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Hype Malaysia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
From Alyssa Edwards To Pabllo Vittar: 10 Influential Drag Queens Who Put The 'Queen' In Drag Queen
In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, entertainment wasn't as simple. The performing stage saw religious doctrine dictate that only men may grace the boards. When it came to needing female characters, men had to don dresses to fill in the 'missing' role. Drag. Call it an art, a rebellion, a celebration. Drag went from necessity to expression, becoming a phenomenon that spans pop culture queer identity. Whether it's lip-syncing or sashaying down runways, from underground balls to primetime television, these queens aren't just performers—they're icons, activists, and architects of culture. Seeing that it is currently Pride Month, here's a look at some of the most iconic and influential drag queens who have left stiletto-shaped footprints in history. 10. Katya Zamolodchikova Funny, authentic, and a mental health advocate. Rising to fame on RuPaul's Drag Race, Katya gained mainstream success through her popular YouTube series 'UNHhhh', podcasts, and live shows. Her openness about personal struggles has made her a beloved role model, inspiring many in the alphabet mafia and beyond. 9. Pabllo Vittar Chart-topping music, record-breaking streaming numbers, and major awards such as the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Brazilian Act—the first drag artist ever to win it. Pabllo is a powerful LGBTQ+ icon in Brazil and globally, using her platform to promote queer visibility and acceptance. She has also performed with stars like Madonna and earned praise from international media as 'the world's next big drag queen'. 8. Alyssa Edwards Alyssa Edwards is a highly influential drag queen known for her standout performances on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' and winning 'RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars 2024'. She's also a renowned choreographer and owner of Beyond Belief Dance Company, featured in Netflix's 'Dancing Queen'. Alyssa's charismatic personality, iconic style, and mentorship have made her a beloved figure in drag and dance worldwide. 7. Shangela A trailblazer drag queen who's been places, she has appeared on 'RuPaul's Drag Race' three times and popularised the catchphrase 'Halleloo!' She's appeared in 'We're Here, A Star Is Born' and was the first drag queen to walk the Oscars red carpet. Celebrated for breaking barriers and global performances, Shangela is a major figure in drag and visibility of varying gender and sexual identities. 6. Alaska Thunderf*ck 5000 Alaska is a singer and performer part of 'The AAA Girls', who you may know from 'RuPaul's Drag Race Season 5' and 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 2' – which she won. Her sharp humour, distinctive voice, and musical talent has brought us smash hits like 'Anus', 'Poundcake', 'Vagina', and 'Red 4 Filth'. She also co-hosts the popular 'Race Chaser' podcast and has published a memoir. Definitely a name to remember. 5. Violet Chachki High fashion, style, and daring performances, winner of 'RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7.' Violet has over 2 million Instagram followers, has appeared at major events like the Met Gala, and was named one of the most powerful drag queens in America, making her a standout figure in both the drag and fashion worlds. Beyond drag, she is a skilled performer incorporating aerial silks, torch juggling, and striptease – with a queer twist. 4. Divine From actor to cult icon through shocking, subversive films with John Waters like 'Pink Flamingos' and 'Hairspray'. Stereotypes have been broken, and generations of performers have been inspired. Divine embraced a rebellious, unconventional style that challenged traditional beauty norms at the time. On top of that, she was also a successful disco singer in the 1980s and would go on to inspire Ursula the Sea Witch. 3. Trixie Mattel Celebrated for her distinctive aesthetic, sharp humour, and advocacy, with a strong fanbase and critical acclaim across music, television, and live performance. She has built a multifaceted career with chart-topping country-pop albums, a successful cosmetics line, and popular collaborations with fellow drag queen Katya Zamolodchikova, including the hit YouTube series 'UNHhhh', Netflix's 'I Like To Watch', and a New York Times bestselling book. Trixie also won season 3 of 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' after originally performing in 'RuPaul's Drag Race Season 7'. 2. Bianca Del Rio The first drag queen to headline Wembley Arena and Carnegie Hall with her stand-up tours, including 'It's Jester Joke'. She has also starred in films like 'Hurricane Bianca' and hosted international tours such as 'Werq the World'. Named one of New York Magazine's 'Most Powerful Drag Queens,' Bianca is celebrated for her dynamic career spanning comedy, acting, and costume design, and for being the first Hispanic winner of 'Drag Race Season 6', bringing to the table comedy, acting, and costume design. 1. RuPaul Charles A name that's almost impossible to miss when looking up drag, the television host, singer, producer, writer, and actor widely regarded as the most commercially successful and famous drag queen in the world. Born in 1960 in San Diego, he rose to international fame with his 1993 hit single 'Supermodel (You Better Work)' and later became the executive producer and host of the groundbreaking reality competition 'RuPaul's Drag Race', which has won him 14 Primetime Emmy Awards. RuPaul has also released numerous albums, authored books, and acted in films and TV shows. He was the first drag queen to land a major cosmetics campaign with MAC and was included in Time magazine's 2017 list of the 100 most influential people globally. Beyond entertainment, RuPaul is a prominent LGBTQ+ advocate and the first drag queen to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His impact on drag culture and mainstream media is unparalleled, earning him titles like the 'Queen of Drag' and making him a transformative figure in popular culture. Sources: BBC, iconikmagazine Gan contributed to this article. What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
KIEHL'S PARTNERS WITH THE ALI FORNEY CENTER AND CELEBRATES PRIDE THROUGH "LOVE LETTERS" CAMPAIGN
