#HappyPrideMonth: Mrs. Tan and the Art of Drag
No performance art screams louder than the art of drag.
Think big hair, extravagant make-up, flamboyant wardrobe accentuated with feathers, beadwork, and other fancy details.
While drag may appear as an exaggerated presentation on the surface, it actually serves as a platform for members of the LGBTQA+ community.
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In an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com, drag queen Mrs. Tan or Ian Jaurigue in real life, reveals how she finds and advocates purpose in the unconventional beauty of doing drag.
She explains, “When we talk about drag, I guess we need to talk about how drag goes beyond the limit of one's imagination and how it breaks different societal norms, how diverse drag is, and how colorful the craft is.
"Drag is creating an identity or persona just like how we, the members of the community, create our own. It is more than just a performance. It is more than just a speck of entertainment. It is a protest.
“Drag is a protest against your normative society. When you do drag, you think about your intent. It is a platform to give a message that people may or may not be willing to digest. So yun, I will personally use this to spark a deeper discourse, and to inspire more people,” she continues.
The art of drag, which also roots from oppression, creates a sense of realness for the LGBTQA+ members who experience discrimination and exclusion from society.
Mrs. Tan is quick to clarify that drag is not some form of mockery. “It is not a mockery as people may see it. It is a social commentary against patriarchy and societal norms like the concept of beauty and the class binary. Like for instance, in one of my performances, I used drag to portray the tragedy of the dating scene and internal homophobia.”
While she is relatively new to the scene at the time drag is gradually finding its way to the mainstream media, Mrs. Tan takes pride and satisfaction in raising public awareness on both the plights and glamour of the LGBTQA+ community by simply expressing herself.
“Drag is our fantasy world in the realm of reality. On stage, it lets you be who you want to be. It lets you communicate your stand on issues without using your actual voice. And it lets you be comfortable in your own skin free from the judgment of the society,” she says.