When we heard that the Drag Race franchise was sashaying its way over to Canada, we knew we were in for a treat. The wigs, the challenges, the lip-syncs… all with a healthy dose of Canadian wit. We could hardly wait.
And since BBC Three's Canada’s Drag Race kicked off, with every fabulous episode on BBC iPlayer, we have not been disappointed. These Canadian queens are serving us glamour, humour and even some pearls of wisdom. Here are eight of the best life lessons from the series...
1. Always push boundaries
Whether they’re making a memorable entrance, designing a show-stopping runway look or performing in an all-drag rap battle, the queens prove that more is always more – so either give it 100 per cent or step aside, hunty. Life is a stage, so you’d better stand out from the crowd.
2. People will talk…
…so give them something worth talking about.
“BOA has a bad rep in Toronto,” explains Scarlett BoBo when BOA, another contestant, makes her grand entrance to the show. “She’s messy and kind of annoying… but she’s super-funny.”
Your reputation is likely to precede you, but as BOA proves, it can also ensure you stand out. As all great queens know, the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.
3. Live your most authentic self
Being true to yourself, even in the face of adversity? Now that takes real charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent – things our queens have bucketloads of.
As contestant Priyanka shares with the other queens in episode three, her dad doesn't know she’s queer, and certainly doesn’t know she does drag. But has that stopped her chasing her dream on Drag Race? Absolutely not!
4. Tits and teeth, baby, tits and teeth
Episode four sees the queens coached by judge and supermodel Stacey McKenzie in the art of walking - life is a runway, after all. While some nail it, others are more funny than fierce...
One piece of advice stands out for ensuring a gag-worthy performance on the catwalk, and comes courtesy of contestant JIMBO's own mother: “Tits and teeth.” Well, if it’s good enough for JIMBO, it’s good enough for us...
5. When in doubt, style it out
In episode two’s mini challenge, the queens put their best foot forward in an impressive dance-off. Some went elegant (see Lemon’s Swan-Lake-meets-Björk number), others went a little more, er… avant-garde (BOA, we’re looking at you). But whatever your technique, you’ll always come out on top as long as you make it your own and style it out.
6. Live, laugh, love
Advice so iconic, the queens even made it the closing line of their unforgettable girl group anthem Not Sorry Aboot It during episode three’s diss track challenge.
Our Canadian queens are larger than life and really do seem to live bigger, laugh harder and love so much more than us mortal beings. So take a page out of their book and always remember your three L’s.
7. One queen’s trash is another queen’s treasure
A Drag Race highlight is seeing their queens flex their creativity and craft skills. In episode four’s runway challenge, the queens are tasked with embracing their inner Greta Thunberg and creating some eco-friendly lewks out of a huge bin of rubbish. With creativity that knows no bounds, they expertly turned the trash into sickening runway ’fits.
8. Find your family
The drag community has always been a space of love and acceptance, and the Canadian queens prove that when you find your tribe, they’ll always be there for you.
In episode one, we see Ilona Verley share her Indigenous roots, explaining to the queens her Two-Spirit identity and what it represents, while later in the series Scarlett Bobo talks about the powerful influence of her drag mother, who brought her into the House of Bobo, becoming her mentor and friend. The queens support and uplift each other, reminding us that your chosen family will always have your back.
Tune in to BBC Three’s Canada’s Drag Race, with every episode streaming now on BBC iPlayer
