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From the Deep South to the Pacific Northwest, every corner of America has its own drag royalty. Join us as we spotlight the most iconic drag performers across the United States, highlighting one legendary queen per state! Our selections include RuPaul, Marsha P. Johnson, Divine, Lady Bunny, Trixie Mattel, and many more unforgettable entertainers. Which queen best represents your state? Let us know!
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00:00Denver predominantly had the sparkly, dancing, bodysuit, hair-flipping queens, and I shook that up.
00:07Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and today we're looking at some of the most iconic drag performers
00:11throughout the history of the United States. Although there are countless talented queens
00:16across the country, for this list, we'll be spotlighting just one from each state.
00:20My cast and my crew, like I said, without them, we wouldn't be in business.
00:28Alabama, Sam Starr
00:30I am Sam Starr. I am the country cutie with the rock and roll booty, the supermodel of the South.
00:37Sam Starr gives you a little bit of Marilyn Monroe, a lot of bit of Jessica Simpson,
00:43and the craziness of Joe Exotic, the Tiger King.
00:46She may have come to prominence on RuPaul's Drag Race, but that isn't the only claim to fame the lead's
00:50native can boast.
00:51Sam Starr has seen plenty of success in the art form since starting.
00:54She's competed in and won multiple local pageants in Alabama,
00:58including being named Miss Apollo Birmingham in 2024.
01:12She's so iconic that her drag mother, Trinity the Tuck, has even declared her as the supermodel of the South,
01:18and it's clear to see why.
01:20With her reaching the finale of RuPaul's Drag Race and being selected for All-Stars,
01:24it seems the Southern queen has nowhere to go but up.
01:27There's a thing about you that's very vulnerable, and we sort of want to take care of you,
01:30because you're so beautiful, and you're obviously very innocent.
01:33Are you as innocent as we think?
01:35Absolutely.
01:37Alaska, Denali Fox.
01:39She may not be based there anymore, but don't be fooled.
01:42Her roots serve as a cornerstone of her drag.
01:44I wanted to give a shout-out to my Alaskan roots and state flower, the forget-me-nots.
01:51So to be covered in this blue feminine forget-me-nots made me feel my full fantasy.
01:56Born in Fairbanks, Denali grew up surrounded by all the natural beauty Alaska has to offer.
02:01She's gone on to say that her upbringing in The Last Frontier has served as an influence for her as
02:06an artist.
02:06The world got to see that for itself in her appearances on the 13th season of RuPaul's Drag Race
02:12and the 10th season of All-Stars, where she dazzled fans with her dance skills.
02:27Denali also has some serious skills on the ice, which she has also incorporated into her craft.
02:32Whether she's in skates or heels, one thing is clear.
02:36She is a certified star.
02:46Arizona, Gutmick.
02:48In 2021, she made history as the first trans man to compete on RuPaul's Drag Race.
02:53I think I'll bring a different angle to this competition.
02:56I am a transgendered man.
02:59So, born a girl, transitioned to a guy, dressed like a girl for money.
03:05Very that.
03:06Before Gutmick catapulted to stardom, however, she was born and raised in Scottsdale, Arizona.
03:11After graduating high school, Gutmick headed straight to Los Angeles and found success as
03:16a celebrity makeup artist.
03:17I'm so excited to be here.
03:18This is actually the first time we've met.
03:20I know.
03:20But we, like, talk.
03:21That is so crazy to me.
03:24I've been such a fan of yours for such a long time.
03:26From French Montana to Heidi Klum, she more than proved she had the skills to paint her
03:30own face.
03:31She slayed the competition both on the 13th season of the main show and on the 9th installment
03:36of All Stars, and has since traveled all over the world on multiple successful tours.
03:41If you don't know anything about me, I'm transgender.
03:44I know.
03:44Thank you so much.
03:46But I am not the only person in this room that has transitioned.
03:51I was once a girl, and Carson was once relevant.
03:55Arkansas, Simone.
03:56From Conway to L.A., she has proven she slays wherever she goes.
04:01Don't let the smooth taste fool you, baby.
04:03Since starting drag in 2013, Simone has been a central entertainer on the Arkansas drag circuit.
04:09She gained her first following performing at clubs there, and even joined the legendary
04:13House of Avalon, whose roots were planted in Little Rock.
04:16We found each other back home.
04:18Yeah.
04:18And we all kind of had the same vision, that we love art, we love pop culture.
04:24We love Dre.
04:25Hey.
04:26Yeah.
04:26Yeah.
04:29And we love each other.
04:30And we ride for each other.
04:32While she found success in the natural state, she didn't stop there.
04:35In 2021, she competed on and won the 13th season of RuPaul's Drag Race, where she was recognized
04:41by A-list celebrities like Rihanna.
04:44I got into candles.
04:45I even got you one.
04:45I love a candle.
04:47Yes.
04:47This one's called Fang.
04:49Fashioned it after myself.
04:51Oh, illusional.
04:52And this one is called Betrayal.
04:56And this one's for you.
04:58She has since appeared in feature films and the red carpet at the Met Gala.
05:02And we can only hope that her career continues on that upward trajectory.
05:06Keep it buckled, don't cause trouble.
05:08Keep your luggage down under your fear.
05:12Even the dog.
05:14California.
05:15RuPaul.
05:15She isn't just the most iconic queen from the Golden State.
05:18She's arguably the most famous drag artist in the United States.
05:22But this was gigantic.
