Saturday, March 15, 2008

The Search for Drag Queens in Singapore!

Want to get a peek into the hangouts of many drag queens? Here's a list of venues where you can actually find drag queens compiled for anyone who would like to find out more about drag queens!

Historical venues:

Bugis street

One of Singapore's most famous tourist meccas since the 1950s, renowned internationally for its nightly parade of flamboyantly-dressed transwomen, Bugis Street attracted hordes of Caucasian gawkers who had never witnessed Asian queens in full regalia! The transwomen would tease, cajole or sit on a visitor's lap and pose for a fee. In the mid-1980s, nightly transgender sex bazaar culture gave way to urban development and the consruction of MRT. The development marked the end of a colourful and unique era in Sinagpore.

Boom boom room

Boom boom room was a drag queen cabaret night club. It was initially located at bugis street, after which it was then relocated at Far East Square. Boom boom room is a place you must go if you want to experience the drag culture in Singapore! This was also where our Singapore queen of the queen Kumar performed years ago! Unfortunately, Boom boom room had closed for good after 12 years of providing entertainment, mainly because of shows were getting stale, drag queens were getting old and poor location at Far East Square. Kumar, the host and owner of Boom boom room then shifted to Gold Dust.

(with courtesy of http://www.sgwiki.com/wiki/Singapore_transgender_culture)

Contemporary venues:

Changi Village

Drag queens and transwomen can be found along the stretches of road at Changi village! Based on personal experience, I think they look really beautiful! In fact, they are prettier than lots of real women out there! Changi village is the place where STRAIGHT men would like to visit to ogle at transwomen or drag queens. Guys would really have to be careful! According to my father, they approach every men who appear there. My father was approached as well!


Gold Dust

Located on level 2 of the rear block of Orchard Towers along Orchard Road it is Singapore's second drag queen cabaret night club. One of the owners of Gold Dust is actually famous drag queen Kumar. Gold Dust is actually targeted at high end consumers with entrance fee (inclusive of 1 drink) priced at $22 and $28 during weekdays and weekends respectively. One of the difference between Gold Dust and Boom boom room is, Gold Dust have included female dancers in their performance as well while Boom boom room only have male dancers.

(picture with courtesy of http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/5f284/16d27f/5/)


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References:

  1. http://www.yawningbread.org/guest_2005/guw-101.htm
  2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender_people_in_Singapore
  3. http://sg.ksdb.com/865416.page
  4. http://www.sgwiki.com/wiki/Singapore_transgender_culture
  5. http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/5f284/16d27f/5/

Thursday, March 13, 2008

References

References

Iron Ladies, http://www.greencine.com/webCatalog?id=23876

History of drag, http://www.jonno.com/words/history_of_drag.html

Iron Ladies, http://www.goldenscene.com/ironladies/reviews/questions.html

Thailand's "Women of the Second Kind", http://www.cpamedia.com/culture/thailand_kathoey/

Venue of drag queens in Thailand, http://guides.hotelbook.com/sisp/index.htm?fx=event&event_id=31927

Amazing Philippines Beauties contest, http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/transvestite-pageants/

Boys' Night Out (Time Magazine), http://www.yawningbread.org/apdx_2001/imp-084.htm

Trevvy's article on Bernice, http://www.trevvy.com/scoops/article.php?a_id=51&c_id=3

Definitions of Drag queens, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drag_queen

Singapore's Drag Queen, Kumar, http://www.abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=4263016&page=1

Jack Neo, Liang XiMei and Liang PoPo, http://www.mediacorpsingapore.com/001_celebs/2000/features/20000712_1.htm

Images in slideshow on Introduction page:
http://english.people.com.cn/200602/25/images/022501.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2313/1538544426_e2d7263050_m.jpg
http://travel.timesonline.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00103/fhsb_103406a.jpg
http://www.beat-management.com/fa_myspace/photos3.jpg
http://www.conceptualevent.com/Dee.jpg
http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/916/50442898.JPG
http://www.globalgayz.com/images/bk001-4.jpg
http://www.tws.com.sg/singapore/sin_assets/whats-on/performances/gold-revue.jpg

Video by NTU Students: Adams in Heels

The Closet

The closet would simply refer to undisclosed sexual behaviour or sexual orientation. They have the habit of dressing up in private away from everyone. That would mean dressing up for their own pleasure. Most the closet cross dressers do not want to reaveal their habits to others for the fear of being mocked at. And cross dressing in this manner allows them to hide their homosexuality behaviour. Some of the closet cross dresser may not be gay. They just like to cross dress for their own sexual pleasures. In certain cases, or rather most cases, it would not be easy to detect a person who is a closet cross dresser as they behave like a normal person.

Many of the closet cross dressers do not have a specific reason why they behave in such a way. Some might be due to the emotion sexual abuse in the past, and others is the act of cross dressing gives them a sense of sexual satisfaction.

