From Victoria Scone to Dakota Schiffer, Drag Race UK continues to make herstory

“With a rise of AFAB, trans and non-binary queens, we are seeing the outdated idea that drag is a cis-male performance being left behind”

BY KATE STRONG, IMAGE BY BBC

Season four of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK is coming to our screens on the 22 September. Many fans hoped for the return of herstory making drag queen, Victoria Scone, to make a comeback. However, following the recent announcement of this season’s contestants, many of Victoria’s fans will be disappointed.

Cardiff queen, Victoria Scone, was the first AFAB (assigned female at birth) drag queen to walk the runway, as well as the first lesbian contestant. She fiercely sashayed into the werk room declaring: “Hell hath no fury like a woman…sconed!” She sparked a debate between some fans who questioned whether it was still drag if a woman is the performer, but she left everyone gagged when she came top two in the season’s first episode. 

Unfortunately, after her lip sync against Krystal Versace for a Ru-Peter badge, a knee injury sent her home leaving viewers devastated. For many fans, the trailblazing queen had been an inspiration and a remarkable example of modern drag. She showed drag as what it truly is, an artform where anyone can play with and express gender whatever way they feel. 

With a rise of AFAB, trans and non-binary queens, we are seeing the outdated idea that drag is a cis-male performance being left behind. The drag community opens its arms to everyone and is a perfect example of inclusivity in the LGBTQI community. 

Though there may not be any AFAB queens in the season four lineup, and sadly no Victoria Scone, we will be welcoming the first openly trans woman to enter Drag Race UK. Dakota Schiffer will be slaying the runway as the second woman on the show. 

Peppermint was the first to enter Drag Race as a trans woman and many other beloved queens have come out since their time on the show. Openly trans, Kimmy Couture is currently still in the running to steal the Canadian crown on season three of Canada’s Drag Race. Of course, we cannot talk about trans queens without mentioning Gottmik, the first competing trans man to “crash the cis-tem”. 

So, what can we expect to see from Miss Schiffer? In her Meet The Queens interview with the BBC, the Sussex queen describes her drag as “a love letter to the 60s and 90s”. She expresses her love for the supermodel era having taken her name from the 90s model, Claudia Schiffer. Another idol of hers is Sharon Tate from Valley Of The Dolls, she takes inspiration from her classic beauty. 

Dakota Schiffer is by no means a glue-gun queen, she hopes her eye for fashion and sewing skills will elevate her above the rest. She says that her reason for starting drag is because it allowed her to combine her love of fashion, makeup and hair. It has been an outlet for her to embrace her femininity and has helped her with coming out as trans. 

In the history of UK drag race, season two welcomed two openly non-binary queens, season three welcomed the first AFAB queen of the franchise and now we are seeing an openly trans woman take the stage and we can’t wait to see what she brings.

Drag Race is shining a spotlight on marginalised communities and creating a platform where people can tell their stories. Every queen is unique, and everyone can find someone’s story they can relate to in some way. The show has helped viewers have an insight into the lives of trans people, creating much more understanding and acceptance. Shows like this are so very important to people in our community, to hear you’re not alone is a powerful message that must continue to be spread.

RuPaul’s Drag Race UK returns to BBC Three on 22 September 👑

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