05:23This is the first time a drag queen has ever been put on the cover.
05:26A drag queen.
05:28A drag queen.
05:31I am the queen of drag.
05:35The San Diego native has probably had the biggest impact on drag's mainstream success in the country.
05:41RuPaul worked tirelessly around the country to build a name for herself.
05:45And eventually saw national success with the release of Supermodel You Better Work in the early 1990s.
05:58Her celebrity status grew throughout the decade.
06:00And by the beginning of the 21st century, she was a household name.
06:05She has since gone on to host RuPaul's Drag Race, where she's platformed entertainers from all over the world and
06:11become a 14-time Primetime Emmy winner.
06:24She may be a nationally beloved drag performer, but her heart belongs to Denver.
06:30My name is Evie Oddly, and I'm Denver's commodity of drag oddity.
06:34Denver predominantly had the sparkly, dancing, like, bodysuit, hair-flipping queens.
06:39And I shook that up.
06:41Evie Oddly was born and raised in Colorado, and still lives there today despite winning season 11 of RuPaul's Drag
06:48Race and competing in the first ever all-winner season.
06:51Oddly is a core member of the scene, and was even crowned the ultimate queen of Denver in 2015.
06:57Is there anything you'd like to say?
07:00Yeah, follow your oddities and fly your freak brag.
07:03Prior to being cast on Drag Race, she even managed her home bar in between shows there.
07:08She has professed her love for her city and state, and has said she wants to be an inspiration for
07:13other queer Denverites.
07:15Though she continues to find success touring the country with Work the World, it's clear her heart belongs to the
07:20highest state.
07:21It's actually a dream come true to be back home.
07:25I've been on the road for quite a while, and so it just really feels special and full circle to
07:31come back home for Pride.
07:32Connecticut, Lucy LaDuca
07:34Lucy is one of the best hosts that we have in Connecticut. We go way back.
07:38I can't believe you're f***ing here.
07:40I can't believe you're here.
07:41Don't drag for five seconds and you're already here.
07:43While she was one of three queens from the provisioned state to compete on season 15 of RuPaul's Drag Race,
07:48her dedication to her local circle is what earned her a spot on this list.
07:52After being raised in Ansonia, Lucy LaDuca went on to become a mainstay within the greater Connecticut drag scene as
07:58an adult.
07:58She performed at drag brunches around the state and quickly gained a fan base.
08:03You take the white strips, okay? Now those pesky directions will tell you 30 minutes. Forget it.
08:08Put them on. Babe, you go to bed.
08:11Oh, yeah, yeah. Eight hours later, you're gonna wake up and your teeth are gonna be white.
08:16They'll be on your pillow, but they will be white.
08:19That support only became stronger after she was cast on the competition reality show in 2023.
08:24Although she was cut just short of the finale, she was a standout contestant for both her undeniable talent and
08:30her unforgettable personality.
08:32Your lives need a little less, and a little less, and a little more drag.
08:39It's the dress, it's the wig, it's the heels walking in.
08:43It's the mood, it's the mood, it's the attitude.
08:47Delaware, Magnolia, Applebottom.
08:49So many different types of drag shows. You have comedy shows.
08:53You have just so much you can do with drag.
08:58Like, Roxy and I are both singers. I do stand-up comedy.
09:01For over a decade, she has delighted crowds in the Diamond State.
09:05Magnolia, Applebottom is a fixture of the Delaware drag community,
09:09where she hosts everything from bingo to themed nights at clubs.
09:12She's a mainstay at the Blue Moon Club, where she has effortlessly entertained patrons on a weekly basis.
09:18This is my 10th year doing Games of Magnolia at the Blue Moon.
09:22And that's when I moved to Rehoboth, and I was living downtown, and now I live across the highway.
09:26But yeah, 10 years, like, full-time.
09:28Whether she's singing live or whipping out impressive celebrity impersonations,
09:32she has solidified herself as a Rehoboth Beach icon.
09:35Despite thriving in a smaller area, she has broken out into the mainstream before.
09:40She's had the opportunity to work with major fashion publications and Broadway stars,
09:44proving that she can truly do it all.
09:47Drag shows are for everybody. Drag is not a crime. It's a lovely, just a source of entertainment.
09:53It's something we do to express ourselves, and everybody can do drag.
09:57Florida, Chantel Sparkles. With Trinity the Tuck as her drag mother, you just know she was always destined to go
10:03far.
10:03They could have cycled harder. I was like, bitch, where is the light, honey?
10:07She said, let there be light. I'm like, it's still not bright enough.
10:10Hailing from Fort Myers, Florida, Chantel Sparkles is a nationally renowned queen.
10:15She has worked closely with Cosmopolitan in the past,
10:18and even had the opportunity to perform at the Grammy Museum with other renowned entertainers.
10:23In 2022, she was the champion of the 31st annual National Entertainer of the Year competition.
10:36Although she hasn't competed on Drag Race herself,
10:39her daughter, Jewel Sparkles, reached the finale during the 17th season.
10:42It's clear that when it comes to drag, the glamorous apple does not fall too far from the tree.
10:54Georgia, Lily White.
10:56She may not be with us anymore, but after 40 years of performing in Atlanta,
11:00she's more than earned her spot on this list.
11:03With her filthy sense of humor and extravagant shows,
11:19Lily White carved out a permanent space for herself in the Georgia drag space.
