It’s June, but it’s not just June – it’s Pride Month, y’all.
And what’s more, Beijing’s extraordinary drag queen troupe Haus of Lily has unveiled their next big show. After a sold-out Mardi Gras-themed bash at Home Plate this past March, the queens have been busy preparing another stellar lineup of showstopping performances and wild costumes.
This month, they’re going all out with a Southern-inspired drag show brunch extravaganza, which will take place at Home Plate on Saturday, June 15 – and we can’t wait to see what fabulous tricks these divas will have up their sleeves this time. We caught up with a few of the glam bunch before the event to talk all things drag, honey.
When did you first start performing? What was your first drag experience like?
TigerLily: TigerLily first flowered at 16 years old when asked to the UCLA LGBT prom by a college boy – it was liberating and exciting (except for how her toes felt.)
Lola du Jour: I first began performing in August [last year]. My first time in drag was an exciting and cathartic experience – I immediately realized that I wanted to do this forever.
Krystal de Canteur: I started doing drag three years ago here in Beijing. It was for a charity event where a few of my friends and I were asked to come [dressed] in drag. There was no performance required, so we were just mingling with the crowd. I made the mistake of wearing a pair of cute pointy pumps which literally killed my feet. It was a mess – [I was] bleeding from my toenails and [wasn’t able to walk] properly for a few days, but the crowd loved it, so I kept doing it by popular demand.
“A queen always wears heels and never takes shade from anyone who isn’t ready to receive it”
Elizabeth Stride: I first appeared in drag as an elderly Scottish grandmother named Mrs. Badcrumble for my high school’s non-uniform day. She became notorious for threatening wayward pupils with a rolling pin. Elizabeth Stride first appeared on stage in September of 2014 – the same year I formed an a cappella drag trio called The Fascinators. Until I met the other members of Haus of Lily, I was already in semi-retirement. But they changed all of that.
Michael Tsai aka TigerLily
What does being a drag queen allow you to do that you feel you wouldn’t be able to do regularly?
TL: Being TigerLily allows me to be the badass bitch that tells it like it is – I’m a business owner in this city, so I don’t always have that luxury. Although, I’m sure a few people might disagree...
LJ: As a drag queen, I have more of a voice and platform than before. As my fanbase grows, I become more and more able to affect people’s lives positively. I have had young Chinese people of the LGBTQ+ community tell me that I inspire them to be unapologetically themselves. This makes the hours of tedious work that goes into each show worth it.
KC: [First of all], you get to dress up in fabulous outfits (who doesn't like to play dress up?) and accentuate all your dips and curves. (Fake it if you need to!) You can throw insults at people – all coming from a loving place – and banter with other queens. When you’re in drag you’re definitely the center of everyone's attention, [so you have to] be prepared to take loads of photos with people and answer all kinds of questions.
“As a drag queen, I have more of a voice and platform than before. As my fanbase grows, I become more and more able to affect people’s lives positively”
ES: I get to be the self-assured, daring, intelligent and physically perfect person that I don’t feel like in my everyday life. But I’ve also found myself fighting back against things I don’t like in the world, both within and [outside] of the queer community. Now that I’m a dad, I feel more responsibility to be a force for change, and drag has helped me.
I always say that drag is both a weapon and armour for queer people. We can use our personas to speak up for those who don’t feel able to and challenge society’s perceptions of gender and queerness, all while maintaining normal lives. There’s a reason drag queens are often the security at gay bars and clubs – who wants to pick a fight with a 6-foot, 8-inch man wearing a dress and stilettos?
Paulo Goodman-Rouquayrol aka Lola du Jour
What goes into creating a drag queen persona? Did you initially experiment with a few different ones?
TL: The first time that wig went on, TigerLily’s giant personality and hoe realness came bursting through, hard and strong. There was no denying that she was always in there, ready to dominate any room.
LJ: My drag persona, Miss Lola du Jour, was created when I was a kid on vacation in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She was fully realized last year and is always transforming in little ways.
KC: Krystal is and always will be an elegant and glamorous dame. I didn't have to experiment with different personas, since I believe Krystal has always been [inside] me. Poised, shady when [necessary] and always up for a good time. Don’t be afraid to approach me – I won't bite hard.
ES: I’m pretty sure Elizabeth was always there, even way back when I used to try on my mother’s silk slips and lipstick as a toddler. She’s tart-tongued, supremely confident and doesn’t suffer fools – she’s the opposite of the real me! Her looks may have grown more sophisticated over time, but the character is just every attribute I mute or silence in real life. Everyone has a drag alter ego within them – that’s why I encourage everyone to try drag at least once.
Kristoffer Liu aka Krystal de Canteur
Tell our readers what they can expect from your upcoming show.
TL: Our shows are always huge and colorful with unexpected crudeness, rudeness, sluttiness and poise. We have 12 queens in the Haus of Lily, [so there will be] a few duets and a group number. Basically, just prepare to be drunk and laughing with the weirdest bunch of us for three to four hours. The rest of your day will be ruined.
