AN INTERVIEW WITH A DRAG QUEEN ...

Drag Queen is an evolving specie. As we come from different backgrounds and culture, we present unique characters and personalities, that are most of the time multiple (not sclerosis), and beyond definition and reproach. There are indeed so many types of drag queens ... and the latest edition or prototype are the Drag Divas! Drag Divas are the ones that survived the test of time. The survivors! They are the proteges of Priscilla - Queen of the Desert! They may have real talents (emphasis on may) - and not just miming and impersonating .... but real stellar personalities - but the main thing that make them divas are their consumming passion towards the art of drag! Plus all their defense mechanism! Years of experience have helped them develop thick and effective defense system and sharp claws (wolverine like) towards all sorts of -ism's like homophobic criticisms, racisms, objectivism, feminism, elitism... etc. Ultimate mission is to subdue, retort and win over every bitch talk and cutting remarks - mame the enemies, and kick them back to where they belong... But of course the most formidable enemies are their fellow drag queens themselves! As competition towards the invincible crown and throne is always open and therefore fierceness is the name of the game! The preserving nature of the beast - is a scathing character - called pure hybrid top of the line effortless drag BITCH, and maybe EVIL!

Last Sunday, we were off early to our favorite trash and tresure market and I just had coffee and did not bother having my shower - as it was cold! As I was just busy going through piles of trash - I heard my drag name called amidst the market noise!

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"Gayzhaaaa !!! "

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OMG! Am I still dreaming??? And there I saw this drag queen/tranny of Asian origin who has established herself in the Asian crowd as a Drag Diva. Well, she calls herself so... "I am a Diva!" is kind of Chinese beauty - with a really - fem personality. She is a living transgender and thus presents herself to the world as a girl or a woman 24/7. I've always been careful of her - as we had previous history of working together, and was not all pleasant! Though, I admire and respect her beauty and her experience in the field ... I am nonetheless a fan, for in fact, I got some backstabbing from her a lot of times and on stage at that - - when she introduced me or interviewed me after my performances, she being the emcee. At the backstage though, we are always freely friendly la la la ! She said she has been on this industry for the past 25 years (so she must be on her 40's or even 50's - you could not really tell it with the asian beauties)!

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So let's call her Bonita Linda! And here's more or less a dramatic version of our interview conversation ....

