Long live the drag kings

For years the world of drag has been spearheaded by queens like RuPaul and his show’s alumnae but the tide is turning and the age of the drag king is upon us. Dissecting stereotypes and exploring the nuances of manhood, nine kings tell HUNGER’s Ry Gavin about their journeys, political performances and what needs to be done to level the drag playing field.

Sigi Moonlight

“Just like Ziggy Stardust, Sigi is an extraterrestrial being brought to Earth, an empty vessel who embodies different forms of masculinity in an attempt to shine a light on the weird and terrifying extremes it has reached.”

When they first saw the drag king johnsmith in 2017, something clicked. “I loved performing – I used to play male roles in school productions, but never felt like any of the parts on stage suited my gender identity.”

And since that moment, being a drag king hasn’t been just a job, it’s a force for change in the community and beyond.

“Playing around with expectations of gender is political,” Bromley native Moonlight says. “Apart from that, there’s a bigger message about performing as a king versus a queen. The fact I usually have to explain what a drag king is to people who consider themselves drag queen experts proves the point.”