11:22She moved to the Peach State in the 1970s,
11:25and it wasn't long before it became her permanent stomping ground.
11:28Although she faced plenty of adversity, she never once gave up.
11:44She pushed through the hate and went on to work a long tenure at the Backstreet Nightclub.
11:48After 45 years, health issues forced her into retirement.
11:52And even though she passed away in 2021, her memory still lives on today.
11:57I got things to do before I die.
12:00There's gotta be something more.
12:03Hawaii, Sasha Colby.
12:05They say God is a woman.
12:07And I am.
12:08And I'm also a drag queen.
12:10And your personal guide to life's ultimate after party.
12:14Idaho, James Majesty.
12:16We can thank the Boulay brothers for introducing this gem state beauty to the world.
12:20I quit my job at the Sephora.
12:22Worked there for like five years in Seattle.
12:24It was cute.
12:25I run a nightclub there.
12:27A top 40 bar.
12:28Does not fit in with my aesthetic at all, so.
12:30After being raised in Idaho,
12:32James Majesty was inspired to start drag after meeting an icon of the art form
12:36and seeing other artists perform on RuPaul's Drag Race.
12:39Although they haven't competed on that particular show,
12:41they still got a taste of reality TV fame.
12:44Thank you so much.
12:45I was the most nervous about this one, so that means the world.
12:48Oh my god.
12:49I'm the first girl to win two challenges.
12:51I'm more stressed now than ever.
12:52Majesty tapped into their spooky side and appeared on the second season of Dragula,
12:56where they reached the finale.
12:58They have since gone on to release an album and several singles,
13:01and even came back for another shot at the crown during the competition reality show's sixth season.
13:06Now, I have lost that confidence, and I think coming back to drag,
13:11I'm so much more playful.
13:13I'm campy.
13:13I'm really stupid, and I'm doing something I've never done every single episode.
13:17I'm taking risks that might not pay off.
13:19I don't really know.
13:20Illinois.
13:21Joan Jett Black.
13:22Her campaign slogan was Lick Bush in 92.
13:26She gave speeches and heels, lipstick, and eyeshadow.
13:29Her name was Joan Jett Black, and she was a drag queen who ran for president of the United States.
13:37Drag and politics are linked together, and she is the ultimate proof of that.
13:42Joan Jett Black quickly gained fame in Illinois as a performer and activist.
13:46After having a hand in bringing the Queer Nation Party to Chicago,
13:49she ran for mayor of the city in 1991.
13:52They ran for office to push the boundaries, to stand up proudly,
13:55to make politicians listen and provide visibility for the queer community.
14:00This is what Joan Jett Black was aiming for when she ran for mayor in 1991.
14:05Her political career didn't end there.
14:07In 1992 and 1996, she elevated her candidacy to the national level
14:12and ran for the president of the United States.
14:15But I said, I really am running for president.
14:17And they were like, well, what would you do if you, you know?
14:19I said, well, health care.
14:20We should have health care, period.
14:22I was going to take the military budget and the education budget and switch them.
14:28She made a name for herself outside of politics as well,
14:30and has even hosted her own highly successful talk show, Indiana.
14:35Amber Richards.
14:36Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, guys and gals, chicks and dudes.
14:40My name is Amber Richards.
14:42I come to you this afternoon from the city that's hosting the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
14:48From pageants to television, she was at the forefront of the art form long before it was accepted by the
14:53public.
14:53Raised in Indiana, Amber Richards went on to start her prolific career there.
14:58She competed in just under 20 pageants in a 15-year span and won several of them.
15:12Beyond the stage, she was also featured on multiple talk shows throughout the 1990s.
15:16From Jenny Jones to Jerry Springer, she was able to introduce herself to a wider audience.
15:21Her life was cut tragically short in 1996,
15:24but her legacy still lives on today via the Glamour Award in the Miss Gay Indiana pageant.
15:29I think as we grow older, you gain knowledge in life.
15:33I'm pretty upfront and open to the gentleman that I come across of who I am and what I am,
15:38what I stand for, and hopefully they will make their judgment on the person that they meet one-on-one.
15:43Iowa, Sasha Bell.
15:45There are so many things you can do to earn your ways,
15:52but never, never, never kiss the fire.
15:56Kansas, Elvira.
15:58You most certainly don't fit in this town.
16:00Why, you don't even fit in that dress.
16:04Listen, sister.
16:05If I want your opinion, I'll beat it out of you.
16:08Ha!
16:09I beat her!
16:10I beat her!
16:11It's the Antichrist, I tell you.
16:12The Antichrist.
16:13She may not fall under the traditional definition of a drag queen,
16:17but all it takes is one look to understand why she is considered one.
16:21Kansas-born Cassandra Peterson achieved fame and fortune in the 1980s
16:24through her portrayal of Elvira, Mistress of the Dark.
16:27Oh my gosh!
16:29Elvira!
16:29I'm sorry.
16:31Are you alright?
16:32Yeah, I think so.
16:33How's your head?
16:35I haven't had any complaints yet.
16:37Excuse me?
16:39Oh, uh, I think I'll live.
16:41As the campy character, she went on to host a weekly show and star in multiple films.
16:46The persona lived on long into the 21st century,
16:49allowing her to make an impression on multiple generations of viewers.
16:52Although she officially retired the character in 2025,
16:56she has stated that she intends for its legacy to live on long after her.
17:00My advice is, take your time, be true to yourself,
17:04and try to show as much skin as possible.
