Name: Justin Slayyy
Age: 23
Location: Brighton
Style of drag: Johnny Bravo
When did you first become a drag king?
“Oh, where do I start? Well, when I was born, it was written in the stars! Ha, I joke, (maybe). But in all seriousness, it was 2019 and a cold Monday morning at Brighton University. I remember that day like it was yesterday: my rent for the accommodation I was living in was due, and I was penniless. I had to borrow money from my friend, who happened to be a drag queen and performed at the local karaoke club. Brighton actually has a huge gay scene in which everyone is so welcoming. I remember just tagging along and thinking, “let me drown my sorrows by getting on stage and performing.” Growing up, I used to imitate my brothers a lot, so naturally, fitting in came easily to me. Looking back, the performance was not my best. I nearly tripped over my Dr Martens while walking on stage. For them 5 minutes on stage, I spent performing as a bodybuilder with a suit on. Horrendous decision. The suit had a ketchup stain, which is still visible when looking back on the images from that night. ”
Why do drag kings feel so invisible next to the queens?
“I’ve only been in the industry for a couple years, so I’m still a baby. Although I’ve caught it on the incline, I still sense a colossal gap between both. Because it’s true, queens get more attention. The answer as to why is a matter of opinion. My reasoning is the entertainment factor. If you think about it, a queen’s role is more versatile and good on the eye. You can perform in many ways and easily fulfil that showbiz criterion. With Kings, it’s a bit more limited. The ways you can show masculinity is limited before it gets repetitive. Other factors also include financial benefits and exposure. The role of a queen is much more profitable. Just look at the different shows on BBC and Netflix; a great deal of investment goes into queens.”
You say you caught it on the incline. What makes you think kings are growing?
“Social media is a significant factor, and Instagram especially has helped as the exposure is global. I love it; it really has that community feel within a field of such minority. It’s important to support each other and network as much as possible, whether it means keeping up with the constant fashion transitions or looking back on the archives. Every drag king had a generic look. It was the pair of thrift-shop jeans with that tacky goatee. Now, we have these influencers that are showcasing different styles. It’s much more performance-based, and that’s why I feel like it’s growing. It’s no longer just visually appealing but entertaining as well. That’s an aspect right there where we need to catch up to the queens, performance!”
Performance is a big part of a king’s or queen’s success. How would you explain your drag style to our readers?
“I’m more of a Johnny Bravo type performer, with a significant muscle type of aura. A cliché really, tall, dark and awesome; that’s my presence on stage. I always was that big tall girl back in school and used to be called Peter Crouch. Embarrassing, I know. My act is based on bodybuilding and old school masculinity, so impersonation is just about flexing for me. When I’m on stage, and I have those bicep enhancers on, I feel untouchable. Peter Crouch, who? I’m such a small timer in this industry that I just perform at karaoke nights, but since this pandemic, I am pretty sure I can be deemed jobless. Boris, let us out! What’s funny is that away from the stage, I’m actually shy and nothing like the Johnny Bravo I portray. I’m that shy that I don’t even have any public social media accounts.”
It seems, sometimes all it takes is that leap of faith. Where do you see the drag king industry in five years?
“This industry has grown so much in the last couple of years, and I definitely see it becoming a global phenomenon. Masculinity no longer has limits. We broke down that barrier, I’m sure of it, and aspiring kings make their way into the industry with no burden to carry out an act. And I love it! Drag is therapeutic for many people. In this time where mental health is being increasingly taken seriously, women are encouraged to take up drag for that extra mental release it provides. The hype and potential around drag kings are finally being noticed. People have slowly but surely, started to flock in. If there’s anyone that I can inspire enough to join this industry, I know I’m doing my job right. Just that one inspired person could be the poster boy for the upcoming generation of drag kings. So, make sure you come back to me in five years, Nuruz!”
Don’t worry, Justin, I will. In the meantime, just keep slaying. (No pun intended.) It is known that the U.K has a great platform where drag kings can flourish, but GiGi aims to be recognised globally, so we’re going for an exotic taste. Here we are, in Spain, where we compare the opinions and experiences of an overseas drag king, lucky you!