized and Catholicism has been inculcated into the psyche of all Filipinos for almost 400 years. So it's really, really hard to—

Old habits. Yes. But the very next day, we come in and immediately sparks are flying.

Yes.

So Monza brings up a comment that Merx said regarding the orange team's death drops at the end of their performance. Yes. So, you know, whatever you want to call it, death drop, shawam, shablam, dip, you know?

What did she say, though? They didn't say what she said.

They didn't say what she said, but it was implied that she had some— like, it was very much like a she said, she said, she said. Like, it was like all over it. Like, it was a game of telephone. So it was implied that Merx wanted to say something about that dip. So they were about to say, like, girl— you know, it was very, like, word of mouth, word of mouth. But there was something.

Was she worried that if they did that, that it's going to be to their detriment as a group?

That's how I understood it. The way that I understood it is that as the representative of ballroom culture in this season of Drag Race Philippines, Merx wanted to— Like, not gatekeep, but she wanted to be like the voice of—

The drag community. I mean, ball community.

Yeah, she wanted to be the voice for the ballroom community. And she wanted to be like, you know, well, I guess I'll just save it for the confessionals. That's basically what was said. Like, she said she felt a type of way about all of them doing that. But she said that she'd save it for the confessionals. And Monza was not having it. She was like, girl, what's the tea?

Yeah. And then she was like, I'm part of that community too.

And then they went back and forth. And they were like, well, when were you part of the community? And then they were like, pre-pandemic times. So it really got me thinking about whose culture is this to defend? You know? Because as we know, ballroom culture started in the Black communities of New York City in the '80s, the Black and brown New York City community. And then it spread all over the world. I don't know enough about it to understand exactly how that spread happened. But obviously, there are houses in Europe. There are houses in Asia. There are houses across the world now.

Yeah. All I know is that in the '70s, you know, LG queer, LGBTQ and trans, we had to make our own communities and our own worlds. And the ballroom community is just one iteration of that. There are so many more communities that have formed during the '70s and '80s. We have the leather community, we have the Imperial Council of San Francisco who has built this monarchy-like organization, and there are so many more.

So it just speaks to the broader queer communities that have been developed, right? So I think it wasn't really a discussion even about ballroom, it was more so just clashing with me, that was just the catalyst for this clash. Maureen did say something that I found was interesting though. She said, does it have to be gatekept? Can me doing it be paying homage or honoring ballroom? And I think drag and ballroom culture have borrowed a lot, and I think drag has borrowed especially a lot from ballroom because of the current ways that Drag Race around the world has, you know, used those terms.

She has— Maureen has a point. I mean, if anything, I think the purpose This is my own analysis, is that if anything, ballroom wants to be inclusive of those who don't feel accepted outside of our community. It's a safe space for queer and trans— well, in the days, Black and brown were able to safely express themselves through ballroom.

Yeah, absolutely. It was a way for them to live out their— live out their true selves in society when society did not have space for them.

They honor themselves. They play these roles and fantasies that they could not outside of that space.

Yeah, exactly. And especially if— I know we have a lot of listeners, so I'd love to share a little bit more about that. So the categories and the idea of categories and the terms realness was to allow these queer people spaces. So when they say executive realness, that is because at that time it would have been impossible for a queer trans person to become an executive.

Yes, to make it— yeah.

So when they walk— so that extends to all categories. So when it's like military, or like, I know some other categories would be like bridal wedding. Those are because gay marriage was not allowed. Queer, like trans people were not allowed to get married at that time. So they— it was ways so they could live out their fantasies. And that's, that's where realness, that's where all of those terms come from, because they wanted to It wasn't just about, you know, playing dress-up. It was about portraying that aspect of life that they did not have access to.

I guess where Merckx is coming from is that, you know, our culture quickly becomes capitalized outside of our communities. And I guess Merckx had a sense of authority of protecting that.

That's a very good point. You know, it's like, this is hers. And, you know, it goes back to Why would you want your community to be not represented in the very best way? You know, in the US Drag Race seasons, Aja is kind of like a person who calls out when she sees aspects of ballroom culture being misrepresented or not represented to a— you know, there's ways to do a duck walk. There's ways to do hand performance. There's ways to do floor performance. And when queens on Drag Race just do it and say, oh, I'm giving— girl, I'm voguing. And then she's like, no, no, no, that's not what it is. You know? So—

Yes.

There's some respect that needs to be given, I believe.

Exactly. People forget that a lot of lingos, pop culture, style come from queer and trans people.

Absolutely.

It is easily co-opted by the greater society without even recognizing that fashion and style and whatnot, a lot of it comes from the queer and trans community.

Exactly. One of my favorite things that were said in the fight was that the reason that you were team captain was random. You popped a balloon in a star vault, which I thought was so funny. But they were going back and forth, and then Borgegum got caught astray too. Like, the only reason she got team captain was because she was in the bottom. But, you know, they go— they move through this argument basically. And then now, you know, it's time for the mini challenge. Yes.

I didn't—

They were playing— oh, you're like, what did they do? I remember. Don't worry, I remember.

No, no, I remember. But, um, You know, the mini challenges are weird for me sometimes. It's like Taylor Swift was actually the one—

Taylor Sheesh.

Taylor Sheesh.

Taylor Swift. Damn, the illusion. The illusion.

Getting all the, should we say, negative votes. And yet she's the one who won that challenge.

That's what I thought. It was so funny. So we have it written down. So immediately off the bat, Valeria gets trait of the season. Yes!

I agree.

I do think she is the hottest person.

That was funny.

Yes. But I agree, she's the hot— to me, I agree, she's the hottest, sexiest person. So of course. And then off the bat, Taylor also gets funniest.

Yeah, of course.

