Everything You Need to Know About Drag Queens Types

What are drag queens? They are usually men who imitate and often exaggerate female gender symbols and gender roles through the use of drag costumes and makeup for entertainment purposes. I know you know that drag queens are popular today, but do you know that there are different drag queens types depending on how they style themselves? Even I was even surprised when I learned about this from a crossdresser friend I know who does drag as well!

If you’re curious, I will talk about the top drag queen types famous today, including faux queens, androgyny, pageant queens, and more! And because I know that many of you are fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race, let’s talk about the common drag queen types we see in this reality series too! Appreciate the beauty in the art of drag and its various styles by reading this blog!

A Brief History of Drag Queens: Celebrating an Iconic Art Form

Ancient Origins: The Roots of Gender-Bending Performances

Drag queens have ancient origins, with gender-bending performances prevalent in various cultures. Cross-dressing actors in ancient Greek theater and the Hijra performers of South Asia laid the groundwork for drag as an art form.

The Birth of Drag: From Shakespeare to Vaudeville

Drag as we know it today began during the Renaissance era. Male actors portrayed female characters in Shakespearean plays, and Vaudeville shows in the late 19th and early 20th centuries provided a platform for drag queens to showcase their talents.

The Stonewall Uprising: A Catalyst for Change

The 1960s marked a turning point for drag queens and the LGBTQ+ community. The Stonewall Uprising in New York City ignited a movement for equality and LGBTQ+ rights, with drag queens playing a prominent role in the protests.

Mainstream Popularity: Drag Queens in the Limelight

Television and increased LGBTQ+ visibility brought drag queens into the mainstream. Iconic figures like RuPaul captivated audiences, and RuPaul’s Drag Race propelled drag queens into the spotlight.

Beyond the Stage: Drag Queens as Activists and Icons

Drag queens are not just performers; they are activists and advocates. Their performances challenge societal norms and support social causes, championing LGBTQ+ rights and raising awareness.

Types of Drag Queens

1. Genderfuck/Androgyny

Genderfuck or androgyny was a term that originally appeared in 1972 and is also commonly called “anti-queen.” When a drag queen is an anti-queen, he combines the characteristics of a feminine and a masculine. Genderfuck queens are artistic and enjoy mixing the two genders; they are generally sexually ambiguous with their sexual identity, fashion, and sexual lifestyle.

In a simpler definition, when a drag queen is genderfucking, he’s commonly a queer individual who loves to mix and match different female and male traits. For instance, a genderfucking drag queen can be someone who wears a dress but doesn’t shave his beard or wears manly clothes but uses breast forms to make his chest area look bigger.

2. Faux Queens

You’re considered a faux queen when you’re a biological female who styles and dresses the way male drag queens do. Faux queens are also divas, bio queens, or hyper queens, and they wear full-on makeup and big wigs that match their colorful drag attires.

Faux queens are naturally fabulous and have fierce personalities. What fascinates me is that even though they are biologically women, they still prefer to dress as male drag queens, destroying gender norms and boundaries!

3. Club

When you’re a drag queen who gets style inspiration from the 1980s to the 1990s New York City club kid scene, you’re a club queen. Club queens are known to slay Drag Balls and masquerades and are outrageous and fierce regarding their fashion and make-up techniques. They typically get fashion inspiration from music: club Kids and Boy George.

Club queens are performers and generally give you the best nights inside bars and other gatherings. These drag queens are paid to be fabulous and always the winner with their outlandish looks and style.

4. Goth

I know you’re used to colorful drag queens dressed in vibrant-colored outfits and bright makeup. However, there are also dark and gloomy drag queens inspired by horror films – goth queens! If you get the chance to see a goth queen’s closet, you’ll be surprised that there are no colors, and it’s all black!

Goth queens also prefer a dark-themed makeup style with white faces; they look like they have risen from the dead straight out of a horror movie!

5. Fish

When you see a fish drag queen, your first thought is, “Wow, this drag queen is definitely a woman!” However, fish drag queens are actually males who have perfected the art of dressing like biological women. They are perfectionist drag queens who ensure that every detail on their body screams female, and their looks are very polished and well-defined.

Fish queens take drag very seriously, and they love throwing shade at fellow queens who don’t take enough time to prepare to look their best.

6. Pageant

Even more serious than fish queens are pageant queens. These drag queens will do everything they can to win the competitions they join. Pageant queens are even more meticulous than fish queens, and they always make sure that their looks are polished because they know they will be judged on every detail of their drag.

