The final rounds of Poison Drag Cartel All Stars 4 have begun! Meet the Queens battling it out for the coveted crown.
Poison Wednesday’s Drag Cartel has been a springboard for aspiring drag artists to explore and improve their art. It goes beyond the meaning of competition and has evolved into a solid community of people who love drag. Every month (minus the times the pandemic took from us), people flock to Nectar Nightclub to witness the magic it holds: a circus, a catwalk, a freakshow, a fantasy world, a horror house, a stunt central, a pageant, an otherworldly realm—all at the same time. An outright celebration of raw talent and the beauty it creates (and sometimes destroys). Drag Cartel launched into the queer stratosphere when it inspired the birth of Drag Den, which recently crowned the first Pinoy Drag Supreme.
We asked Poison Wednesdays emcee, iconic hype girl, and pageant queen Peabo Orilla to introduce the contestants: “Twelve queens, but only one will wear the crown! The tradition continues; this is Drag Cartel AS4!”
Drag Name: Margaux
The month and category that you won in: June 2022, Chromatica Ball
What makes you stand out from your Poison Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? I can sing/lipsync, I can dance, I make my own looks, and I can perform well…without having to rely on props and other forms of theatrics. I’m the whole show.
What does winning Poison Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? Should I win Drag Cartel All Stars, it will be a very validating experience for me. This would mean that I am on the right track. I believe winning Drag Cartel All Stars will open other doors of opportunity for me, giving me a chance to further showcase my talents and share my art with other people who have the same passion for drag as I do.
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. Empyradora…just like the liquor, you make me throw up.
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? In my opinion, a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world is her ability to entertain people despite the personal struggles we face in our daily lives. It takes a lot for someone who’s already struggling to put a smile on someone else’s face, and that in itself is already a huge contribution to the world.
If you were a god for a day, how would you change the world? If I were God for a day, I would change the world by doing something next to impossible—enact world peace. It sounds cliché, I know, but if I were to become God, I might as well do something that would benefit the world over time. Besides, the drag community could also use a little more peace.
Drag name: Empy Radora
The month and category that you won in: Month of July and the category is Y2K
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? I think what makes me stand out is how I make it whenever I go on stage. I always make sure that I connect with the audience when performing cause I want them to be part of my performance.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? It would mean everything, not just for me but for the whole drag community in Baguio. It would boost the confidence of those inner drag queens of those who wanna try it in Baguio, knowing that a queen from Baguio won.
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. Gersana ang ganda ng photoshoot mo! Ganon na lang lagi para ‘di namin nakikita face mo!
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? The greatest contribution of drag in the world is to make a person feel happy and also an inspiration for those kids who just want to be themselves.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? I would change it by being me, being gay, eyyy!
Drag name: Gersena Pilipina
The month and category that you won in: Month of August
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? What makes me stand out from my competitor is my being me; I know how unique I am. My personality traits, likes and dislikes, and life experiences taught me how to be a better drag queen and artist. I have an extremely creative mind which allows me to produce unique ideas that also help me give more of my best to be stronger and braver.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? It means a lot to me to win Drag Cartel, and to be part of it was unexpected. I joined to have fun and enjoy. Winning Drag Cartel was so important to me because I could be more relevant and spread my words to advocate for young drag queens like me to inspire and spread positivity in our community.
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? The greatest contribution of drag queens to the world for me is being helpful and kind to one another. Drag queens are great examples and representatives of the LGBTQ+.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? If I were a god, to be honest, I could not change the world in one day. By spreading positivity and not toxicity, I will give my best to have a better world, just like what I do in Drag Cartel All Stars S4.
Drag name: Déja
The month and category that you won in: September, Cosplay Realness
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? My dedication to this art form. I’m still studying while doing drag. I am traveling for 3 hours just to perform in my home bar and 6 hours just to perform in Manila. I think that alone is what makes me stand out.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? For me winning Drag Cartel is not just about the crown. I want to win because I deserve it and work hard for it. I want to win and also to have a larger platform.
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. Felicia, WHERE IS THE BODY?! Slaytina SLAY, WHERE?