Because she's a joke a minute and she's so unserious. Beshie, so that's like the nicest, like the best friend. Everybody's best friend. And that was Andy Crocker. I did not expect that. I didn't expect that. Do you think she might be misconstrued?

I think she looked the part.

She looked— that's a different kind of shade. You look like somebody's best friend.

No, that was so funny.

You look like somebody's best friend. You look like somebody's best friend.

I would be proud.

Okay, yeah. My drag is very best friend. Most trustworthy is Taylor. Okay. Worst dressed in the workroom is Monza. I was like, damn, that's hilarious.

I'm so glad you also added worst face.

That is so crazy. I didn't even— I don't even notice the girls' like workroom outfits that much, but I guess now I'm paying attention. Now I'm like, what are they serving? Worst dressed is Monza. Most annoying is also Taylor. The best rep? The best represent— oh, best representative of, uh, Filipina drag. I wouldn't— I wouldn't have picked Andy. Is that shady? I don't know. I would have been like, when I think of representatives of global Filipina drag, I would think like queens like Marina Summers, queens like, um, uh, well, like Marina Summers. But I think like, I mean, I guess, I mean, I don't know. Again, we don't know these girls that long.

Yeah.

So I think it's like, okay.

There must be a reason.

Sure. That's—

Yes.

Um, and then going to the finale, Katana. I mean, she's been demolishing the competition, so obviously. Next to go home being Borge. Damn. Most viral, the one who had a viral moment, Valeria. I would have picked Monza, you know? I mean, I would like— I feel like she's kind of the viral queen out of this bunch, but— or Taylor, low-key Taylor. Um, loud is Taylor.

Yes.

Arrested is Monza, and then the messiest is also Taylor. And with that, Taylor wins the bingo.

You know, I want to add, like, they said Monza would be arrested because she looks like a criminal.

Oh my— they've really just been piling on Monza. Monza, I love you. I see you and I live for you, mama. My gosh. And then, yeah, so with that, the challenge is introduced. We are doing the Bex to Bex school ball. What is— can you remind me, what does Bex mean in slang?

Uh, it's short for Becky, and Becky means queer.

Okay, wow, there's so many words for queer.

Yeah.

Let me recap. We got bakla, we got, uh, bayot.

Bayot is Cebuano. It's a different—

It's a different, but it also means queer.

Yes.

And then now we have bek.

Becky. Becky.

Becky. Okay, okay. So we have all of these fabulous terms, and that plays into the wordplay. Like you say, you always love hearing the wordplay. So it's the Bex to Bex School Ball, and then there's 3 categories. The first category is a teacher. The second category is prom queen. Prom queen?

Yeah.

And then the third category is you have to create an outfit based off of the school supplies and uniforms.

But before that though, they had this little feature of Maureen about her being a teacher.

Yes, I was gonna say that because I wish we had Mama Pal walking through the workroom. We didn't have that. Did you notice that? She didn't look at anybody's designs.

Oh yeah.

Especially this year of Drag Race, a big part of all the design challenges has been the judges going and seeing each person's sketch and then giving critique. We didn't get any of that.

Yes.

Did you notice that? They just like, they just showed the girls talking and then they showed the girls making it and then boom, runway.

I wanted to point out this short feature because I think it's very pivotal to see this on screen because of the history that, you know, we both know during the '70s and '80s, we were not allowed to be teachers. In fact, there was an initiative called the Briggs Initiative that was initiated by a politician whose name is Briggs that bans LGBTQ+ from becoming teachers. But our community was outraged during that time, especially here in San Francisco, and there was a huge uprising And eventually that bill did not pass through. It was voted out.

Yeah, and there's lots of legislation and examples, especially in U.S. history, where there have been steps taken to prevent queer, gay people, trans people from being a part of society. So whether that being a teacher, serving in the military, being visible, having the right to exist. And, you know, especially living in San Francisco, we are exposed to so much of that, especially with the legacy of activists and politicians like Harvey Milk.

Yes, and Harvey Milk was the proponent of really fighting against that bill. And I think it's related to why he actually died in the same year, because when that initiative did not pass, he also died in the same year. He was murdered.

Yes, and I think it's crazy that it's not that long ago. Our last Senator Dianne Feinstein literally was— not senator, our last representative in Congress, Dianne Feinstein, was literally colleagues with Harvey Milk. And she was alive until like a few years ago. So this is so recent that these rights and legislations have directly impacted our community.

San Francisco really showed the world that if we come together as a community and we show to the world that we have power, People will start respecting us. And Dianne Feinstein, by the way, at first was not sure in supporting the gay community, but when she saw the uprising that happened, especially when Harvey Milk died, she— whenever she would run, she would court all these organizations that existed in San Francisco before.

And there are so many, there are so many fabulous organizations that Support not only the queer community, but so many different aspects of the population of San Francisco. And the city without these, the support of these organizations would be, you know, half of what it is now. And I think it's so important. That's why legislation citywide and local level should support these organizations.

Yes. Yes. Yeah. There is a gay vote. And even in the Philippines, there is.

Yeah. Where does— are there like protections like that in the Philippines now? Like, for example, when Maureen was talking about the discrimination that she faces as a teacher who does drag and like the kind of backlash she gets. Are there any protections for it?

No, on a national level, no. There are some cities who have made initiatives, but on a national level, that's why we're always fighting for the SOGIE Bill. The SOGIE Bill is the bill that would supposedly protect LGBTQ people for example, from being fired from work for who they are. Yes, and protect them from any discrimination. But unfortunately, that bill has been lobbying for more than, I think, 25 years and it hasn't passed yet.

But what a vibrant and thriving queer community still exists despite not having that recognition.

There's really that conundrum— not conundrum, irony— where there is a lot of acceptance No, no, sorry, there's a lot of tolerance, but there is no acceptance for LGBTQ people in the Philippines.