17:07Okay?
17:07Yeah, that's what I always say.
17:09It's great advice.
17:10Kentucky.
17:11Sweet Evening Breeze.
17:12Even in an era when dressing outside of your gender was criminalized,
17:16she was never afraid to be herself.
17:18Born and raised in Kentucky,
17:20Sweet Evening Breeze was notable in the 20th century
17:22as one of the first drag queens in Lexington.
17:25When I met him, he was an old man,
17:27and he dressed as this flamboyant black woman,
17:30and he was famous for his evening strolls through downtown Lexington,
17:33and everybody knew who he was.
17:35She was a core member of the community despite her differences,
17:38and was even a non-official cheerleader for the University of Kentucky.
17:42Her house became a safe point for those who identified as LGBTQIA+,
17:46where they could host shows and live free without fear of prosecution.
17:50We were this poor black neighborhood,
17:53and it's weird to see these obviously well-off people,
17:57white people, come into our neighborhood in these big cars,
18:00getting out and going into this man's house.
18:02It's no wonder she's considered a key figure within queer history,
18:05or why her home is still a tour stop today.
18:08She taught us about marriages.
18:10She had ceremonies in the backyard where we would have just mock weddings.
18:16She had, like, I will have to mention about the U.K.
18:21U.K. basketball players, football players.
18:24Louisiana, Bianca Del Rio.
18:26All I've ever heard from the judges was that we need to see more versatility.
18:31And you know what I gotta say to y'all?
18:32Is that I will show you versatility when Santino wins a sewing competition
18:36and Visage wears a f***ing turtleneck?
18:38You hear me?
18:41Ain't gonna happen!
18:43Maine, Brita Filter.
18:44I came here to win and I ain't leaving till I want it while I'm snatching the crowd.
18:48I'ma have a lot of fun.
18:49It's Brita, bitch.
18:50I'ma say it again.
18:51Say my name.
18:52Don't remember.
18:53Better grab a pen.
18:54G-R-I-T-A.
18:56That's the end.
18:57I'm a fiercer bitch than you ever been.
19:00Long before she was a star of the screen and stage, she grew up in Baltimore.
19:05There, Divine became interested in drag.
19:07And the rest is history.
19:17She became an icon of counterculture thanks to her successful collaborations with director John Waters.
19:23With him at the helm, she starred in multiple movies,
19:26which helped her gain prestige both within the mainstream and the midnight movie circuit.
19:30Can't you see how pretty your mother is?
19:33Don't you envy me?
19:34Do you want to walk around the street dressed in rags the rest of your life selling steak sticks?
19:40Incense, mother. Incense.
19:43Her ascension did not stop there.
19:44Her music career in the 1980s helped her gain fame internationally
19:48and cemented her as one of the world's most famous drag performers.
19:51Although her life was cut tragically short in 1988,
19:54she is still considered one of the most pivotal queens the art form has ever seen.
20:06Massachusetts, Julian Eltinge.
20:09Although he wasn't the only actor to don drag in order to obtain roles,
20:13he was by far one of the most influential.
20:15Unlike other performers of the time,
20:17Massachusetts native Julian Eltinge opted for realness rather than a caricature of a woman.
20:22This helped him stand apart from his peers in show business.
20:25While performing, Eltinge was so convincing as a woman
20:28that often audiences didn't realize the illusion until he took off his wig at the end of the show,
20:34which is something I would never do.
20:36He succeeded on the vaudeville circuit and Hollywood,
20:39and at one point was one of the highest paid actors in the entire industry.
20:43His star eventually faded due to the onset of the Great Depression
20:46and attempts to suppress cross-dressing.
20:48But his legacy as a drag queen and actor had already been permanently solidified.
20:53He stopped getting regular work and eventually lost his mansion in LA.
20:57By some accounts, he continued to struggle with alcohol
20:59and wasn't successful in reviving his career.
21:03He passed away in 1941 at the age of 60.
21:06Michigan, James St. James.
21:20Throughout the 1980s and 90s,
21:23a group called the Club Kids ran the scene in New York City.
21:26Far before James St. James ran in those circles,
21:28he was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan.
21:31It wasn't until adulthood that he would join the infamous movement
21:34and subsequently change his life forever.
21:36I think what's important to remember is that this is a fantasy
21:39and that we're all just living our fantasies
21:41and we're all just like,
21:43if this girl here, this is how she feels that she should be
21:46and this is how he feels he should be
21:48and we're all just living...
21:49You better do it, baby!
21:51He made appearances on several television shows,
21:53often in flamboyant and camp garments.
21:56His hedonistic lifestyle and unapologetic affinity
21:59towards elaborate costumes made him a key countercultural figure.
22:02Although he eventually left,
22:04he has still remained a part of the industry
22:06as an author, internet personality, and art curator.
22:09You're more than just a man in a wig.
22:11You are influencing these kids.
22:12You are showing them what the different possibilities
22:15of drag and gender identity and all this stuff is.
22:19Minnesota, Manila Luzon.
22:21I'm a silver fox.
22:22I'm an old bitch.
22:24And I'm coming here to show you how you do drag, girl.
22:29Are those stones in your armpits?
22:31Are you just happy to see me?
22:32Mississippi, Love Connie.
22:34I'm really familiar with Love Connie.
22:36Love Connie is known for these Jane Fonda-esque,
22:401980s-inspired workout video looks.
22:42It's partially skag, it's partially improv.
