How did you become a drag queen?
I became a cheerleader and found that I loved to entertain people, so I joined many cabaret shows as a showgirl. I was just curious if I could be a star. I decided to do my master’s degree in Australia and got the chance to join a drag queen competition to replace a member of one of the teams. Luckily, I won the competition and became the only Asian to star in shows at House of Priscilla and ARQ Sydney.
Where are most of your fans?
I came back to Thailand five years ago and I still have many fans following me on social networks, most of them foreigners. Madonna might sound boring for Thais but for foreigners, it’s a big hit, everywhere from South America to China. Pictures of me have even turned up on Madonna’s website and fan pages.
What’s the difference between a drag queen and showgirls?
Showgirls normally just copy the celebrities, lip sync their songs. But I’m a drag queen, not just a normal showgirl. It’s more powerful and artistic. You need to exude a unique style. But it’s also important that you don’t really look like a genuine girl. Most Thai people don’t understand this. I get hired to do events or parties at least a couple of times a month and I make about B20,000 each time.
Which character do you love to dress up as most?
Though people remember me as Madonna, I would say I prefer “Half Drag” which is a half man, half woman character I made up. It isn’t hard to dress this way, but not many people could pull it off like me. It’s a masterpiece. As I’m also a Disney fan, I plan many Disney princess projects. I do it all, from designing the clothes to buying fabrics and makeup. I sincerely think that I’m an artist, not a model, that’s why I have to do it all. I have to research a lot, as you can see in my Maleficent character.
How do you feel about a villain character like Maleficent getting popular?
Fairy tales are good, but people like something more real, more touchable. Our society has many different walks with big gaps between classes. People feel weak because they are always under someone’s orders and always crave acceptance from others. So when we watch a drama, for instance, we might think of those lead bitch actresses as our idol. Even if you’re a villain sometimes, you can still be a heroine.