Yes, the legislation needs to catch up with the community's needs. Yeah, absolutely. But some of the things that she mentioned specifically was that, you know, as a teacher, you're allowed to have your personal life, you're allowed to have fun, you're allowed to, you know, do that. And then she keeps her work life very professional. And then one of the concerns that people bring up to her is just like, Oh, you know, it's like the classic drag queens are grooming children, queer people are against children. I think if you just let people exist, people are gonna make their choices. I just, you know, we just saw something, you know, you were showing me a clip earlier. People grow up with heterosexual teachers, heterosexual media, heterosexual everything, and despite that, people still are queer. So if exposure to lifestyle is the basis of determining someone's sexuality, then nobody in the world would be queer.

Exactly.

So props to Maureen for being a teacher. And I love how she's a science teacher.

For me, this is really historical. This has not happened before, where someone on national TV would say, I am a drag queen and I'm also a teacher. I am queer. And I think that is really, really important because when you see yourself on TV, that will help you— what am I trying to say? Representation matters. There you go.

Yes, absolutely. And I do think there's been instances of other educators and people academia being on Drag Race. Immediately, Cheddar Gorgeous from UK comes to mind. She's— I think she's the only and first contestant with a PhD to be on Drag Race. So she's the first contestant with a doctorate. And then Tempest DuJour taught at a college in Arizona. And then I think Sasha Velour is like a Fulbright scholar. So anyways, academia, drag and academia, we exist. They exist. Good for all of us.

That's actually one of my dreams too. And I've done it a couple of times already to speak on keynotes while in drag.

Yes. Colleges, book her. Local colleges. I know you've spoken at universities around the Bay, right? Around the Bay, yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely. Come on, keep it going, keep it going. You know, I think the perspective that you bring as an artist, a multidisciplinary artist, is invaluable in educational spaces.

Thank you so much.

You know, I did want to touch a little bit. Were there any teachers or educators in your life that gave you a safe space for being queer or gave you any kind of, like, you know, comfort? Because I think that's a common trope, you know, in memes and such. Like, oh, you know, there's always the ally English teacher who's always an ally to all the queer children, or the art teacher who always had a safe space. You know, anything like that for you?

I think that I had teachers who were compassionate but didn't know how to deal with it. There was no language or there was just no modeling, you know. Teachers didn't— although they feel the human compassion for a kid that is being bullied, they see it, they just don't know how to go about it because everything else says that this is wrong.

Yeah.

Yes. And so I really felt that there were teachers who cared for me and Tried to protect me from all the bullying, but it stopped there. I think the least they did was separate me from the bullies, but that was it. I appreciate it, but I was bullied so much growing up. How about you?

For me, I think I can still remember when I was in high school. This is around like 10 years ago, is when I started high school. They had— I could name one queer person in my entire university— not university, my entire high school. So out of like, what, you know, almost 1,000-something kids, one who was out, they/them, non-binary. That was the first time we were talking about pronouns. And I was, you know, at that point I'm like, I'm an ally.

I'm an ally.

I think we're a little more than an ally now. But back then I was like, Yes, I see you. You are represented and I'm here. That was also when I first started getting into Drag Race. Season 6 of Drag Race was the first season of Drag Race I ever watched. And I remember there was an English teacher. She made me feel so seen in my appreciation. Because, you know, people were like, people liked anime, people liked, you know, different reality TV shows. People had their interests. When mine was so obviously drag, she was the only person at that time who was so supportive of it. I remember I would put GIFs of Jiggly Caliente into my English teacher presentation, like English class presentations. I would put GIFs of Laganja Estranja on my, you know, documents and everything to like, you know, just, just to like, you're like, this is how I'm decorating. And when other kids would put like anime characters, I'd put drag queens.

You just made me feel so old.

Oh my gosh, come on. It's— that's the varied experience that we bring. That's the beauty of Slaysian Presents.

forget that 40 years ago I was 9 years old. And you were 9 years old like how many years?

How many years ago was I 9 years old? 16 years ago.

Okay.

16, 17 years ago I was 9 years old. But listen, I don't think they would have known that. When I first met you, I did not know your age. And then when you revealed it when we did the first season of Staysian, I was kind of gagged. I was kind of gagged.

Yeah, no, I just— I'm just seeing the stark difference of our experience.

Yeah.

In terms of, you know, how our community has progressed in terms of representation, LGBTQ rights.

Yes.

It was such a totally different world, the world I lived in when I was young.

You know, and I'm saying, like, even from my time till now, so much has changed. My drag daughter and I actually went to the same high school, and we didn't even know each other then. We figured it out when we met a year ago. But from the point when I graduated to the point that she graduated, already so many changes. Recently, I saw my high school's newspaper post a picture from like a school dance, and it was 2 boys dancing together, like slow dancing together. And seeing that, I mean, that would have never happened when I was there. And just seeing that was so beautiful. So, you know, it exists.

Yeah, I would really feel that sometimes. And sometimes it would also make me feel sad because it will give me realizations that, oh my God, like, I hid myself so many times. I couldn't express myself. I couldn't say, oh, I like that guy, because of fear of, again, being ridiculed and being bullied. And a lot of my PTSD comes from that, from an everyday You know, microaggression and everyday people telling you that there is something wrong about you. Yeah.

I think we still experience this. I mean, even in like when it comes to just life, people are so averse to drag.

Yeah.

They are so— they just don't— it's something that they don't understand and they just hate it. That's why there's so much legislation that's been against it across the world. That's why there's protests. That's why it— like, people just don't understand what we do. And, you know, we can grow up going through these experiences. But even today in what we do as artists, I think we still experience it.

Yes. You know?

