Drag is a form of entertainment in which people dress up in costumes and makeup to perform and imitate, and often exaggerate, female and gender roles. It is popular among the LGBTQ+ community, and drag queens with disabilities are increasingly being brought into the spotlight.
Our writer Emma Purcell presents six fascinating, stylish and powerful disabled drag queens you should follow on social media.
I’ve updated the post for 2024 and added four more, plus a bonus.
1. Evie Oddly
Evie Oddly is an American drag queen, fashion designer, performer, rapper, and recording artist with 1.2 million followers on Instagram and around 275k followers on Twitter.
She has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type 3, a condition that affects the skin, bones, blood vessels and tissues of many organs.
Evie garnered worldwide attention when she won season 11 of America’s RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2019.
New York Magazine named Evie one of the most influential drag queens in June 2019, recognizing her ability to push the boundaries of drag performance art.
You can follow Yvie Oddly on Facebook. twitter And Instagram.
2. Saltina Shaker
Saltina Shaker, legally known as Jessie Lesniowski, is a trending Canadian drag queen and online influencer.
Saltina has an invisible disability, and she uses her platform to represent others with the same disability, especially in the 2SLGBTQ+ (Two-Spirit LGBTQ+) community.
Jessie, who won Ottawa’s Miss Capital Pride pageant and has two million followers on TikTok, says there’s only so much more to come for Saltina Shaker.
Sartina is a rising star in Ottawa, Ontario who is taking drag versatility to a whole new level – her video game girl, anime, sci-fi and colorful style keeps viewers intrigued while delivering a captivating performance.
She is an entertainer, an influencer and a role model, and her short videos and photos that she posts on social media serve as an inspiration to many.
As a disabled queer person, she is actively working to raise awareness about scars, various disabilities, self-love, body positivity, and overall is a beacon of hope for many people.
What are the pronouns for Saltina?
According to the official Pride Toronto website, the following pronouns are used at Sartina Shaker:
Saltina Shaker (cross-dressed): she/her Jesse Lesniewski (not cross-dressed): he/they
It is important to note that drag performers often use different pronouns when in drag and when not in drag, so in Sartina’s case, she uses feminine pronouns (she/her) when performing as Sartina Shaker, and he/they pronouns when not in drag as Jessie Lesniewski.
When referring to Saltina Shaker when cross-dressed, we use she/her pronouns. For Jesse Lesniowski, the performer behind Saltina, we use he/they pronouns when he is not cross-dressed.
This explanation will help readers understand how to respectfully address and refer to Saltina Shaker/Jesse Lesniowski in a variety of situations.
You can follow Saltina Shaker on Facebook. twitterInstagram, and TikTok.
3. Janira Obregon
Janira Obregon, an Afro-Latina model, activist and influencer from New York who has cerebral palsy and spastic quadriplegia, is working to pave the way for disability representation, challenge beauty standards and break barriers both within and outside of the fashion industry.
She was a contestant on “Dragged” and told hosts Marty Gould Cummings and Jasmine Rice LaBeija why she wanted to transform into a drag queen.
“There’s a stigma in the disability community that we can’t do it… I want to make the statement that we can.”
Janira was the perfect fit for “Dragged,” which aims to help people access the inner fierceness, confidence, and self-love it takes to be a drag queen.
The series challenges stereotypes of what drag is and who it is for by creating an inclusive space where participants are encouraged to explore and experiment with gender expression and performance.
After her makeover was complete, Janira told the presenter that the change made her feel “really transformed and more confident.”
This ties directly into Dragged’s main purpose: to help people feel like the best, most attractive version of themselves.
As an activist and influencer with 45,000 followers on Instagram, the work Janira does every day reaches a wide audience and is having an incredible impact on disability representation in the modelling world and beyond.
You can follow Janira Obregon on Facebook. twitter And Instagram.
4. Jake Sawyers
Jake Sawyers is said to be Wales’ first blind drag queen. He was born with Norrie Syndrome, which also causes involuntary eye movements called nystagmus, meaning he is completely blind in his left eye and has limited vision in his right.
Speaking to BBC Wales, Jake said: “I’ve always taken it in stride. I’m a big comedy fan so I’ve tried to see the funny side of it and the light-hearted side, but obviously there are days when I feel like I’m more blind than I actually am.”
He added: “Blind people can do all the same things as sighted people, and that’s me too. I’m a film director, photographer, actor and I do drag.”
Jake, from Port Talbot, began performing in drag in 2019 after discovering the drag scene.
“I moved to Cardiff in 2017 and discovered the local drag scene and fell in love with it.
