'Drag Race' Contestants Discuss the Challenges in Managing Professionals Lives After 'Drag Race' Competition
"There aren't many gigs happening, there's an overflow of queens," stated Season 15 contestant Salina EsTitties during an interview with PRIDE. "There's no straightforward answer. I believe it's primarily due to the economy and I think gay bars and spaces are facing challenges as a whole." Despite acknowledging that a large portion of the fanbase is young and that Drag Race alums prefer their followers not to be aware of this issue, Salina emphasizes the significance of community support during these tough times, a support that we, as fans, can offer to our beloved queens.
Following Salina's PRIDE interview, widely recognized Youtuber Bussy Queen spotlighted another Drag Race competitor, this time from the Belgian spin-off, Chloe Clark. Chloe shared her struggles with an empty schedule despite investing her last savings into her drag, a sentiment echoed by other queens. Despite the challenges, the resilience of these queens is truly awe-inspiring.
Although many queens on Drag Race continue to achieve success, as the show progresses into its 17th season and with international expansion through 10 spin-offs and multiple all-star seasons, contestants must innovate new methods to reach their fanbase. Despite the challenges, numerous success stories offer hope to both queens and fans.
Social media has significantly impacted the drag scene by enabling many queens to succeed through virality. Twin contestants Sugar and Spice, who appeared on Season 15 along with Salina, managed to gain fame prior to Drag Race by amassing a large following on TikTok. Even in earlier seasons, queens like Jasmine Masters, who was eliminated in the third episode of Season 7, have managed to captivate a sizable fanbase. Some of these fans may not have watched her season at the time, but they grew to appreciate her entertaining persona and humor portrayed in her now-viral videos, some of which have made their way into the limelight even among non-Drag Race fans. In 2019, Jasmine was even honored by GIPHY for her popular "and I oop—“ GIF. Through her Instagram lives, Jasmine, like other queens who have experienced similar success, has had the opportunity to directly engage with her audience and expand her fanbase. Other queens, such as season 6 fan favorite Vivacious, have connected with her followers by tapping into their love for her intricate headpiece "Ornacia" and DJing during her lives, expanding her reach and offering new connections that surpass those offered by traditional drag gigs.
We've also witnessed queens like the Vixen from season 10 carve their own path in the industry by arranging touring shows like "Black Girl Magic" and collaborating with other renowned queens from the franchise, such as All Stars 4 winner Shea Coulee and season 1 winner BeBe Zahara Benet, to create the inaugural installation of the "Nubia" tour.
Beyond the benefits of social media, queens have taken to X to add their perspective to post-show performances. With the continuous expansion of Drag Race, both domestically and internationally, the fanbase continues to grow, and queens still harbor the hope of finding their niche and the ability to flourish. Drag Race as a show is continually evolving. If the queens' recent discussions serve as any indication, the way drag is performs in the entertainment industry is also changing.
Queens like Salina Estitties and Chloe Clark have helped thrust a conversation about what life is like after Drag Race into the spotlight. Being on Drag Race doesn't ensure a successful career beyond the show for its contestants, but it does open doors where others didn't previously exist, and that's what the show is all about. Every single contestant has already demonstrated their merit by stepping into the werk room, and we, as fans, can do what we can to support them, even by simply sharing their stories and perspectives.
After Salina EsTitties' insightful interview about the challenges facing queens in the industry, many contestants have echoed her sentiments, including The Vixen from Season 10, who has responded by organizing touring shows and collaborations. Despite being eliminated early in Season 7, Jasmine Masters also managed to build a large fanbase through viral social media content, later being recognized by GIPHY for her popular GIF.