So a lot of that navigation, a lot of the hiding, it's like tucking the wigs and the heels under the bed.

Yeah.

Or, you know, not revealing this when you meet someone new. I don't tell them immediately that I do drag. You know, that's something that you have to—

My life, like in my new work right now, my life is separate from my drag. Only a few of them know that I do drag.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, no one in any of my professional settings have known.

We still have that fear.

Right.

Yeah.

So it's like that never escapes because the world is not fully there yet. But by being visible and by doing what we're doing, we're opening that door little by little by little by little. So, all right. Well, that's all our philosophical, you know, like our deep conversations. Are we ready for the runway?

Before we go to the runway, I love Mama Pauz.

Do you like this?

Ah, yes.

The blue and the green? I was like, I need to know what Virginia thinks.

It was a little bit off, but I really like the hair on her.

Yeah. The green?

You like the green? I like the green on her skin. The makeup was impeccable. Yeah. I just didn't know if the green and the blue matched.

I felt the same way. I'm like, I like— I was like, very Mother Earth. What are we doing? I did not like the hair. I like the green color. I need to play around more with different color hair so it's not just black. But I don't know if this wig shape was the right thing. And then we have BJ Pasquale, we have Khaled Karen, and then we also have this designer. Something—

yes. Baumgartner.

Baumgartner, yes. Good for you. So the first category is Classkita. Teacher Realness Eleganza. Up first we have Andie Crocker. So she is MAPEH. What is that? Is that like a—

MAPEH?

So she just said math, art, science, physical education, health. So she's like all of them together.

Oh, okay.

Yeah, so—

That's why it also looks like it's all of them together. Girls, seriously, look at that.

Yeah, it was kind of— I mean, I thought art teacher. That's what it was giving me. She's holding the paint palette. I think it's fine. I think I've seen better. I think it's fine.

Oh, there's always bad art, you know?

Right, right, exactly. Up next we have Borgegum. Silhouette. Silhouette is off for me.

Look at the lower part. It's like, what is that?

I think her proportions and silhouette have always been a little off for me.

I have so many things to say about this episode with Bored Scum.

Yes.

Yeah.

Shall we go to Bomba?

Yes.

I love this.

I love it. This globe, oh my God.

I mean, this is high drag.

I love it.

She spent so much money on her package. Bomba, you're showing your money, girl. Girl, I mean, how do you even pack this?

I know.

It's amazing. Up next we have Dixie D'Koy. I love this.

I loved it, yeah.

This is so interesting. She looks like a teacher, like a dominatrix, sexy, Office Siren Teacher.

Yeah, this is one of the reasons why I disagree with the outcome. I hate the outcome.

Because as y'all know, I am— Dixie D'Cray was my number 1.

Yes.

Yeah, but we'll get there. So next we have Gully Gush. She looks like SpongeBob. She looks like SpongeBob. Literally, look at where the belt in the pants is.

It's at her—

it's here. It's under her tits.

Girl, I'm so proud of you.

No, because I'm being shady.

Wow, the courage.

She looks like SpongeBob. No, because I was so flabbergasted. Usually I'm just like living. I'm like, I love this. This time because Dixie was in the bottom and Dixie got sent home, I am riled up. Uh-uh, no ma'am.

Yeah, I agree. I didn't understand.

Looks like SpongeBob. Why does she have the mic? Why does she have the mic? Um, Katana, this is a miss for me.

It looked like the mini version of Dixie Decoy.

I know. This was a miss for me. I like the fact that she's a sex ed teacher.

This was a miss.

'Cause I don't think— I don't see teacher.

Yeah, there's also nothing special about it. Exactly.

Yeah, the long hair is beautiful.

Yeah.

And I like the fact that she did sex ed.

Yeah.

I just think like— I think whenever— I say this all the time, we should be able to tell what the runway category is when we take a look at you. And I would have been like, what is this?

Yeah, it was dominatrix more than a teacher. Yes.

Yeah. Monza, same thing.

What is she holding?

It says herstory. Yeah, but that is— Again, I do not know what this is. Yeah, she looks like— she kind of looks like a sailboat with like sails, like a pirate ship. Yes, but I'm like, I don't get— or do you call that hot air balloon? Again, it looks— I actually think it's well done, and I think it's a cool silhouette. Yeah, I don't know what this is. Up next we have Marine Biology. As this is—

I love the story.

This is realness. Yes, it's camp.

I appreciated that she brought story.

Yes.

Into the camp. I mean, into the, you know, the runway.

I know. And I like— I like, if I had to do it, I would have been like realness. And this is realness. And I think it's not realness where it's like, this literally looks like a woman from a high school. It's like drag-ified teacher.

And it would have been really bad if she did not do it well because she's a teacher.

I mean, like, this goes back to, you know how I was saying, like, there are some things that I've seen this season where it feels so tailored towards one of the girls.

Yes.

Like the promo look, marine biology.

Yes.

And then the teacher runway, marine biology teacher.

That's a good conspiracy theory.

If she makes it all the way to the end, now we know why. And like I said on the first episode with Monza doing the climbing challenge, I mean, like, it's like there's some things that I think are just like suited.

Yeah.

Um, so let's go to the next one. Oh, a drunk teacher. I don't know what story she's saying here. Uh, Merx. Again, okay, okay.

I didn't like it.

The judges liked it.

It was so awkward in my opinion.

Yeah, you can't really move in it. It looks fine.

It was too literal for me as well. Yeah, yeah.

I mean, it's, it's a little— it's like hitting you over the head. I like the, the other girls' names written on the back. Taylor Sheesh. Girl, this looks like— this looks like a, like a, a secretary, like an office secretary or a high-class hooker. What? Yeah, what are the branches? What is that? Is that, is that a reference to Yeah, a branch of knowledge, science. All right, sure, sure. Next, we have Valeria, music teacher. OK, cute concept. I love it.

