WATCH: Sequins, boas and platform heels fill the ballroom at the Empress Hotel for ‘Drags Benny’ in support of the Victoria Pride Society. Tess van Straaten takes a look.
It’s not everyday drag queens take over the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
But this wasn’t your typical Sunday brunch.
It’s Drags Benny — a lively show supporting the Victoria Pride Society.
“It really showcases the art of drag to an audience that may not always go out to a gay bar or may not want to stay out late to see a traditional drag performance,” explains organizer Dan Clapson of Eat North.
The entertaining antics kicked off with some audience participation before performers like Eddilicious took the stage.
“Eddilicious is kind of just a mix of just my weird fantasies, my frustrations, my primal urges, my influences,” says performer Eddi Wilson of alter ego Eddilicious. “He’s a little bit 80s rocker, he’s a little bit campy, he’s a little bit confused. He’s all of those parts of myself I don’t really express day to day.”
Internationally-celebrated drag queen Lalia McQueen, who was on RuPaul’s Drag Race, is the main act.
“It used to be I was just dressing up in my room,” says McQueen. “Even as a little kid, it was totally an escape which has turned into a career. It’s opened the door into so many opportunities that I never thought would come from a closeted hobby.”
This is Victoria’s first-ever Drags Benny and the fourth stop on the Western Canada tour.
But with everyone looking so fabulous, reporter Tess van Straaten was feeling a bit under-dressed so McQueen decides to give her a little makeover.
Watch the video link above to see what happened.
Tess van Straaten