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• BONITA : Hey Gayzhaaaa! (in a malaysian/sing chinese accent) I was not sure it was you dharling, ha,ha,ha without your wig and makeup, You look sooo butchhh! Ha,ha,ha! Mwahh, mwahh! Ha,ha,ha....
• GAYZHA: Hey Bonitaaa! Ha,ha,ha! Mwah, mwah! What are you doing up so early here! OMG! And you see me in my Ugly Betty costume without the braces! Big surprise, last person on earth, I would be expecting to see in a trash and treasure - is you! Ha,ha,ha!
• BONITA: Ohhhh Geyzha ha,ha,ha!.... Last night I could not sleep! With all the shows that I've been doing .... I'm running out of costume! And I'm performing this coming wednesday, and I don't know what to wear ... ha,ha,ha !!!! But there's absolutely nothing in here as well.... I've been through all the stalls since 7 this morning and I could not find anything, nuthing at all!!! .... But I've always been visiting this market for ages, but we have never crossed pat, until now ! Ha,ha,ha and I am even selling some of my stuff through a friend, ha,ha,ha!
• GAYZHA: Hey, I've also been in this market for a while.... and buying some of my costumes here...ha,ha,ha.... but you of all the people! Running out of costume??? I could not believe it! (Although everyone knows that Bonita is known for borrowing other drag queens wigs and costumes at the backstage!) ..... And maybe I have even bought some of your costumes here, ha,ha,ha!
• BONITA: Yeizzz, Geyshaaaa...ha,ha,ha! Here is my friend who has a stall and some of my stuff are on display ... Come... one of my coach bags was sold awhile ago for $ 30!!!! Can you believe it ....Ha,ha,ha... You know, it is soooooo hard to earn money! I should know for all people! (Bonita is a full time drag queen) ..... I've just been soooo pressured lately with this Diva Show that is going all over Australia, and maybe overseas!
• GAYZHA: Ohhhhh yeahhh! Bonita! I was soooo excited you are doing the part of the Ms XXX (who died a few months ago of brain cancer... She was the star of the show and did that Diana Ross number!) Oh do tell me about it, your highness ......
• BONITA: Ohhhh Geyzhaaa.... it is sooooo exhausting and nerve wrecking! And the bitching that goes in the show is just phenomenal! Well, first of all, I am Asian! There are twelve other Aussie drag queens - and there's only two of us Asian .... and so we were bullied around... they were bitching why I am doing this and this .... opening and closing and doing Diana Ross number! So I have to change into another song .... And the politics that goes around is just unbelievable .... In one of the shows, the emcee introduced me as an Asian Diana Ross - and the crowd was laughing and snickering - my performance was sooo affected by that off remark (karma?), so i have to say something afterwards .... In another instance while we were doing the finalee - these two huge drag queens wearing these enormous feather costumes were blocking my way for my entrance - soooo I have to push them out of my way like this....ha,ha,ha....can you believe it???? And it was recorded on the video.... and then lately, they hired another aussie drag queen to take some of my parts ...can you believe it??? and they want me to color myself - to darken myself (she is sooo chinese white/yellow)! So I ask them why should I? There is nothing wrong with my color - in fact - Dita Von Tesh has the same porcelain white color that I have and being tan is just soooo common these days - you see all these girls having fake tans, they look like village mountain girls and there is nothing beautiful about that!!!! Es it???
• GAYZHA: OMG ........ !!!! But Bonita....you are soooo good I think you will survive, just like Pricilla,he,he,he ! Well, it is just the start of this shows and these pushings and competition drama will soon disappear .... I should nominate you for next year's Drag Diva Award!
• BONITA: I hope soooo Geyzhhaaa. Anyway, my advice to you is just to continue doing what you are doing and do not ever listen to what others would say ....'Nway, enuff of that.... Let's gossip... what do you think of so and so? Where does she gets all her money? Do you think she is whoring around - and where does she gets all her men? What is the word prostitue in Filipino? Do you think there is sooo much competition between the Filipino drag queens? And how about Ms J? Isn't she sooo bossy and thinks she is the most beautiful one???? Tell me Geyzzhaa!
• GAYZHA: Ha,ha,ha.... don't ask me Bonita.... they are supposed to be my friends and I can only say good things, my lifsss are sealed ... or it will come back to moi, afraid !!!! Tell me about yourself, instead!
• BONITA: Ohhhh Geyzhaa.... It is sooo hard to earn money - I should know! And I can tell you that you've only made it as a trannie if you have FIVE sugardaddies, ha,ha,ha!..... mind you I have just bought my apartment and I am furnishing it by myself !!!! It is soooo hard to earn money - I should know.... and it gets sooo lonely sometimes when you do not have a boyfriend! Why is it soooo hard for a tranny to get a boyfriend ..... even the one that just died (she is sooo beautiful !) ... and yet she did not have a boyfriend or partner and died without one at 45!!! .... all these men just wants a beautiful pre op trannie for a one night stand - with a hard cock - and they want you to feck them crazy - but how can???? with all the pills and hormones that I've been drinking everyday to get this boobs growing - I can hardly get an erection darling .... ha,ha,ha ..... so I must say some of the trannies are sooo lucky to find a boyfriend! You are sooo lucky to have boyfriend .... and you're not even a trannie lah!
• GAYZHA: Ahhh.... Ohhh yeah? But Bonita - I suppose it all drags down to what really makes you HAPPY, isn't it???.... Sometimes, when you have a partner, you still get lonely...and it is not the solution to unhappiness or loneliness.... ! It is within yourself, as what Barbra has said you're happiness should not depend on another person! .... You should be happy that your drag career is really doing well and you are living on your own without a boyfriend or a relationship that ties you down ... do you think that you would be able to still continue your drag tour performance if you have a boyfriend? You'd be lucky to have one that lets you do what you want .... afterall!
• BONITA: Ohhhhh you're right Geyzhaaa! Ha,ha,ha.... Common let's have some coffee.... Anyway, I am doing this french number this Wednesday...what do you think???? Would these stupid audience appreciaate it ??? Anyway lah, I will do it or else I will repeat all my chinese numbers....ha,ha,ha!!!! And do you know that I know the secret of Anton Diva?
• GAYZHA: Ohhhh who? Anton Diva ? You mean last year's concert here where you did a chinese miming performance ??? (Thinking.... OMG she still remembers that bitch from the Philippines, who she was being compared to by the emcee and then she was sooo offended and now she is competing with her in absentia!!!)... Oh yeah? What?
• BONITA: She is just a very simple pherson .. nice one, yeah? ... but when she puts on her makeup and her gown...she completely changes into a diva with an attitude .... hmm.. a bit strange noh?
• GAYZHA: Really? But who doesn't! (As if i did not know!). Ha,ha,ha !!!!!!
• xxx