It's very cute.

Yeah, cute, cute, cute, cute. But that's all I have to say about it. She looks good, though.

She always looks good.

All right, next one is prom queen fantasy. Is prom a big thing in the Philippines?

I guess, yeah. Yes, it was. I remember not attending because, you know, when you had your graduation pictures taken.

Yes.

And I used to pluck my eyebrows when I was in high school. I was still pretending that I wasn't gay. Anyway. Ally.

You were an ally.

When everybody saw the—

what do you call that?

The yearbook.

The yearbook.

They all talked about my eyebrows. And so I was so embarrassed to go to the prom, unfortunately.

Oh, so you— no one was asked? No one asked you?

No one.

Or do you have to— is it like—

You don't have to be asked.

Yeah, but you didn't want to. I went to one of my proms. I didn't go to the other. So there were 2. There was one for 11th and one for 12th grade. I went to the 11th grade one with like 2 of my best friends and we had fun, but I was like, what are we doing?

I also felt like I was such an outsider because everybody had partners and I didn't have, and I didn't necessarily feel like I needed a girl partner, like, not just— or any girl would take me because I, you know, I was being ridiculed for being effeminate. Yeah.

I've always wanted to be like prom posed to. I mean, even though I was, you know, a boy in high school, I was like, that seems fun. So Andy Crocker is up first.

Um, I actually did not understand this.

What is it exactly? She has coffee prints.

For what?

I, I, I don't know what this is, but I, I'm not getting prom.

I— not at all. What is it?

Yeah, I don't know why she's holding a cup of coffee. Borge Gum. This is giving—

I'm sorry, it's just not good for me.

It's giving like fungus, or like, you know what I mean? It is. And again, silhouette— this is a slightly better silhouette for her, but again, it's fungus.

No.

Bombalicious. Oh, love it.

Oh my God, the money is showing.

I know, girl. I'm like, She really takes it there.

Yes.

Harris, it's like a time and a place. It's like very retro. Bomba is polished, polished, polished. Polished, polished Bomba. You look great. Dixie D'Koy.

Okay.

It's not that bad. This is not prom. But it's not prom.

It's not prom.

It's a little too elevated for prom.

It's very costumey.

And it's a little too avant-garde for prom.

Yes.

But again, this is not bottom worthy.

But that was better than Bored Gum.

Yes, absolutely. Golly gosh, I like I like how it was a suit dress. I think a suit dress is cute.

I think the concept that she was saying was actually very good as well.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I just don't think she needed that crown. I would have liked a different crown.

Oh yeah, you're right.

That crown I think takes a little bit.

A suit and a crown.

Katana girl, this is gorgeous.

This is not prom.

But this is not prom.

This is pageant.

This is pageant. This is like fucking red carpet. This is Cruella de Vil. If someone came to prom with a fascinator, I'm like give us give. I want to see Mean Girls. I want to see Princess Poppy's reunion runway on the. finale of Drag Race 15. Like, I want to see that again. Monza, girl, you look sick. I want to know what the girls in the Philippines are wearing to prom, because it can't be this fashion.

I was like, okay, the designers are really showing off in this category. Right?

But it's like, prom? This is prom. Marine gets it. Because this is prom with just a touch of fashion.

That's the first one where I felt, oh, this is prom.

This is prom. The hair is prom. The crown is prom. The outfit is drag, but it's also like fashion. She gets it, girl. She's a teacher. She's chaperoned prom. She knows what these girls are wearing. Okay, this is a good surprise.

I actually like Mercs as well.

Yeah, I think it's— no, it's, it's— this is— it's real. Like, this is— I, I could see a girl wearing this to prom.

Yes.

Like, I could see— could, um, I don't know if this was a thing. I don't know if this is a thing. Uh, when prom was happening for me, there was Facebook group— groups where all the girls would put their dresses so that nobody wore the same dress. And I'm like thinking, could I see this dress listed on there? Okay, well, that's where my mind is going. Oh, this is Taylor. Okay, this is prom dress. Yeah, it's a little ridiculous.

I love it, I love it. I love, I love the hair as well. Taylor.

Yeah. Oh, she looks kind of sickening.

Yeah, this is something that I think I would wear, you know?

Oh yes, yes, I could see you in this. I could see— I also wish, lowkey, I'm like, I feel like Taylor Swift as a prom dress, like, I want to see what, you know, I would have seen like it's— anyways, I think this would have been the time to do a Taylor Swift illusion, but we'll Valeria, this is also very prom dress.

I know, oh my God.

This is such a cute prom dress.

And her makeup is so good here, like very toned down.

She looks beautiful.

Yeah. She looks like, uh, she looks like a Disney princess.

She looks like a Disney princess. Miss Universe Disney princess. I see very Miss Universe. And then finally it's Bex to School Extravaganza. So Boy Scout. I don't hate it. This is Andy Crocker.

I actually liked it.

I liked it too.

The judges were hating on Andy because they wanted to keep Borge.

Oh, I see. So you're saying that Borge should have been in the bottom in lieu of Andy?

And remember, uh, if you see the comments of the judges, they were really hyping her up. I think it— that was very intentional because I think they would want Borge— okay, now we're gonna talk about this— they want Borge to stay because there's a lot of interesting content with Borge.

Oh, okay. Like, you need to play the game. So your, your Your conspiracy?

Yes.

Is that— your theory is that they want to keep Borge in the long run, so they dogpiled on Andy so that they could justify putting her in the bottom.

Yes.

And then because Dixie was giving us nothing, send her home.

