Drag began out of necessity, although that's not to say its participants didn't enjoy it. When Shakespearean theatre was shiny and new in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the stage wasn't just a place of entertainment. It had strong link to the church and with that came rules that only men could tread the boards. If that play you were in featured a few female roles, then it was up to a couple of the men in the cast to dress up as the female parts. And since then, have there been some great drag queen troupes. I would have loved to have been around to see the Jewel Box Revue!! Back when we went to Amsterdam, we spent a few days in Rotterdam, where it appears the time had come finally...Europe had gotten its own large scale drag production. The latest hip and progressive city in the Netherlands had the honor to host this, now legendary drag show. The Rotterdam Drag Show started back up from the pandemic in September of 2021 in the stunning Schiecentrale studio with the same mouthwatering cast of queens. It has gone on to become one of the biggest drag shows in Europe. It was a fond memory of our Netherlands trip. It was like an evening of no other. The show is built in a classic revue form and contains all the elements that make up a fantastic evening. Heartfelt emotions, laughing out loud, stunning over the top frocks, and stunning numbers that follow each other at a rapid pace. And when the show is over, the real party starts, with dancing, drinking and schmoozing with the queens. And now even greater is that the Rotterdam Drag Show, invites members of the Hungarian LGBTQ to come to the performances for free, to welcome them from their own country where they, and their rights are being trampled on. The legendary cast-
The Latin diva of the group, Miss Abby OMG is a Brazilian bombshell who is known for her fierce beauty and looks and full of energy performances.
If I had a list of drag queens who are a must see, this queen would be on it. If you were here last week, I introduced you to Sederginne in this post. Sederginne is the quintessential comedy queen that will fill the room with hilarity. Always crazy, weird and strange things in life are examined, enlarged and brought to the stage, and nothing is off limits, from Gilles de la Tourette parody to ridiculing Celine Dion. This queen has got it all.
Envy Peru is one of the lead performers together with Vanessa. Envy's persona was born in Amsterdam of 2015. Due to her incredible make up skills, (among some of the best I've seen), and her sensual performances, she quickly made a name for herself in Holland's nightlife and television. Known as one of the Grande dames of the Netherlands and a winner of Drag Race, it has now made her a top queen of prominence in the world of drag. Her acts need to be seen. She would be a reason for me to pursue drag if I already didn't. One class act.
This show is proud to present the like of this queen, and one of it's lead performers, Vanessa Van Cartier. Her routines are full of beautiful numbers, stunning frocks, and an evening of magical entertainment. Her stage entrances remind me of the glamours entrances made by the late Danny La Rue. Vanessa is the first trans queen to win the world championship of Drag: Miss Contintential World, not to mention another queen who was crowned in Drag Race. This is a professional kids.
Meet Janey Jacke', a fiery and fierce talent that stole the heart of fans all across the globe. With her astonishing looks and excellent snarky humor, this dancing queen slays the house down. One of the newer members of the show, Janey will definitely shine on the stage of the Rotterdam Drag Show for some time.
The New York queen, Skyla Versai started her career as an international style ballroom champion, professional dancer and musical theater performer. She is the show's host. With her unique sense of humor, lip-synching, wise cracking and dancing skills, she will amaze any audience. She radiates on the stage. At times, she reminds me of a more lethal, snarky Lucille Ball.
With a line up like this how can one go wrong? Just one of these queens is worth the price of admission. If you get to the Netherlands, be sure to catch this legendary show in Rotterdam.
Vogue should have considered really doing this cover of the representation of our sisters of color, but this is from the brilliant artist of the Instagram account the Drag Book, showing the 2020 winning queens of our drag shows, including the latest winner Envy Peru.
Right on the heels, literally.... after Drag Race Canada, was Drag Race Holland. I thought the Canadian bacon version would be hard to beat, but I must say... Holland might have just been the best season of this series I have seen to date. The queens on the Holland version were fucking fantastic... and what you'd expect queens to be. But I had a feeling from the get go, one of the most stunning queens and performers, in my opinion, would take this. And she did. She won more main challenges than are other queen so far. Meet DragRace Holland's winner.... Envy Peru.. one of the Netherlands’ leading drag queens. She is part of the award winning drag house, Mermaids Mansion. Envy does all her own hair and make-up and can this queen beat a face and do some hair!!!! And Im all here for her very editorial looks and style honey. ThisPeruvian doll, based out of Amsterdam, is a sweet, flirtatious and seductive beauty queen. And I’m in love with her art form of drag in every kind of way. Envy works as a makeup artist, host, and entertainer, and travels doing shows all across Europe and has been featured in two Dutch movies this year. Currently, Envy is getting ready to shoot her own television show on Dutch National Television…together with two fabulous drag sisters. Envy Peru is the artistic name of Boris Itzkovich Escobar, born in Trujillo, Peru in 1989. he moved with his mother and aunt to the Netherlands at the age of four, where they began working in the world of theater and makeup. Before appearing on Drag Race Holland, Envy was already extremely known in the country and one of Europe's most stunning queens and as one of the three queer hosts of the show De diva in miji. No doubt Envy is a first rate queen and showgirl and so talented...Condragulations of this win Envy!!!! Much deserved.
We are proud to have this week Miss Envy Peru as our fabulous Grande Dame! As part of the Mermaid's Mansion club , a club that is a mixture of different cultures that come together through beauty, fierceness and elegance. Mermaids Mansion offers a diverse group of girls to entertain you...and Envy snatched all the trophies at the 2017 Superball and she is still the fishiest Queen in Amsterdam! With her great sense of style and spot on lip-syncs she is a well rounded showgirl. The first and only time I had the privilege to see her was on my trip to Amsterdam back in 2016....where I was quickly mesmerized by her strong style and bring the house down performance. It's easy to see why she is belle of the canal come gay pride. Envy has been doing drag since 2016, and is also connected to many LGBTQ charities. She's flawless I tell ya.