When you meet a pageant queen, you’ll admire his fierce look with his drag cape, gown, and expensive jewelry for exuding sophistication, and their main goal is to win the pageant crown.

7. Camp

Camp drag queens are not people you mess with. Their aesthetics are inspired by exaggeration, ribaldry, and satire. Camp drag queens are frank and brutally honest and can insult you aggressively if you trigger them. Basically, being a camp drag queen is not based on style; it’s a lifestyle.

These drag queens use humor as their way of conversation but tend to straight-up insult and offend you when they want to.

8. Fluid Drag

I think fluid drags are the most versatile of all drag queen classifications. Fluid drags don’t stick to a certain drag queen style but can adapt to different personas and influences, depending on their mood. I admire fluid drag queens because they can be any drag they desire and can still manage to look good and fabulous!

9. Transdrag

When you’re a transgender who has been transitioning from man to woman but still performs as a drag queen, then you’re a trans drag. Transdrags may have undergone plastic surgeries or breast implants to look and become more woman-like but still enjoy dressing up as drag queens and performing in drag bars.

10. Activessle

When you’re active, you’re a drag queen who enjoys accomplishing charitable acts in your communities to help with different issues, such as extending your help to the LGBT community. From what I researched, it actively usually involves groups of drag queens who share common advocacies.

I also learned that some even join rallies and protests because these drag queens are firm about what they are fighting for.

11. Tranimal

Tranimal or terrorist-drag queens deconstruct and dissect fashion and makeup, combining their style with punk rock, performance art, and social and racial issues. Generally, animal drag queens use messy clothing and wigs, and many know how to hide their male attributes by shaving or tucking.

12. Under the Radar

While drag queens are known to be confident and love the spotlight, there are also beginner queens who are shy or don’t like the attention that much. At first, the under-the-radar queens are commonly not noticed by their fellow drag queens, but they usually become more confident with how they look as time progresses.

Indeed, under-the-radar queens are the force you need to watch out for when joining drag pageants. Even RuPaul’s Drag Race had contestants who were initially shy but managed to overcome their stage fright and win.

13. Drag Queen Types You’ll Find on RuPaul’s Drag Race

Who doesn’t love RuPaul’s Drag Race? Now that you know the different types of drag queens according to style, let’s talk about the most common drags you see in this famous reality series.

● Pageant Queens

Because RuPaul’s Drag Race is mainly a competition, the most common drag queens you’ll see are pageant queens. Contestants who join this series are commonly pageant queens who are always poised, dressed elegantly, and have one goal: to bring home the crown. Almost all seasons of RuPaul Drag Race have pageant queens that take the competition very seriously.

● Comedy Queens

Many avid fans of RuPaul Drag Race admire and love comedy queens because of their fab, bizarre, and vibrant aura. Comedy queens take everything lightly and are smart to think of jokes even in a short amount of time. Additionally, they can also dress very nicely and are comparable to the pageant drag queens!

● Spooky Queens

Goth drag queens mainly get their fashion and take inspiration from horror and dark films. In RuPaul’s Drag Race, you’ll often see spooky queens, which are basically gothic drag queens. You’ll be amazed at how dark and gloomy they look but still appear elegant and sassy!

● Club Kids

Another common group of drag queens you’ll see on RuPaul’s Drag Race are queens inspired by the Club Kids era. The Club Kids was a group established in late 1980 and consisted of a group of dance club personalities residing in New York City: Michael Alig, Julie Jewels, James St. James, DJ Keoki, Astro Erle, and Ernie Glam.

When you watch the reality series, you’d immediately know if the drag queen is inspired by the Club Kids when you look at his fashion. Club Kids-inspired drag queens commonly wear avantgarde-themed outfits showcasing unique DIY or punk vibes.

● Look Queens

Look queens prioritize their style and their appearances more than anything. When you see them, they often look like they are walking down the runway every time! Some contestants who have proven that they’re looking queens who always give importance to their outfits and makeup are Aquaria, Violet Chachki, and Valentina.

Drag Queens Are Proud of Their Art

Amazingly, the drags we see in shows and bars are uniquely different from one another in terms of their style and beliefs. I love watching RuPaul’s Drag Race because it has inspired me to style myself and pick outfits since I started cross-dressing!

What’s your stand on these drag queens? Let me know in the comments below!