Yeah, I thought they thought— they thought— this is my— me, my producer, um, brain is working— they thought that Andy and Dixie were boring. They're not giving any, you know, interesting content that people would want to watch, and that's why They intentionally wanted to save Borge, and so that's why they said so many good things about her and her gown and her runway looks, when in fact those were not good at all.

I agree, I agree. I think they were fine. I don't think they were the best. I don't think they were the— I don't think they were the best. I think they might have been the worst. They might have— I don't want to say that they weren't the full worst. Anyway, I think it would have been the worst. The thing is, Dick— well, okay. This reminded me of something interesting that Dixie kind of gave. Uh, did you— Merx and Dixie had a little thing going on.

Oh, yes, I remember that.

Before Merx came out as trans.

Yes.

Isn't that— I—

that gagged me.

And there was that one photo that I thought was so funny where Taylor was like looking over at them talking.

Yeah. Oh, yeah.

Right in front of my salad. Um, but yes. Um, okay, Borge look. Again, if I had to compare between Andy and Borge's look that they made, I would have picked Andy's.

That was so bad though, but I don't know what they saw in that.

I agree.

Same thing.

Bomba's cute.

Bomba. Bob Mackie.

Bob Mackie reference.

I was so surprised.

I wish she walked— I don't think she can walk as smoothly.

She was a little clunky in it.

But I think other than that, it was fine. I like this look! I think if the ruching of the skirt was just a little bit more edited so that her legs were shown so that she looked longer, I think it would have been fine. Like, if the length of the draping skirt was a little higher up.

Yeah.

You know?

She didn't need the rhinestones in the breastplate.

Yes, and I would have liked to see dimension in the breasts.

Yeah, those made it look tacky.

Golly Gosh, this is kind of sick.

I was so surprised.

I was down.

I loved it.

I was down with it. I was like, girl, you could— you know what? It's fine that you were SpongeBob.

Golly is actually—

But look at her shoes. I think her shoes are too big for her. Look at that. Do you see that? Do you see the—

Girl, everything is too big for Golly Gosh.

Well...

No, but I— props to her.

She's really fighting, you know? No, this was great.

Yes.

And this is incredible that she constructed this.

Yes.

Uh, up next, Katana. Girl, Katana, baby, you're making it to the finale. I think she was like— she's like, I'm gonna be here till the end, so I could just do whatever. That's what it felt like.

She's— the impact that she's made in the last 2 episodes is so strong to actually push her already to the finale.

It's not a bad look. I just think it's like—

All right. Yeah.

Oh my girl, this isn't your week. It's okay.

Take a seat.

Take a seat. It's okay, girl. Monza.

I like it. That front thing was just—

it's just not— Too long. Too long.

Anything like that is messy because when you walk, it just destroys the entire image.

You're kicking it.

Yes. Wow.

I love—

Maureen.

I love Maureen.

Girl.

Maureen. The headpiece. I think the hair is doing a lot of the heavy lifting. And, you know, you can bring the hair from home, but I think the actual outfit I would have liked a little bit more.

It's simple.

Just a little bit more.

It's simple, but it had the drama. It had these drapes on her hand, and that just gave her an opportunity to do a move that's dramatic, I think.

Yeah, I think it was— it was a— I think out of the— if we're looking at the whole package, she had a great package.

Yes, definitely. This is her week. Yes, definitely.

Merx.

I wanted to like it.

Merx.

I love the concept, but I don't know.

I know the reference. There's this— I forget the designer, but there's a reference that she's referring to with this.

Yep.

Um, I think it's okay.

She could have gone Lady Gaga with this.

It's okay. Yeah, you know, Taylor Sheesh looks like Naomi Smalls.

Oh yes, I agree.

Do you remember that one Naomi Smalls outfit that RuPaul later copied?

And I'm so impressed with what she made as well. I didn't know she could do that.

I think it's very interesting that she went in this direction with the white contacts too. Okay, okay, Taylor.

Yeah, I think that it's— I think the reference was fairy, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Valeria.

It's cute.

It's cute.

Yeah, I love it. It's cute.

I wish there was more movement on the umbrella that she's holding.

Yeah, I didn't understand the umbrella either.

I don't like how it's pipe cleaners.

Yeah, but it's cute.

It's cute. It's fine. Yeah, it's fine. Okay, well, who had some of your favorite outfits?

Well, Marine. Marine.

Bomba for me.

Yes, Bomba and Marine.

Bomba and Marine. I liked— out of the— okay, Bomba and Marine definitely had some of the best packages in my opinion. Some of my favorite looks was definitely '60s teacher look, my favorite. Um, when it came to prom queen, I really loved Marina's. And then when it came to the outfits that they made here, I would have to pick— honestly, Marina's probably my favorite.

Did Bomba make it to the top? Oh, she— Bomba was safe. Bomba was safe.

Katana.

I disagree.

Bomba should have been in the top. Bomba should have been in the top. I think Taylor— I would have made an argument to keep Taylor in the top because they— I think she gave something interesting. So based off of this, Let's see who's in the top and the bottom. Oh, and then Mama Pao said she's kind of bored.

Yeah. Bored. That's the operational word. Bored. That's why they had to kick out possibly Andy and Dixie because there was nothing happening with them.

Yeah. So Andy, Dixie, and who was the third bottom? Who was the third bottom? Oh my gosh.

Borge.

Borge.

Was it Borge?

It was Borge?

Oh no, no. Borge was the top.

We see your vision. We see you. We should be confident.

What's vision though? Oh my God.

Girl, take your time, Borge. Girl, all right. And cover your fucking nipple. You're right, girl. They had to blur it out. Free the nipple.

Justice for Dixie, I would say.