22:45The Bayou State is home to one of America's
22:47most eclectic drag queens.
22:48Love Connie was born in Mississippi
22:50and raised in the South.
22:51Her upbringing has had a hand in inspiring her drag persona,
22:55all the way down to her name.
22:56On the performance circuit,
22:58Connie is particularly known for incorporating
23:0080s aerobics moves into her sets.
23:03I started out in beauty pageants.
23:05And honey, not them little beauty pageants
23:07like Miss America and Miss USA.
23:09I mean the pageants that girls will kill you to win
23:13or hire someone to kill you.
23:15She has also moved beyond the stage
23:17and onto the screen
23:18with appearances on television shows
23:20like Dharma and Greg and RuPaul's Drag Race.
23:23Although she never competed on the latter,
23:24she has gotten to show off her hilarious sense of humor
23:27as a guest star on multiple occasions.
23:30Feel it working through your cleavage.
23:32Woo!
23:32Feel it.
23:32That way you don't have to contour
23:34and you can save on makeup.
23:36All right, step it out.
23:37And lunge, lunge, lunge.
23:40Keep it going.
23:44Missouri, Crystal Method.
23:45Ready for my favorite ingredient?
23:48What is it?
23:51Nuts!
23:52Get those nuts in my face!
23:56Montana, Bosco.
23:57Girls that dance are so protest.
23:59Think that I'm more picturesque.
24:02Homely girls need their athletics.
24:04I've got my genetics.
24:06Genetics?
24:07Shut up.
24:08Nebraska, Patagonia.
24:10Although she's undoubtedly extremely successful,
24:12she's still a Midwesterner at heart.
24:14Patagonia grew up in the capital of Nebraska
24:16and her love for her home state still shines through.
24:19If we look at the traditional narrative of being queer,
24:22it's oftentimes running to big cities for acceptance.
24:25But I think actually there's a lot of queer people
24:27that are running to the environmental movement.
24:29Thanks to social media and her passion for activism,
24:32Patty has been able to carve out a niche for herself
24:34both online and in the world.
24:36She is particularly invested in environmental issues
24:39and has hosted hikes and started foundations
24:41in order to help make a difference.
24:43And since 2018, I've built a community
24:45of more than 3 million people,
24:47a nonprofit teaching allyship in the outdoors,
24:50hired more than 600 artists and advocates,
24:53toured drag shows nationwide about climate solutions,
24:56and together we've raised more than $3.7 million
25:00for nonprofits.
25:01No matter how big she gets, however,
25:03she still has plenty of love in her heart
25:06for the Blackwater state.
25:07To this day, she credits her upbringing
25:09as the foundation for her love of nature
25:11and for showing her the harsh yet beautiful realities
25:14of the world.
25:15I try to do sustainability through drag
25:17in every way I can.
25:18It is not perfect.
25:20Sometimes it's a toss-up between the lesser of two evils,
25:23but it's always on my mind.
25:25I'm always like,
25:25how can I use every last drop of this makeup?
25:28Nevada, Anitra.
25:41New Hampshire, Max.
25:43Romy, let's live forever.
25:46Do you fancy a shag?
25:48Yes, God.
25:49On your eleganza, I gag.
25:53New Jersey, Marsha P. Johnson.
25:55I want my game right now.
25:58I think it's that time
26:00the gay brothers and sisters got their rights,
26:03and especially the women.
26:05Few people in the community are revered as much as her,
26:08and rightfully so.
26:10From the Stonewall riots
26:11to her dedicating most of her adult life
26:13to fighting for change,
26:14Marsha P. Johnson is one of the most significant
26:16self-identified drag queens in history.
26:19Johnson really enjoyed performing in drag.
26:22She was part of a drag group called Hot Peaches
26:25and took to the stage sporting red heels and bright wigs.
26:28The New Jersey native had an early introduction
26:30to the world of drag,
26:31with her mother often going to see local shows.
26:34Once she reached adulthood,
26:35she moved to New York City
26:36and began her life as a performer and activist.
26:39During the AIDS crisis that began in the 1980s,
26:42Johnson helped spread awareness and raise money.
26:44She looked after sick friends
26:46even as she struggled with her own mental illness
26:48and became HIV positive herself.
26:51Her mysterious death in 1992 was intensely tragic,
26:55but her ample contributions have ensured
26:57her legacy will live on for years to come.
27:00I think the story of Marsha P. Johnson
27:02should be taught in schools.
27:03I think people need to know about queer icons.
27:06They need to know about people
27:07before there was a drag race
27:10and before there were 17 gay bars in Hell's Kitchen.
27:13New Mexico, Calorie Kardashian-Williams.
27:16I swear to you, Vanessa,
27:17you better watch it, girl,
27:18because I'm coming.
27:19I'm going to give you a fight.
27:28New York, Monet X Change.
27:41North Carolina, Heidi and Closet.
27:42Made from silks and fattens
27:46as well as tears of a drag queen.
27:50Fine!
27:56North Dakota, Vision.
27:58By blending together indigenous culture
28:00with traditional drag,
28:02she has cemented herself
28:03as one of her state's most memorable queens.
28:14Vision was raised on the Fort Berthold
28:16reservation in North Dakota,
28:18and that greatly inspired her art as an adult.
28:20She's been open about how her beliefs
28:22have impacted her take on drag,
28:23but that isn't all she has to offer.
28:25I was born this way.
