According to infamous drag queen, actor, and television personality RuPaul, “We’re all born naked and the rest is drag.” The premiere of RuPaul’s show back in 2009 brought the vibrant culture of drag queens into the mainstream, and conferences like DragCon celebrate all things drag and queer culture in Los Angeles and New York.But Drag and its culture is not a new thing.

The Oxford English Dictionary shares that the word “drag” has been around since the 14th century. In the 17th century, the Japanese had female impersonators in their theater drama performances. The word later fully transitioned into the theater term for performing in clothes from the opposite gender by the 19th century.

But drag queens, as we know them today, began their rise in the 1950s in small bars in California as sexuality and clothing became interlinked. Little by little, drag queens took their place on stage, in film, and in popular culture and now we can’t look away from their artistry.There are many aesthetics, styles, and personalities behind the characters in the Drag community. In the spirit of Pride month, we wanted to celebrate five (of many!) Drag creators in our platform and their self-expression via their content.

1. Drag Coven

Aiming to promote “queer femme visibility and inclusivity,” the duo behind Drag Coven has created a media platform to highlight talented drag performers they encounter in their travels. Drag Coven wants to connect emerging drag artists to potential audiences by giving them exposure.In addition to their regular free content, their patrons get access to exclusive shows and performances. Each dollar behind every tier funds a part of their travels and necessary equipment so they can keep up with the fast-paced world of drag.

2. Willam Belli

You may have spotted Willam in last year’s big hit A Star is Born with Lady Gaga, but Willam’s star has been rising since participating in RuPaul’s Drag Race during the fourth season and starring in music videos with Rihanna — as you do. With nearly 1 million subscribers on YouTube, the model and actress’ humor engages fans through her videos and tunes.

In a recent Vulture interview, Willam shared that growing your community through Patreon and concentrating on adoring fans versus the haters has helped grow her audience. “Patreon’s changed my life. Every video I make, I put on Patreon first,” Belli shared.

Don’t miss her podcast, Race Chaser, with co-host Alaska and get all their thoughts on every episode of the Drag Race.

3. Hey Qween

Jonny McGovern and Lady Red Couture are creating Patreon-exclusive podcasts that explore pop culture gay icons and how they can impact today’s LGBTQ+ audiences with Schooling the Children. If you’re curious about the conspiracy theories surrounding Britney Spears’ conservatorship (I mean, who isn’t), Hey Qween has you covered! Their Yasss Queen $10 tier also gives you special access to monthly episodes of So Real With Lady Red.
You can also get a taste for their hilarious wit through past episodes of their tv show, Hey Qween, on Youtube.

4. Bob The Drag Queen & Monét X Change

Sisters from another mother Bob The Drag Queen and Monét X Change co-host the Sibling Rivalry podcast, where you can hear their (friendly) bickering over both the audio and video episodes released on their Patreon. They’re both RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni and their Patreon page has three tiers: stranger, cousin, and sibling with access to exclusive content and behind the scenes footage.

Don’t miss their recent Bird Box Makeup Challenge, a 10-minute video of the co-hosts with blindfolds trying to do the makeup on their subjects. Or when the queens challenged each other to write a diss track in less than 10 minutes. You’ll be laughing for hours, we promise.

5. Creme Fatale

Creme Fatale’s detailed tutorials transform her face into a work of art. Her video content walks patrons through the best ways to create the perfect drag face. From eyebrow videos and skin routine to everyday makeup, this San Francisco-based queen will have you looking fabulous with every tutorial. Before subscribing, you can see more of her vibrant style in her Instagram and then watch her break it down after joining her Patreon page at the $5/month tier. Her talent will wow you.