We all know that the fashion indutry revolves around runways. The biannual spectacles and the new collections are what we tend to focus on most often, but the real question is what inspires these designers? The answer, more often than not, can be found in street style and in nightclubs worldwide. It's the nightlife subculture which first introduced the world to drag queens, the most iconic of which started out in the New York 'club kid' scene of the 1980s. Now, thanks to RuPaul and his weekly drag race, these fabulous men in skirts are rewriting the rules of the fashion industry. They're also making society rethink gender concepts, pushing the concept of androgyny until it's practically redundant. Through their confidence, bravery and artistry, these queens have all dedicated their lives to introducing a new kind of creativity to a mainstream audience. They're all entertainers and the majority can sew their own clothes, do their own make-up, act, sing, dance and - most importantly - lipsync for their LIVES! So, this post is dedicated to 10 incredible drag queens (both new and established), for their ability to show us all that - whether male or female, who gives a fuck as long as you're fierce?
1. RuPaul
It's only appropriate to start this list with the drag industry's greatest icon, self-professed 'Supermodel of the World' RuPaul. This queen single-handedly brought drag into the mainstream by becoming the first ever drag queen to front a MAC campaign (which she did for the second time in 2014). Her impressive recording career spans 21 years and six studio albums, all of which have become cult successes within the drag community. She is the iconic host of the 'Drag Race' series currently giving both new and established queens a chance to shine on the silver screen. Now 53 years old, she looks as incredible as ever and has cemented her reputation as THE ultimate drag mother with her compassionate words and sharp wit. Her indefatigable optimism and incredible outfits are an inspiration to her contestants.. as is her inimitable catchphrase "good luck... and don't fuck it up!"