Yeah, I— again, she— again, I look— she looks completely different. Like I said, that's my thing I love about Dixie. She looks different every time you see her in drag. I agree. You know what? Her prom queen was not good. Her, uh, her teacher, amazing. Her final look, No. So I guess it was kind of close. I think this whole episode was kind of close. Uh, is Monza in the top or bottom? I guess that was it.

She's in the top. Wow.

You know what, they all kind of got— they all kind of got good and bad critiques. I think that was the thing. Was Merx in the bottom then?

Merx was safe.

Okay. Oh, so she's saying that her ill-fitting garments are because she lost weight.

Mm, yes.

I mean, okay, that's right, that's valid. No, that's valid. No, that's valid. I think Mistress Isabelle Brooks said something similar on her season. And we're like, just being there for like 2 or 3 weeks and you're eating different, you're away from your family, you, you know, you might lose weight. And a lot of these garments are so custom to your measurements.

Yes.

That it's hard. And if there's no stretch and you're smaller, then, you know, there's only so much you can do. Anyways, so now we're going to find out the bottom 2. Okay. They're really gassing up.

Yeah.

They're really gassing up Bored. That's what I'm saying. No, ma'am. So Marine Biology wins. Congratulations. And then— so the bottom. Okay. It was, it was, it was Manta.

Manta was at the bottom?

Yeah, it was Manta at the bottom. I think—

How?

She's beautiful. Okay, okay, the judges were— judges, what's going on? I would have replaced Manza in the bottom with somebody else. I would have put Borge in the bottom.

You know what, girl? It could have been Manza and Marine were both in the top.

Oh no, I think Manza might have been in the bottom.

Really?

Yeah, I think they must have called her safe. I think she was— she looked nervous.

Mm-hmm.

You know what I mean? Anyway, so it's between Dixie and Annie. What did you think of this lip sync?

I felt for Dixie, like she was really desperate.

Yeah, I think like I think like the props were a little too much for me. I remember on Slaytion every time Arizona, every time Vinas got on that stage, there was a prop. Every time Brigading too. All other girls are like prop prop prop. I think the the beauty of a lip sync is what you should be able to do without yeah something to support you.

But that song was built for storytelling.

Tell me about the song. Do you remember the song?

Salamin salamin salamin. It's this very popular girl group, BINI.

Okay, yes, they were on the show once.

Yes, exactly. It's just, you know, I think from what I understand, it's just attraction, puppy love, teeny bopper love, something like that.

Okay, well, with that being said, when they were holding the mirrors and Dixie was like so desperate, she was just like, let me get in it, let me get in it, let me get in it. Girl, if you just focused on your own performance, I think your odds of winning could have been higher. Because I think, like, there was this thing on Drag Race once where they said for those lip sync episodes where they just do lip syncs the entire time, every queen should wear the same outfit. No reveals. Everyone wears the same outfit.

Oh, have we talked about this before?

Yeah, I think we have, right? So, like, if that was the thing, how would queens do? Yeah, because last season they had the thing. So how— you know what I mean? So I think, like, I think lip sync should be about the emotion, the storytelling with you and your body and your face and your mind and everything. It shouldn't just be based off of props. But if the prop has a good impact or the reveal has good impact, then yes.

There are so many drag acts though that utilize props. Yeah.

I think it's different if you're telling a story and you conceptualized a number. But sometimes when it's just like, look at me, look at me, look at me!

Yeah, but when you think about Sasha Velour, girl, that's her thing.

Right, but that's— I think the difference between that is Sasha Velour didn't bring— well, she kind of— okay, you're right. Okay, you're right. But the thing is, Sasha Velour conceptualized a story, and in fact, had she not gotten so emotional, she had a different reveal planned for the other song.

Ooh.

And that's where it says go back to conceptualizing the number and not just relying on the prop. You know what I mean? I think And the other issue I had was there was too many. There was glasses, there was the small mirror, there was the big mirror. Like, edit it, you know? And I think it's like, you should, yes, conceptualize the performance, but at the same time, don't rely on the prop because you can still outshine the other person without relying on the prop.

But she won. She won. She won. She won.

And Dixie Decoy is the pork chop. That feels so crazy to say.

Justice for Dixie! Oh my God. We really thought that she would make it far.

She was my pick to, like, you know, at least make it to the finale. I also think what a great showing for a pork chop though. Yes, she did so well in the girl group challenge. She did really— she had a great song, Crown in the Concrete, still streaming it. Um, and you know, I'll—

although I would say that it really shows that she's also really, really young as a drag queen. True. That she has still a lot of years to do and develop herself.

Yeah, absolutely.

But she already has a platform, so that's the thing.

Yeah, she has the platform and everybody remembers the pork chop.

Yes.

So, you know, congrats, Dixie. Damn it! Damn it! You were my pick, girl. But, you know, I'm excited to see what the future has for Dixie.

Yes. For Dixie D'Amelio. Me too.

Yes. Well, and with that, and with that, we made it to another episode, to the end of another episode of Slaytion Persuasion.

How do you feel in general? How do you feel about how this, um, season is going so far?

I think the production can step it up. I think there were times in this, like, Why didn't Mama Pao do a walkthrough? Why was the audio editing so shoddy? Like, there was a clip when they were all grabbing their supplies. It was just silence. It was just like 10 seconds of silence while everybody was just grabbing their things. I'm like, I don't want to see that. Fill that with something else.

I feel like it's starting to get boring though. I mean, the last 2 episodes were intense.

Yes.

Especially the last one. And it's really hard to top that.

I do think I like the workroom drama that's happening. I'm like, at least that's keeping it a little interesting.

They're trying to make drama actually.

And then the other thing, oh, this is like totally unrelated. I was watching Latina Royale, and there, you know, fun fact, Latina Royale, Drag Race Mexico Latina Royale, which is like Slaysian Royale but for Latina queens, it was filmed in the Philippines on the same set.