28:27I'm happy.
28:30I'm carefree, and I'm gay.
28:33Vision is also an accomplished singer,
28:35with one of her singles hitting number 24
28:37on the dance club's chart.
28:39She has also made several music videos,
28:41which have allowed her to broadcast her talents
28:43on an even larger scale.
28:45Oh, make me feel
28:51Ohio, Nina West.
28:53I'm gonna give you my Liberace lasagna recipe right now.
28:57It's five layers,
28:58with me in the middle.
29:02And I also make a main pan of sticky buns.
29:07Oklahoma, Coco Cain.
29:09Much like James' Majesty,
29:11we should all thank the Boulets
29:12for introducing this iconic queen
29:14to the world at large.
29:14I want to be featured again
29:16because there's so, so, so, so much more to me
29:19than what y'all saw in those three episodes.
29:22There's many different facets to my drag,
29:24and what y'all saw barely scratched the surface,
29:26if that.
29:26Prior to appearing on Dragula,
29:29Coco Cain had made a name for herself
29:30in her home state
29:31as Mr. Oklahoma Bold and Beautiful Newcomer 2017.
29:35Just under five years later,
29:37she re-emerged on the fourth season of Dragula
29:39as the monster she was born to be.
29:41Ain't nobody obligated to spend time with y'all.
29:43It's not obligated,
29:44but we're sisters
29:44and we're getting to know each other.
29:46They act sisterly
29:47and not constantly accuse people of scheming
29:49when they just minding their own business.
29:50I'm very surprised to hear you talking like this.
29:52Just own up to what you do and say.
29:54Although she was eliminated fairly early on,
29:56she came back with a vengeance
29:57during the first season of Dragula Titans.
30:00In the ultimate redemption arc,
30:02she made it all the way to the finale
30:03before being declared a runner-up.
30:05The fact that you even said that
30:07when you were guilty yourself,
30:08that was a comment that did not need to be made
30:10that came out of your mouth.
30:11And it's ironic of all episodes
30:12for it to happen that it happens on the episode
30:13where you got clocked for not having a personality again.
30:16All right, then don't talk to me anymore.
30:17I guess we're not friends anymore.
30:19Oregon, Darcelle 15.
30:20Walter, as Darcelle,
30:22is the oldest performing female impersonator
30:25in the United States.
30:27And the club named for her, Darcelle 15,
30:29is the oldest continuously running drag review
30:32west of the Mississippi.
30:33It doesn't get much more legendary than this.
30:36Darcelle 15 was born and raised in Oregon
30:38and went on to live there as an adult.
30:40In her 30s,
30:41she put on a dress for the first time
30:43and permanently transformed her life.
30:45I'm in 20s costume.
30:47Elizabethan look.
30:48I pearled the pattern one at a time.
30:52I used to make all hats for everything I made.
30:55Over a period of 50 years,
30:57she delighted audiences
30:58and uplifted her community through drag.
31:00One of her biggest accomplishments
31:02was hosting the longest running drag show
31:04in the Western United States,
31:05the site of which was honored
31:07by the National Register of Historic Places.
31:09My cast and my crew,
31:12like I said, without them,
31:14we wouldn't be in business.
31:16Without their help and their loyalty,
31:21I've had it in my heart.
31:24Darcelle herself was commended
31:26by Guinness World Records,
31:27with her being recognized
31:28as the oldest drag queen on the West Coast.
31:30She sadly passed away in 2023,
31:33but her work has ensured
31:34she will never be forgotten.
31:36I just wanted more out of life, I guess.
31:39I wanted more than just
31:42what I see happening with
31:44some of my uncles.
31:47They were older and they retired
31:49and they sat down on the couch
31:50and that was it.
31:53Pennsylvania, Alaska.
31:54You're born naked,
31:55the rest is drag.
31:56But your face just needs a paper bag.
31:59Give me a challenge
32:00and I'll crush you all.
32:01Changing the game
32:02like my name's RuPaul.
32:03Line them up,
32:04front to back.
32:05I'm sending bitches home
32:06like a heart attack.
32:08Rhode Island,
32:09Ladiva Jones.
32:10She may live
32:10in the smallest state,
32:11but she herself
32:12is larger than life.
32:14Ladiva Jones of Rhode Island
32:15is a staple
32:16of her local scene.
32:17I drew a lot of inspiration
32:18from musical theater
32:20for drag.
32:21I'm obsessed by musicals,
32:24but I'm a certain kind of musical.
32:26I don't want to see Rent.
32:27I could care less.
32:29I just want to see
32:30anything go over and over again.
32:32She's known as
32:32the oldest drag queen
32:33in Providence
32:34and her work ranges
32:35from feature films
32:36to cooking segments
32:37on local news networks.
32:38Although she loves to entertain,
32:40she also uses each show
32:42as an opportunity
32:42to gently educate the audience
32:44on important issues.
32:45I guess maybe sometimes
32:46I don't give myself
32:47enough credit for that
32:48or my friends credit for that
32:50because we just do it
32:52maybe it is a bold gesture
32:54to just live your life
32:55the way you live it.
32:56I can't imagine
32:58living my life
32:58any other way.
32:59She's no stranger
33:00to expressing gratitude
33:01towards allies
33:02who come to see her perform
33:03and has said
33:04that she hopes
33:05they take the good experiences
33:06from watching her show
33:07and learn from it
33:08so that they can act accordingly
33:09towards the queer people
33:10in their lives.