I also watched RuPaul’s Drag Race on TV, so I was really immersed in drag culture.
Local drag queen Connie Orff had organised a Drag Scratch night at the Wales Millennium Centre for anyone wanting to try drag in a comfortable and safe environment and I thought, if I don’t do it now, I’ll never do it again.
So I wrote some songs about the real-life experience of being blind, performed and “dragged out” as Venetia Blind, and had a blast, and have continued to do so ever since.
As far as I know, I think I’m the first blind drag queen in Wales. [but I also] I know a few other visually impaired drag performers based in London.”
You can follow Jake Sawyers on Facebook. twitter And Instagram.
5. Wayne Allingham Creasy
British drag queen Wayne Allingham Creasy was born with cerebral palsy, a type of stroke that causes muscle weakness on the right side of the body.
He also has “crooked arms,” ββwhich he jokingly calls “gum legs,” but that hasn’t stopped him from achieving his dream of performing on stage.
On a mission to create a more accepting world for disabled LGBTQ+ people, Wayne founded an inclusive club night called ‘Disabled, Queer and Here’ which has so far taken place in two of London’s leading queer performance spaces, the Royal Vauxhall Tavern and Two Brewers.
The evening gives disabled people a platform to showcase their talents, whether that be drag, singing or, like his friend, ballroom dancing in a wheelchair.
You can follow Wayne Allingham Creasy on Instagram.
6. Chelsea Cherry
Drake Naylor is a bisexual transgender man with an Associate’s Degree in Social Sciences. He has dyspraxia and developmental coordination disorder.
He works as a drag artist under the alter ego Chelsea Cherry, has 33 body modifications, enjoys fan art, and loves animals.
You can follow Chelsea Cherry on Instagram and Tumblr.
Emma Purcell
Below is an updated section added to the original post, introducing four new drag performers with disabilities.
The amazing cast of Drag Syndrome
Drag Syndrome, the world’s first drag troupe featuring performers with Down Syndrome, continues to break barriers and challenge perceptions. Let’s meet some more of their incredible artists.
Drug Syndrome Horror Shebang
Lady Mercury
Lady Mercury is a force to be reckoned with in the drag world. Known for her sharp intellect and powerful presence, she continues to captivate audiences. Her dance moves are always flawless and she turns heads wherever she goes. Dedicated to her craft, Lady Mercury loves to engage with her adoring fans, who she often surprises with her wit and sass.
Davina Star
Aptly nicknamed the “All-Round Queen”, Davina Star is a performer who knows how to dominate the stage with her incredible presence. Her hobbies are glamour and spreading love, which she does with unmatched enthusiasm. Davina is known for her sweet nature, but don’t be fooled, she can hold her own against the odds.
Nikita Gold
Nikita Gold is a prolific dancer with incredible moves and an impeccable sense of music and fashion. A classical queen in outfits to die for, she has stunned audiences on stages around the world. Outside of performing, Nikita Gold is also an entrepreneur and businesswoman, showcasing the multifaceted talents of the Drag Syndrome performer.
Gaia Crow
Gaia Callas is truly a Renaissance Queen. Not only is she a captivating performer, she is also a filmmaker and painter. Her diverse artistic talents make her a unique and valuable member of the Drag Syndrome collective, bringing a multidisciplinary approach to the art of drag.
Frogita Hong Kong
Frogita Hong Kong is the well-traveled intellectual of the group. Known for her elegance and vast knowledge of music, she could win any quiz night. Although generally kind-hearted, Frogita has little tolerance for loud noises and is not afraid to show her bold side when necessary.
Each performer brings their own unique personality and skill set to the stage, further demonstrating that drag is an art form that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of disability.
You can follow Drag Syndrome to find out more about these incredible performers on Instagram and their website.
Ellis Lloyd Jones
Although Ellis Lloyd-Jones is not a drag performer himself, he should be recognised for his work in mentoring and mentoring Wales’ first disabled drag troupe. A TikTok content creator with cerebral palsy, Ellis is using his platform to promote inclusivity in the drag world and provide opportunities for disabled performers to flourish.
@ellislloydjones Looking for something queer to do this Pride month? π Look no further! Lost Boys and Fairies is available on @bbciplayer! π³οΈβππ΄σ §σ ’σ ·σ ¬σ ³σ Ώβ€οΈ #ad #wales #pridemonth @BBC β¬ Original Sound β Ellis + Catrin
These performers, along with those on our original list, continue to challenge stereotypes, break barriers, and pave the way for a more inclusive drag world. By following and supporting these artists, we can all help make the drag scene more diverse and accessible.
Learn more about Disability Horizons…