While trying to make a name for themselves, some people let nothing stand in the way of their imminent fame. This is true of anyone, not just drag queens. Whether you're scratching and clawing, or blowing your way to the top, eventually, the plan is to get to the top. The goal, to be the name on everyone's lips. (Essentially, the plot of the play/movie Chicago).
Being a "Drag Husband", I haven't got to worry, really, about making a name for myself. My "name" was dubbed, the minute I started officially dating Dan and Shaunna Rai. I'm the one carrying the bags, and taking the pictures. And, getting teased on the mic, during the shows...to the tune of being threatened with "doggy-style" not just once, or twice, but three times, in one show, in front of my parents...
Shaunna Rai, has a bit more infamy, than I do. After the show I was just talking about, the owner of the venue expressed gratefulness to Dan for not being a bitch about the way the show ran. And, it's surprised me how many people think that Shaunna Rai really is a bitch. And, by extension1 of personality, that Dan is too. The thing with the two of them, is that they're the same person, figuratively, and literally. Nothing is off limits, and they're both going to tell things the way they really are, like it or not.
Over the course of the past few months, I've watched people develop either their own personal fame, or infamy, or in some cases both.
A couple months ago, literally a couple days after we moved, was the Miss Blackstones pageant. Given that it's a local "pageant", I knew all the contestants. Desta Toot, Tatoola Tess Tosterone, and Vanila Honey-Bush. As Vanila is my roommate, I was rooting for her. Although, I was going to be happy for whoever won, because I was friendly with them all.
After the crowning of Vanila Honey-Bush, though, everything hit the fan. There were claims that the show was rigged. And, worse, there were some personal attacks. Since then, I believe that the air has been cleared, but seeing something so fun turn into something so nasty, kinda bothered me.
On the other hand, the shows that Taffy Pulls did over the course of the run of RuPaul's Drag Race, cemented her place as a "famous" local queen. At least in my mind. Though the shows were sometimes disorganized, they managed to keep the "craziness" of Taffy's drag personality.
And, that's just on a personal level. On a less personal, and more "national" level, RuPaul made, and broke some queens. Truthfully, I think there are more "names" made on Drag Race than are broken. I just find it interesting, that names that come onto the show, whether well known, or unknown are victimized, or villified by way of editing, and poor choice of conversation. In this past season of RPDR, I was positive, that Roxxxy Andrews was going to make it, as the winner.
Due to some poor choices of when to talk and when to keep her mouth shut, Roxxxy ended up being villified. And, Jinkx Monsoon ended up taking it all. Why? Jinkx was victimized because of what Roxxxy said. And, however the vote from fans was figured, it was very much influenced by the "bullying" of Roxxxy. Would we have had the same results if Roxxxy had not chosen to "bully" Jinkx? Hard telling. We'll never know, because that's the nature of the beast. But, it's possible.
As Dan is fond of saying, "Perception is reality." You can make yourself famous, or infamous. But, you're nothing without the people who make you what you're going to be, for it's they, who make you famous, or infamous...or both.
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