33:11And you've laughed with us
33:13and you've smiled with us
33:14and you've had a good time
33:15with us,
33:15but you need to remember
33:16when we go into the real world
33:18that there are important
33:18issues out there
33:19and you have to remember
33:20to open your mouth
33:21just as much
33:22when you are out
33:23in the real world
33:24as you're doing
33:25in this room now.
33:26South Carolina
33:26Victoria Porkchop Parker
33:28Wait, here I am!
33:30Oh, good job!
33:31Hi, Porkchop!
33:32I'm so sorry
33:33I had to go get a COVID test.
33:35I thought you were
33:35at Golden Corral, girl.
33:37I stopped there too,
33:38but don't tell anyone.
33:39South Dakota
33:40Martina Shakers
33:41She's proven she can make it big
33:43wherever she goes,
33:44whether it be
33:44her home state
33:45or beyond.
33:46We talk about wigs
33:47and hair
33:47and drag
33:48and jewelry
33:49and how to get better cleavage
33:51and makeup.
33:52Makeup's a big one.
33:53Although Martina Shakers
33:54is a South Dakota native,
33:56her credentials show
33:57that she is successful
33:58all over the United States.
34:00She's won multiple pageants
34:01in Iowa alone,
34:02with the most recent
34:03happening in the last decade.
34:05In South Dakota,
34:06she took home
34:07the coveted crown
34:07at the Miss South Dakota
34:08U.S. Proud 2014.
34:10There's many times
34:11we'll go out to breakfast
34:12after this in,
34:14well, I won't go out
34:15in this hair,
34:15but we'll go out
34:17and, you know,
34:17full face.
34:18It's not that big a deal.
34:19People are more approachable
34:20and they want to ask
34:20questions about it
34:21and, you know,
34:22why do you do it?
34:23Because everybody
34:24has their own
34:24different reason.
34:25Beyond performing,
34:26she's also a prominent
34:27activist within her community.
34:29She's taken to the news
34:30to defend Drag Queen Storytime
34:31and has helped raise
34:33over a million dollars
34:34for charities
34:34all over the country.
34:36Things like Drag Queen Storytime,
34:37people worry about that
34:38so much
34:39and I think that's so silly
34:40because
34:42you're going to be
34:42in the room
34:43with your child,
34:44you're going to watch them
34:45get a book read to them
34:46and most times
34:47it's just the kids
34:48love the fact that,
34:49you know,
34:50they're having someone
34:50read to them.
34:51Tennessee, Lady Bunny.
34:53I was always inspired
34:54with my look,
34:55you know,
34:56by her.
34:57You can't really tell it
34:57because I think
34:58I read more as
34:59Wallace Beery,
35:00another star
35:01of that era
35:02or maybe Fatty
35:03Arbuckle
35:04after the winter hibernation.
35:06She may live
35:07in New York now,
35:08but make no mistake
35:09about it,
35:10she is a southern queen
35:11through and through.
35:12Lady Bunny spent
35:13her youth in Tennessee
35:14where she stayed
35:15until she transferred
35:16to Georgia State University
35:17as a young adult.
35:18In Georgia,
35:19she met RuPaul
35:20and the rest is history.
35:29The two of them
35:30came up in the scene
35:31together there
35:31and in New York City.
35:33Bunny made a name
35:34for herself
35:34with her comedic lip syncs
35:35featuring one-liners
35:36and hilarious reads
35:37and eventually went on
35:38to create Wigstock,
35:40a festival for drag artists.
35:41When I die,
35:43I want my remains
35:44scattered in Disneyland.
35:46Also,
35:47I don't want
35:48to be cremated.
35:49She still performs today
35:50and it seems
35:51she doesn't plan
35:52on stopping
35:53anytime soon.
35:54Bunny,
35:54I am so glad
35:55that you're alive.
35:57I wish I could
35:58say the same of you.
36:03Now you can die again.
36:06Okay,
36:07let me get this right.
36:08Miss Bunny.
36:09Texas,
36:10Alyssa Edwards.
36:21Utah,
36:22Lady Red Couture.
36:23I am officially
36:24a drag diva.
36:25I'm a songstress.
36:28I do everything
36:29but internet porn.
36:31Yes, honey,
36:32and I also do
36:33security on the side.
36:34Prior to her
36:35sudden death in 2020,
36:37she was well-known
36:37among fellow drag artists
36:39and fans alike
36:40in Los Angeles.
36:41However,
36:41that's not where
36:42Lady Red Couture
36:43got her start.
36:44She was born in Park City
36:45where she lived
36:46until her eventual
36:47relocation to California.
36:49There,
36:49she was best known
36:50for her hosting skills
36:51on the show
36:51Hey Queen,
36:52which she worked on
36:53for six years
36:54before her untimely passing.
36:55I never wear this dress
36:56because it is just ugly.
36:58But you know,
36:59you gotta make things work.
37:01When you have nine bazillion
37:03shows to do,
37:04sometimes you have to pull
37:06whatever's in the closet
37:07that has not been seen before.
37:09Beyond that,
37:10she was also a prominent
37:11performer and producer
37:12and had even toured
37:13with drag queens of comedy.
37:15Her impact can't be understated
37:17and there's no telling
37:18what more she could have done
37:19had she lived.
37:20I just,
37:21you know,
37:21want to be sparkly
37:22and youthful.