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? Entertainment. I feel like drag queens are the most entertaining performers in the world!
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? I want to give people a better education. I feel like that is really important because if you have a quality education, you can have a better opportunity.
Drag name: Regina Gorge
The month and category that you won in: September, Cosplay
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? Even though it was my first time ever to perform in drag, I had the courage and willingness to join. With skills and years of admiring drag race lipsyncs, I tried lip-syncing the house down boots yesss, mama! Yesss Gaaaaawwwd! As a kid, I’ve always been that creative and perfectionist type. I love making things out of my resources. A little backstory about my winning outfit during the September Drag Cartel, I had this black Spiderman costume that a friend gave me; I bejeweled it for September’s Drag Cartel. I used the costume, borrowed a wig, makeup, and that’s how it all started.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? As a baby drag queen who has been doing drag for four months, I want to prove that I am capable and have the talent to share. Winning this season’s Drag Cartel might catapult me to the heights that I may need to show my talent to the whole Philippines, the whole world, rather. I want to make my drag mom Myx Chanel proud, my family and friends, and my not-so-friends.
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. Felicia, I love you! Super talented mo! Ang ganda mo! Favorite ko ‘yung mug mo sis, lalo na pag ‘di mo gawa! For Slaytina, Minecraft.
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? Drag queens are a beacon of strength, resilience, courage, and entertainment.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? If I were God, I would make the world much happier where we all live in glitters and sparkles, and no one will feel sorrow. So basically, I’ll make everybody gay (a good gay).
Drag name: Miss Felicia
The month and category that you won in: October, Gabi ng Lagim
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? My lipsyncing capability is what sets me from the rest of my competitors; being the most unexposed to the drag scene gave the other girls an impression of me that I’m an underdog. Perhaps in order to truly stand out, you need to be constantly innovating.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? Doing drag for the first time was already a win for me; therefore, winning Drag Cartel meant I could conquer myself. Winning this season’s All Stars will put the cherry on top of my cake, and it’s about getting past yourself. Conquering your physical constraints, worries, and restrictions. Being successful requires going above and beyond your own expectations. “Winning means surpassing yourself and turning your dreams into reality.” Jornet, K. (Run or Die 2014)
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. Come oaaann crunchy dip!!!
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? Glitters and lash glue.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? I would convince everyone that God is a woman!!!
Drag name: Slaytina
The month and category that you won in: October, Gabi ng Lagim
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? When I do drag, I always do the non-traditional type of drag. I love to break the norms of it and push the boundaries of what people think drag is. And that’s what makes me stand out among these competitors because you can’t expect what’s next for me.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? For me, it is not just about winning the crown and the cash prize itself. It’s about the representation and the message I want to give with this crown: drag is all about freedom, and you can be whatever the f*ck you want. And as a drag monster myself, I will calibrate and show the local drag scene that alternative artists also deserve to have the spotlight, spaces, and can thrive just like the glamour scene of drag today.
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. Nebra G, Just like your crowning performance, “It’s not right, but it’s okay.”
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? Drag is a powerful symbol of self-expression that can move the world.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? Everyone will be gay.
Drag name: Nebra G
The month and category that you won in: November, Doble Kara
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? Experience. I’ve been doing drag for more than two years now, and I’ve been performing for more than five years.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? Winning would mean everything to my hometown, Baguio. I would like to win Drag Cartel not just for myself but also for my peeps and co-drag here.
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? The art form and talent that we showcase.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? Creating an inclusive culture that has respect for all cultures and religions and ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity.
Drag name: Eliza
The month and category that you won in: December, Lantern Parade
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? I make sure that whenever I put myself in drag, everything is fully conceptualized. I see my drag not just as an art form that I’ve been meaning to show everyone but as an extension and an opportunity for the young kid in me who was deprived before to have fun.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? It would mean the world, the universe, rather. Kidding aside, it would mean so much to me and to those starting drag artists out there that even though we’re still starting and still figuring out what our drag is, we can still be up there with the big names that we look up to.