NEW YORK, June 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kiehl's Since 1851 is expanding upon its longstanding mission to support the LGBTQIA2+ community through its new "Love Letters" Pride campaign. The campaign highlights the brand's Open Doors platform – a year-round commitment to supporting LGBTQIA2+ homeless youth. To further support the mission, Kiehl's is proud to continue its philanthropic partnership for the 2nd year in a row with the Ali Forney Center, a non-profit that provides LGBTQIA2+ youth with warm, supportive environments to escape the streets and prepare them for independent living. Their services include a 24/7 drop-in center, transitional housing, job readiness training, and health resources. In 2025, Kiehl's has committed to donating $150,000* to the Ali Forney Center to help provide safe, temporary housing as well as life-saving and developmental services to over 2200 LGBTQIA2+ homeless youth. Kiehl's recognizes that physical spaces are not always enough. To further promote the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQIA2+ youth, Kiehl's is launching the "Love Letters" campaign to provide a safe emotional space for the community. Through this campaign, the brand is going beyond offering safe physical spaces and is providing its community with safe emotional spaces too. Kiehl's has joined forces with LGBTQIA2+ creators, such as Alyssa Edwards from RuPaul's Drag Race, community members, and local non-profit partners to share heartfelt letters of appreciation to those who gave them a safe space to be their authentic selves. As Kiehl's comes together to celebrate the LGBTQIA2+ community this Pride, they want to help others share their story, loud and proud. They're inviting all to take pen to paper to honor the safe spaces they've discovered or created for themselves and others, along their journey. "For over 170 years, Kiehl's has been a leading brand in inclusivity and care no matter the form," said John Reed, General Manager of Kiehl's Since 1851. "Our continued partnership with the Ali Forney Center reflects our enduring commitment to creating safe, supportive spaces for LGBTQIA2+ youth and uplifting the communities that have always been at the heart of our brand." In addition to the partnership and campaign, Kiehl's is continuing their work via the Open Doors platform, launched in select countries in 2024, in which the brand partners with local non-profit organizations worldwide to provide those in need with necessities to live and resources to thrive. Kiehl's has a rich history of advocacy supporting the LGBTQIA2+ community dating back to the late 1980s. From supporting various HIV/Aids organizations to launching philanthropic initiatives and sponsoring NYC Pride – efforts that have collectively culminated in $1.4+ million donated to LGBTQIA2+ causes since 2015. A few key findings demonstrate the urgency of Ali Forney Center's mission and the importance of our partnership to raise awareness of these life-saving services: 40% of homeless youth in New York City are LGBTQIA2+ 80% of the youth the Ali Forney Center serve are kicked out of their homes and families due to their LGBTQIA2+ identity 85% of youth in the Ali Forney Center's program are enrolled in mental health counseling services, STD education prevention, testing and treatment 80% of youth graduate the Ali Forney Center into independent living compared to the national average of 25% "We are immensely grateful and humble to Kiehl's for their unwavering partnership and generous support of the Ali Forney Center. As a brand deeply committed to community impact, Kiehl's has played a vital role in helping us provide life-saving services to LGBTQIA2+ homeless youth," said Alex Roque, President and Executive Director of the Ali Forney Center. "Their dedication goes beyond philanthropy; they have stood beside us as true allies in our mission to protect and empower some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Together, we are creating a more compassionate world where all young people are given the opportunity to thrive and their courage and beauty the opportunity to shine." To learn more about Kiehl's Open Doors platform, Ali Forney Center and the Pride "Love Letters" campaign, visit Live Your Pride With Kiehl's - Healthy Skin for All - Kiehl's. About Kiehl's Open DoorsKiehl's Since 1851 proudly launches a new global philanthropic initiative, Kiehl's Open Doors, providing safe, temporary housing, as well as life tools and developmental resources to LGBTQIA2+ homeless youth. About Kiehl's Since 1851Kiehl's was founded as an old-world apothecary in New York's East Village neighborhood. Kiehl's unique, extensive background represents a blend of cosmetic, pharmaceutical, herbal and medicinal knowledge developed and passed on through the generations. Over the years, longtime customer favorite formulations such as Ultra Facial Cream, Micro Dose Anti-Aging Retinol, Avocado Eye Cream, Ultra Facial Cleanser, Creme de Corps, and new formulas such as Better ScreenTM UV Serum SPF 50+, Ultra Body Mega Moisture Squalene Cream, and Ultra Facial Barrier-Hydrating Cleanser have been created with uniquely efficacious, natural ingredients and the education and knowledge culled from generations of research and requests from our customers. About The Ali Forney CenterThe Ali Forney Center (AFC) is the nation's largest and most comprehensive organization dedicated to protecting LGBTQ +youth from the harms of homelessness. Each year AFC sees more than 2,200 young people who are kicked out of their homes due to homophobia and transphobia and offers homeless LGBTQ+ youth a 24-hour Drop In Hub located in midtown Manhattan and 17 scatter-site housing units in four of the five NYC Boroughs. Ninety percent of the young people we see state religious beliefs as the leading cause of their homelessness, a staggering 95 percent of our clients are individuals of color largely from the Black and Latino communities. Nearly half of these young people come to NYC from across the country, mainly the south, fleeing homophobic and transphobic homes. Lastly, as the largest and longest running agency doing this work, we support smaller organizations and groups of activists that aim to support similar populations. Through capacity building and conferences, we expand our reach across the United States and throughout the world. In our most recent conference in March 2023, we hosted 55 people from 24 different organizations from across the country and internationally. *Kiehl's Since 1851 supports Ali Forney Center in their mission to protect homeless Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning youth from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to be independent with a financial contribution of $150,000.00 in 2025. Kiehl's financial support of the Ali Forney Center is not influenced by the purchase of any Kiehl's product and Ali Forney Center does not endorse any Kiehl's product. For more information please visit: For press inquiries, please contact:Rachel WeinstockSenior Manager, Brand Engagement, Kiehl's Since View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kiehl's Since 1851 Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