LJ: With Miss Lola du Jour, you can expect to see outfits worthy of any red carpet, diva ballads and droves of emotion.
KC: Lots of fun, debauchery and good old Southern hospitality. We'll leave you humming country tunes and eager for our next show!
ES: Our show will celebrate everything we love about the South – Dolly Parton, proper barbecue, hospitality – without that dark side that makes it a terrifying place to live for many queer people. First and foremost, like our Mardi Gras spectacular in the spring, expect to be entertained. For me, drag isn’t about throwing on a frock and getting someone else to paint your face just so you can step up to a mic and expect people to listen, regardless of what you have to say. I’ve gotten into trouble before for saying that drag queens should be entertainers above everything else.
There are much better people than me – real activists, not just mouthy cross-dressers – making a real difference for queer people in China. My contribution is to bring everyone – queer and straight, trans and cis, young and old – together in the spirit of entertainment. When we laugh, whoop and holler together, we forget our differences. That’s what our shows are about. [The] world we live in [can be really grim], and Haus of Lily aims to help you forget that for a little while.
“There’s a reason drag queens are often the security at gay bars and clubs — who wants to pick a fight with a 6-foot, 8-inch man wearing a dress and stilettos?”
How do you prepare for big shows like this one? How long does it usually take to create each look?
TL: Our quarterly Haus shows are planned at least two months in advance. We handle everything as a family from design, song selection and practice to decorations and makeup. Our looks on the day take about three hours but are usually designed, purchased and altered weeks in advance.
LJ: On average, it takes me about three hours to get ready for a show, not including the time taken [to learn songs] and performance preparation. For big Haus shows like this, a lot more preparation is involved. Haus of Lily takes charge of advertisement and publicity, coordination, song choices, ticket sales, venue preparation and decoration, and much more.
KC: I usually start planning two months ahead. It's always good to give yourself extra time to prepare everything, from the costume, wig and song to the performance and whole concept of what you want to present. On the day of the show, it usually takes me three or four hours to transform myself into Krystal de Canteur.
ES: I’ve always been a bit extra, so my routines and looks take about a month to prepare. Most of my outfits are handmade and I try to make sure everything, from my wig and my heels to my dance moves and choice of song, is themed. For this show I’m going the extra mile and channeling one of the greatest figures in Southern culture. You want to know more? Then buy a ticket, b*tch!
Jack Smith aka Elizabeth Stride
Who are some of your biggest inspirations?
TL: My biggest inspiration is my mother. TigerLily is the mamasan [woman in charge] of Haus of Lily because growing up, I witnessed my mother running her fair share of ‘extracurriculars’ and I’ve always tried to hustle as hard as her. B*tch took a cleaver and chased a hoe out of our house when I was 9. Yaaaas mama!
LJ: My biggest inspirations include mostly legendary divas such as Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston and Judy Garland, but also legendary drag queens like RuPaul, Manila Luzon and Alaska.
KC: I have many. I’m very inspired by the looks of Thierry Mugler, Christian Dior, and the glitzy disco era a la Studio 54. Dame Edna, Shirley Bassy, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Cher, Pricilla Queen of the Desert are a few of my go-tos for inspiration.
ES: From the drag world: Jinkx Monsoon, Bianca del Rio, Willem and the new drag race champion Yvie Oddly. From the wider world: actress Lena Headey for her grounded attitude as a working parent (but also because Cersei Lannister is my favorite TV character), TV presenters Stephen Fry and Sandi Toksvig for their activism and razor wit, and probably the Queen for her resilience and dignity. But my biggest source of inspiration are my fellow Haus of Lily performers. It’s a hugely diverse group of people held together by a common trait – talent!
“Doing drag isn't easy. It takes time, money and a lot of effort to look this gorgeous”
Any advice for aspiring drag queens out there?
TL: A queen always wears heels and never takes shade from anyone who isn’t ready to receive it.
LJ: Be yourself. Never stop learning and growing. Don’t let others make you fit into their mold of drag.
KC: Doing drag isn’t easy. It takes time, money and a lot of effort to look this gorgeous. You will start to act and feel different once the whole look is complete. That’s when your alter ego, or new persona, starts to come through. Embrace the whole experience, and as RuPaul puts it: “Unless they paying your bills, pay them b*tches no mind.” Drag is fun, but at the same time you get to showcase your talents as an actor and entertainer. If you really want to do drag contact us – we are the only drag troupe in Beijing and are always on the lookout for new potential sisters and brothers!
ES: Be who you know you are. And don’t listen to anyone who says you can’t. But always strive to improve and develop. And if you think you’ve got what it takes, come to a Haus of Lily gig and make yourself known to us!
[All images via Haus of Lily]
Can’t wait for the show? The Haus of Lily queens shared a playlist of their sassiest jams to listen to in the meantime:
Sat Jun 15, 11am-3pm, RMB250 (includes welcome drink); Home Plate BBQ, see event listing.
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