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. To Maureen Biology, you′re perfect, you’re beautiful, you look like Linda Evangelista. You′re a model; everything about you is perfect.
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? The most significant contribution a drag queen can give to the world is to let everyone’s problems be forgotten for a moment and replace them with joy on their faces.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? One sequin at a time.
Drag name: Maureen Biology
The month and category that you won in: January 2023, Crazy Rich Asians
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? My make-up skills. I have been doing makeup as a side gig for eight years, and when it comes to my drag, I am not afraid to do creative and artistic makeup looks. I always try to give something more than just your standard feminine mug. My ethereal aesthetic and my makeup skills are the things that I think make me stand out from the rest.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? Winning Drag Cartel would mean a lot since it has jumpstarted the career of many successful drag queens here in the Philippines. Also, as someone representing Baguio City and North Luzon at large, I want to prove that we Baguio queens do have a lot to offer. It would also be a big achievement for someone like me who has just been doing drag full-time for under a year, but being in the finals is already a win.
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. (If last, do the first winner of 2022) I really admire Ms. Margaux and her work. Her wig styling skills are impeccable, although her wigs always remind me of her face…STIFF.
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? I think the voice of a drag queen is her biggest contribution. Yes, a drag queen lip-syncs most of the time, but it’s the message and the art that speaks while she is performing. Every stage and every platform is a chance to influence people, send a message, and make an impact.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? I would eradicate HIV/AIDS. This had and continues to have a negative impact on our community in terms of lives lost and the social stigma for PLHIV.
Drag name: Stare Decisis
The month and category that you won in: January 2023, Crazy Rich Asians
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? Being relentless. Ever since I joined Nectar’s Drag Cartel last year, I have placed as runner-up for two consecutive months, where I almost got the crown. But instead of giving up and having regrets, I kept joining the Cartel to express and improve my creativity in drag.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? Winning Drag Cartel is a huge step for a baby queen like me towards opportunities and bigger platforms where I could express my art and inspire the people around me to keep pushing themselves for whatever goals and dreams they are aiming at.
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? Aside from providing entertainment, a drag queen encourages people, especially young queers, to never give up on their dreams and shows that there is a safe space against all abuses and discrimination. Drag entertainment could also be a way of improving our mental health; it gives color to this world full of doubts and troubles.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? I would go back to the beginning of time to
instill in the minds of human beings a sense of the rightness of queer existence. I would also tell the disciples of Jesus to put the SOGIE bill and Anti-Discrimination law in the bible. As a God ako na po mag aadjust.
Drag name: Sofie Deluxe
The month and category that you won in: January, Crazy Rich Asians
What makes you stand out from your Drag Cartel All Stars competitors? My quirkiness and my charisma when performing. Also, my experience in performing, and I think I can use that experience to get the crown.
What does winning Drag Cartel All Stars mean to you? As a baby drag queen and one of the drag daughters of Viñas Deluxe, it’ll be such an honor to bring home the crown for our house. Also, winning the competition will give me an opportunity to showcase more of what I can do when performing and be an inspiration to others that there’s always a perfect time for all of your dreams.
The library is open! Read the contestant who won one month after you. To Margaux, alam mo naman na ikaw love ko amongst the other queens in this competition. Naalala ko pa noon bata palang ako napapanuod ko na mga beauty pageants mo kaya ganon nalang kataas respesto ko sa’yo. And that reminds me of the greatest lesson that my mom taught me, “dapat marunong gumalang sa MATATANDA”
What might be a drag queen’s greatest contribution to the world? For me, the greatest contribution of a drag queen to the world is giving joy and entertainment through performing. Aside from that, the drag queen serves as an inspiration to others by showing that you can be who you are and who you want to be.
If you were god for a day, how would you change the world? I think I will change the mind of the people in this world that being part of the LGBTQ+ is not a sin.
Nectar Nightclub’s Facebook page recently opened voting for the Poison Drag Cartel All Stars Season 4 People’s Choice Award.
Read the official mechanics here and vote!
Poison Drag Cartel All Stars Season 4 Finale is on February 16, 2023, and the Coronation Ball is on February 22, 2023!
