Meet Slaytina the monster, the producer, and the entrepreneur.
In the 1985 movie Weird Science, outcast students designed their ideal woman on a computer, adding everything they could come up with to make the perfect model. In essence, that’s how we conceive original works. A body of work is a product of several inspirations from different places.
“My drag name was actually inspired by Alaska Thunderfuck’s song, Slaytina. She was the first drag artist I looked up to,” she says. The song goes, “Legs 5 inches longer than Naomi Smalls, with modeling capabilities of Raja the Gemini, A waist 3 inches smaller than Violet Chachki, I give you…Slaytina!”
Through her drag persona, she’s able to express herself without any fear. “Today, I can say that my drag is very progressive. The fact that I’m not limiting myself makes me more excited about drag,” she says. Slaytina proves that anyone can learn a significant thing or two when they step out of their comfort zone. “I always love to go against the grain and norms of drag, because drag is all about freedom.”
A Proud Monster
While most drag artists today are inspired by RuPaul’s Drag Race, Slaytina looks in the other direction. True to her rebellious spirit, she shares, “Back when I was starting to do drag, I found this alternative drag competition called the Boulet Brother’s Dragula. I still remember season two when I was watching and told myself that I see my drag in these monsters. The fact that they’re not scared to be different impacted my art form so much.”
An excellent drag performance always tells a story. When Slaytina is on the stage, we can expect something political. “Because the root of drag is political,” she asserts. “The moment I wear makeup, wig, and costume is already a political statement. I always want to share my story through my performances and incorporate dark and horror-inspired pieces.” She uses the stage to defeat her demons and empower herself. “There is beauty in darkness,” she interjects.
Drag became a portal to self-discovery and the key to unlocking skills she didn’t know she had. “I can confidently say that drag saved my life. It has opened so many opportunities not just for Slaytina, but for Jameson as well,” she confesses. This art form helped her fulfill her wildest dreams, like performing on stage, getting featured in news articles, landing the cover of a UK magazine, sharing her drag journey on national TV, and producing an alternative drag show.
Crypt of Slaytina
Crypt of Slaytina is her self-produced alternative drag show, plus a viewing party of the Boulet Brother’s Dragula. Her vision for creating this is for the alternative drag scene to thrive and get the recognition it deserves. “Creating a space where every outcast, monster, and freak can have a safe place and build a community where every kind is welcome,” she says proudly.
A Queer Business Owner
Beyond drag as art, Slaytina has also recognized it as a business, starting her own brand DOPE in 2017 when she was 15. It now consists of three business lines: printing, cosmetics, and footwear. “When I discovered drag in 2019, that was the time I got the idea of selling products that are in line with what I love doing,” she says about starting Dope Cosmetics, which is now one of the top best-selling face paint products in the market.
She launched Dope Footwear in 2021; a line focused on selling boots. “I started this because back when I was starting to drag, it was hard to find bigger sizes in the market. Luckily, a day after I launched my footwear line, I got a message to have a chance to be part of the very first season of Drag Race Philippines. Paolo Ballesteros wore them each time she walked down the Werq room.”
It is very challenging for a young artist to handle everything coming her way. The abundance of blessings keeps her pushing forward in hopes of inspiring other queer kids. “For all aspiring young drag artists, if you think of something, do it today! There’s no perfect timing, but now! Everything else will follow.”
