Jethro PatalinghugStoryteller | Video Producer | Documentary Filmmaker | Content Producer | Multimedia Specialist

Southeast Asia Drag: Impersonation Culture & Iconic Performances #shorts

21 Aug 2025 · 0 min

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In this short commentary, the speaker highlights a distinctive impersonation culture within Southeast Asian drag scenes. They argue that because major pop artists like Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande are unlikely to perform in many Southeast Asian locales, drag queens take on the role of creating the illusion of those artists through impersonations. This practice allows queens to bring the experience of global pop performances to local audiences, positioning impersonation as both a creative solution and a responsibility for drag performers in the region.

Actually, that's interesting because there's a culture of impersonation, especially in Southeast Asia drag. I think the mindset is if these artists are never gonna come here, we will create the illusion ourselves, right? Because there's like Gaga impersonators, there's Ariana impersonators, every— queens have more of an onus to do impersonations because they can bring that experience to a place maybe that artist can't come.