37:23I know I'm not young,
37:25but I,
37:25you know,
37:26like that youthful look.
37:27That kind of like,
37:29don't take advantage of me.
37:31Vermont,
37:31Nikki Champagne.
37:32Most Americans
37:33likely know her
37:34as Taylor Small,
37:35the first openly
37:36transgender legislator
37:38in the Green Mountain State.
37:39What has been most resounding
37:40is hearing from younger folks
37:43or from transgender
37:44or gender non-conforming people
37:46here in the state of Vermont
37:47saying,
37:48wow,
37:49I finally see a pathway
37:50for myself
37:51to move into this position of power.
37:53However,
37:54native Vermonters
37:55may also know her
37:56as Nikki Champagne.
37:57As her drag persona,
37:59she used her platform
37:59to fight for political issues
38:01she was passionate about.
38:02From lifting up libraries
38:03and local non-profit organizations
38:05to advocating
38:05for youth literacy,
38:07she has perfected the blend
38:08between activism
38:09and entertainment.
38:17In 2020,
38:19she took her politics
38:19from the stage
38:20to the campaign trail.
38:21That year,
38:22she became the fifth
38:23trans legislator
38:24in the United States.
38:26She maintained that position
38:27for four years
38:28before retiring
38:29and putting her focus
38:30into her work
38:30at the University of Vermont.
38:32I think the people
38:33of Winooski see
38:34that we should have
38:35as the most diverse city
38:37representation
38:38that is closest
38:39to democracy
38:40that we can have.
38:41Virginia,
38:42India Farrah.
38:43So listen up,
38:45drag is not a contact sport.
38:48Wow!
38:50Bill!
38:52Drag is not a contact sport.
38:55Washington,
38:56Jinx Monsoon.
39:07West Virginia,
39:08Lee Brewster.
39:09As one of the community's
39:10most important activists,
39:12you may think he was born
39:13and raised in a progressive area
39:14such as New York City
39:15or Los Angeles.
39:17However,
39:17that was not the case
39:18for Lee Brewster.
39:19He was born in a log cabin
39:21and was raised in West Virginia,
39:22where he stayed
39:23until his 20s.
39:24Brewster held several balls
39:26for the Mattachine Society,
39:27which were so renowned
39:28that they were attended
39:29by celebrities.
39:30They were having a blast
39:31and they knew it.
39:33That's why they filmed it
39:34and I believe
39:35they were filming it for us
39:36so we could know something
39:37about the life
39:39they were leading.
39:40He also created
39:41the Queen's Liberation Front
39:42and Drag Magazine.
39:44However,
39:44his biggest contribution
39:45by far
39:46was helping raise funds
39:47for the first Pride event
39:48in the United States.
39:49If straight people
39:50can do it,
39:50why can't we?
39:51No, really,
39:52if straight people
39:52can do all this carrying on
39:53and holding hands
39:54and kids in the park,
39:55why can't we do it?
39:56All right.
39:57They ain't no better than I am.
39:58It just goes to show
39:59that it doesn't matter
40:00where you come from,
40:01you can still go on
40:02to accomplish great things.
40:04Wisconsin,
40:05Trixie Mattel.
40:06You know when you buy
40:06something off the internet
40:07and then by the time
40:08it arrives,
40:09it's not really
40:09what you expected?
40:14Okay.
40:15This is that moment.
40:24Before we continue,
40:26check out this single
40:27from Sound Mojo's Audio,
40:28Songs from Iran,
40:30reimagining Persian melodies
40:31as modern rock,
40:32metal,
40:33and pop songs.
40:34Check out the full track
40:35and album below.
40:37Come to me
40:39and save me
40:40from this wretched place
40:42Come to me
40:44and hide me
40:45in your sacred space
40:47See me with your praise
40:51Wyoming,
40:52Aurora Queen of the Night.
40:53One can only imagine
40:55how stressful it is
40:56being your state's
40:56only prominent drag performer,
40:58but she handles
40:59the pressure with ease.
41:00Today,
41:00we have something
41:01very special.
41:02I ordered this on Amazon
41:04and I'm so excited
41:06to show you guys
41:07this new project
41:08that we are both
41:10going to be,
41:10well, all of us
41:11are going to be
41:13embarking on.
41:14But she handles
41:15the pressure with ease.
41:16Aurora Queen of the Night
41:17is often referred to
41:18as Wyoming's
41:19first drag queen.
41:20While there may have been
41:21someone that came before her,
41:23one thing's for sure,
41:24she is the most famous performer
41:26the Cowboy State
41:26has to offer.
41:27Today we are in the kitchen.
41:29Can you tell them
41:31about the kitchen?
41:31I just found it
41:32earlier today.
41:34Today we are making
41:36waffles
41:38and bacon.
41:39She made her debut
41:40during Jackson Hole's
41:41first ever Pride event
41:42in 2018.
41:43And she's been
41:44going strong
41:45ever since.
41:46In 2021,
41:47she even had the chance
41:48to create an eyeshadow palette,
41:50which she dubbed
41:50the Prismatic Collection.
41:52The shades were named
41:53after Wyoming icons,
41:54making it a love letter
41:56to her home.
41:56It's just a very
41:57neutral gold.
41:59And we named it
42:01National Park
42:01for obviously
42:02the Grand Teton National Park,
42:04Yellowstone National Park.
42:05Which drag queen
42:06do you think represents
42:07your state the best?
42:08Let us know in the comments.
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