People will think that closet cross dressing is something that is not normal and wrong. But, to those closet cross dressing is something that gives them the pleasures. On top of that, they feel the need for them to cross dress. Most of the closet cross dressers find it hard to stop once they embark on this journey.In the society, such a behaviour is definitely not encouraged or even accepted.

Reference from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_closet

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Your Gateway to Becoming a Drag Queen - Online Shop for Essentials for Drag Queen

After seeing a series of videos teaching the ways of being a drag queen. In this last installment, we will give you a website where essential items for the dressing up is given. (Shop's URL: http://www.drag-queen.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=D)

In this website, there are a range of products from clothing to shoes to hormones to even breast....

One very interesting feature of the website is the different froms of breast and hormones offered.

Some interesting products found in the website:
1. Siliocn breast forms with nipples. Available in chest sizes 32-44" and cup sizes B-DD.


2. A bra which uses the skin of the wearer to create cleavage. This bra is worn under a regualr bra with silicon enhancement.



3. The male genetial parts are hidden with this undergrament to hide any traces of musculinity.


Photos courtesey of: http://www.drag-queen.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=D

Drag Queen VS Transsexual

Is all drag queens a transsexual? This is the question that everybody always ask when they see a drag queen. The video here talks about drag kings and drag queen by Calpernia Addams, who is a transsexual.


VideoJug: Drag Queens And Drag Kings

Your Gateway to Becoming a Drag Queen - How to Act Like a Woman

Physical appearance, check. What's more left to being a drag queen? The guesture and movement. This videos will teaches you how to act like a woman. The way to walk, sit and talk.


How To Act Like A Woman

Whether you masquerade at midnight as a woman in your wife's clothes, you have a secret, burning desire to sing Cher's "If I Could Turn Back Time" on stage, or you want to really strut your stuff around town as a full time woman- then VideoJug's Fabulous Fairy Godmother is here to help make sure that your voice or mannerisms don't give you away.

Step 1: Walk The Walk
If there's too much of a lilt in your step… you'll look comical, not sexy. Watch women walk. They're more fluid than men. They glide. Women also take shorter steps. High heels help. They add a little shimmy to your strut. Don't exaggerate the movement.

Step 2: Speak Up
Falsetto a dead give-away. Instead… concentrate on pitch, resonance and annunciation. Pick a pitch just a little higher than your normal voice. Resonance is the timbre in your voice. Male voices have a lower resonance. Find the right one by speaking in the highest falsetto you can. Then find the lowest pitch in that range. Annunciation is the pace of your speech. Men tend to be more clipped. Women tend to curve and soften their speech.

Step 3: Let's Get Physical
80% of communication is nonverbal. Gestures. Movements. Expressions. Feminine women tend to use their hands when they talk. They're more animated with their facial expressions. Just don't overdo it. When standing, place your feet closer together. Shoulders back. When sitting, don't plop down like a guy would. Gently, dear. Practice makes perfect! Watch yourself in a mirror … or have a friend observe.

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ * Vidoes and instructions are from www.videojug.com

Your Gateway to Becoming a Drag Queen - How to Wear a Drag Queen Wig

Hair and makeup is a must for every girl when they are attending any sort of function. This would also include the drag queens. After we are done with our makeup, we will move on to the hair. This video will teach you how to wear a wig and wear it with style.


How To Wear A Drag Queen Wig


VideoJug's Fabulous Fairy Godmother is here to take you from shy boy to gorgeous girl with just a wig!

Step 1: The Wig Cap
There are three basic kinds of wigs. There's the standard cap-which is the least expensive. Because it's machine sewed, it can look a little like Barbie's hair. Next is the capless wig. Basically, it's like rows of extensions with wide gaps in between. Finally… monofilament caps. Expensive? Naturally! Especially if you go for human hair instead of synthetic.

Step 2: Size Matters
To figure out your wig cap size, measure three ways. First, from ear to ear. Next, from hairline to nape of neck. Finally, all the way around your head from ear to ear.

Step 3: Determine Your Style
For round faces, choose wigs with height. Avoid styles that widen your face. Pick styles with wispy sides to hide your cheeks and narrow your face. For square faces, you will also need height. Avoid widening your face with wide hairstyles-duh. But do choose a curly or wavy texture. Oval faces look great in any style-just like me!

Step 4: Color Me Fine
Pick a shade close to your natural color. Match your brows to your wig, and keep your skin tone in mind. It all needs to blend.

Step 5: Get Your Hair On
Place your wig on from front to back. Bend forward and do the Charlie's Angels hair flip. Pull down the front so that it just covers your hairline. Then pull down your wig at the sides of your ears.

Step 6: Lock It Down
Hide a few bobby pins on the side and the back of your wig to feel secure…

☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★ * Vidoes and instructions are from www.videojug.com