I know that, yeah.

And did you know Mama Pow made a cameo in the final episode? And Brigiding was there announcing the winner.

Yes.

I thought that was beautiful.

I know, but these franchises are being shot in the Philippines for So many obvious reasons.

Let's get into that. Yeah, because it's about— it really comes down to cheap labor.

Exactly, cheap labor. The set is already built there.

The same thing with Portugal, the same thing with Colombia. Drag Race Mexico, Drag Race Brazil, Drag Race Germany have never been filmed in those native countries.

Yeah, and from what I heard, when the girls were preparing for the Philippine franchise, they were only given 2 weeks. Because the Latin— what's the official name?

Latina Royale.

The Latina Royale finished late. Oh yeah, if I'm not mistaken. But they were waiting for that production to stop before they can even start with Drag Race Philippines.

I mean, you know, the other thing is, if we want to talk about the— oh, let's get into this. Drag Race UK got canceled.

Yes.

Did you see that?

Yeah.

So the thing is, when these franchises first started, they relied on a partner network to buy the series from World of Wonder.

Mm-hmm.

Now, World of Wonder is producing and distributing the shows themselves. So, like, for example, in Canada, there's a media company called Crave who, you know, commissions World of Wonder to create Drag Race. That's how a lot of the franchises started out. So I believe Paramount was the one who did it for Mexico, Germany, Brazil, all of them. In Italy, I think it was Discovery. And in Philippines too, I believe it was Discovery+ that first commissioned it. So at one point, all of those networks decided to drop Drag Race. So that's why a lot of those companies, a lot of these franchises are up in the air, 'cause they don't know if there's gonna be another season or not. Germany, they don't know. Brazil, they don't know. But World of Wonder is like, okay, fine, let's do it ourselves and see what happens. And when that happens, they need to cut corners and they need to like, you know, it's like, at what point do we sacrifice, you know, we want more queer content at the expense of what?

Yeah.

What do we lose?

It's become a factory. And with that comes, you know, all the things that go away. I mean, quality is still there, but I guess at the expense of the queens themselves, the production.

Yeah, you know, the queens are the product. The queens are the product.

Absolutely.

But, you know, that's something interesting to think about. Like, a lot of these networks are scaling back on queer content. So, you know, the BBC, for example, they said no more Drag Race. Even though it was probably very lucrative. We don't know what the numbers are, of course. They purposely don't want anyone to know the numbers.

Are you saying that there's an ongoing discrimination at that level?

I think it must be like, you know, I think the whole world in general has been, you know, the pendulum is swinging. And I think, you know, this, you know what I think? There was a quote that I thought about a long time ago. Heklina, who is a legendary drag queen from San Francisco who passed away a few years ago tragically in the UK. She once said that she was excited to see, like, I'm paraphrasing. She said that she was excited to see drag being perceived as dangerous again, because that danger makes for better art. So when the pendulum swings and we see drag queens everywhere, everywhere, all at once, doing everything and everything, when it swings back to the other end and it goes a little bit more underground, it goes back to its roots. And, you know, not everything can be in the sun forever. You know, night must also come.

A lot of older drag queens do say that it was more fun, fun then.

When it was a little underground.

Yes.

When there was no cameras recording you.

Because people were doing it for fun.

Yeah. I mean, you know, not for the money. I mean, you know, the reason you do drag can be completely different. I was exposed to drag because of Drag Race. I didn't know what it was until then. And the reason that I'm doing it now, and like I think about it all the time, there's something about it, doing drag, there is something about it that should tell you to do it again and again and again, no matter what.

My perspective is really political. You know, I made a documentary film about a drag organization, the Imperial Council. And the founder of that is José Sarria, who actually aspired to become a teacher, but because of circumstances could not. And also, it was a taboo that that job opportunity is not accessible for queer people during that time. Anyways, the very first openly gay man to run for public office also founded the Imperial Council of San Francisco.

Oh, wow.

And that's how I first got to know drag here is that it's really grassroots and it started as a community that really created spaces and raised money every year for different causes. The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, who are mostly political, you know?

Yeah, yeah.

So when Drag Race came in, a lot of these queens actually, oh my God, it's all about the snarkiness, the cattiness.

Which is what drag is. But I think it's like, you know, I think about this quote. When a drag queen or a drag artist performs just one song with no edits, no cuts, that's fine. But when there is an edit, when there's a mix, when there's spoken word, when there's stuff added to it, it shows that that drag queen can think. And I think your drag should not just be about how you look or how you present yourself. It should also be about what you say and what you convey with your art. And that would be the message that I would say too.

Girl, a few years ago, maybe 5 years ago, there was still remnants of this movement here in San Francisco we're in, people did drag to raise funds, not to get paid. But now you rarely see that, or if not, you don't even see that anymore at all.

That's true. And you know what? Do drag just for fun. I think that there have been times now where I just decide to go out and drag to a place, to an event, just for fun. There's no money involved. There's nothing involved. You know, it is nice to get paid and to pour back into your art the funds that you get from doing it and to be compensated for your work. Artists deserve to be compensated for their work, absolutely. But at the same time, there should be an aspect to something that is so community-oriented, and this is an art form that is reliant upon— so heavily reliant upon an audience that I think there should be more of that communication beyond just getting money from a person's hands or, you know, taking a picture with someone after the show. Talk to your community, understand what their needs are, and make sure your art reflects that.

Yes, and if you're an aspiring drag queen, do your research because Doing so will just strengthen your identity as a drag queen and also the way you express yourself as a drag queen, your performances.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

Absolutely.

Yes. And with that—

Well, with that, we gave everybody the philosophical bit at the end. Well, with that, that has been another episode of— Slaytion Persuasion.

Bye.

See you next time.