Life is a Drag by Aardenburg & De Vries

Jacqueline Aardenburg and Rosanne de Vries are a photographers duo based in Amsterdam. Their motto? Extraordinary people color the world. In this project Aardenburg & De Vries wanted to photograph drag queens in a positive energetic celebration way. Why? Being different, for example being gay, is not always easy. People who do drag are not hiding away but show themselves in the spotlight. It is great and also necessary to increase the acceptance of people who do not fit the social norm.

Name: Boudewijn
Drag Name: Beau Rouge
First Time drag: Mid-2014
Work / Profession: Account manager Shell
About yourself: Enthusiastic! Out of the Box!

Why did you start drag in the first place?
From a mood of non-conformism, basically I just wanted to jump out of my own skin and be someone totally different who does things I would never do myself.

What did it change for you in your daily life?
Well, if in a serious meeting or sales talk I feel stronger. Nobody knows about my drag. They all think I am this regular serious guy. But I am not and I dare to express myself in a way I am very proud of. Because it takes a lot of balls to be a woman!

What is the best thing about being a drag queen?
I guess that would be the great people I met during the last 2 years. Creative, very different opposed to my daily life friends, they give me energy, make me laugh, sometimes frustrate me in a good way, they have taught me to think out of EVERY box and just respect the person no matter what they look like. Drag contributes in a positive way to my life and personality every single day.

One fun fact / fun story that happened as a drag queen
Wow lots of fun facts… The strangest thing I experienced in 18 months of doing drag was a drunk English guy who, as he told me later, out of admiration for my drag, tried to keep me in a bar when I was leaving and therefor pulled my hair from behind when I was walking away. It is glued to my skin very tight and that wig costs 250 euros. So instinctively I turned around and punched him on the cheek, hard. He fell down and later came to apologize and explained he just wanted to keep me there. Damn strange way of showing that! Probably English humor? Just never touch a girls hair, he learned that the hard way.

Name: Maarten
Drag Name: Eevee Poison
First Time drag: A drag night hosted by Lady galore in the Bodytalk in Utrecht
Work / Profession: Hairstylist in training
About yourself: Creative, Inquisitive, Spontaneous and Cheerful!

Why did you start drag in the first place?
Because I like the transformation from beginning till end. The art of making a whole new person with only makeup is so fascinating!

What did it change for you in your daily life?
After a few years I was way more confident. I actually discovered it quite recently when I was thinking back at the first time I was trying to be a Queen. Nowadays I’ve learned you can be proud of who you are.

What is the best thing about being a drag queen?
The fun with all the new people you meet. At the moment most of my friends are also known in the drag world. I love spending time with them!

One fun fact / fun story that happened as a drag queen
Last summer, Roxy Diamond and myself had to host a party in a fort underground. It was very warm that day. (We were basically melting) and I said: I’ve always wanted to swim in drag. Back home, in the middle of the night we went to a river and jumped in. That’s how we learned we’ve got the best waterproof mascara ever!

Name: George
Drag Name: Mizz Take
First Time drag: July 11, 2016 Fancy Friday at Queers Cafe
Work / Profession: Student Communication
About yourself: I really like cooking and eating.  I make all my own drag clothes. Originally from Curacao

Why did you start drag in the first place?
Last year I went to a couple of Roxy Diamond’s shows and we became friends, I told her I was obsessed with drag and she invited me to come to a show she hosted at queers cafe in Amsterdam and I said yes.. but I didn’t realize that she meant com and perform,  so after she asked how it was going with preparations I understood I was also gonna be performing, I had a week to practice!  It went very well, and I haven’t looked back.

What did it change for you in your daily life?
The amount money I spend on makeup and fabric to make new outfits hahahah.. and I can do makeup now (barely). I can sew and I’m learning so many new skills all the time.

What is the best thing about being a drag queen?
You get to dress up and be pretty, people really react to it amazingly. You kind of have a mask on so you can basically say anything that comes to mind. And people actually appreciate it when your a little sassy.

One fun fact / fun story that happened as a drag queen
Everytime I perform in Utrecht I go on the bike in full drag, with heels, hair and all! It’s kind of a crazy sight.

Name: Sander
Drag Name: Roxy Diamond
First Time drag: 2.5 years ago
Work / Profession:  Business analyst Rabobank
About yourself: Host Fancy Friday at Queers Cafe. Like to paint, my face is my canvas.

Why did you start drag in the first place?
I started drag because I lost a bet. Because I lost I had to perform on a stage during Midzomergracht Festival in Utrecht. My first performance ever in front of 300 visitors. It was scary and almost fun. There I met Lady Galore and she motivated me to continue doing drag and I did!

What did it change for you in your daily life?
Before I started performing I was not a big fan of being in the center of attention. I learned to be more confident about myself.

What is the best thing about being a drag queen?
The best thing is I get to go to parties as a “special” guest and meet all kinds of beautiful and interesting people.

One fun fact / fun story that happened as a drag queen
Me and my dragsister Eevee Poison do a lot of gigs together. Last summer we went home after a gig and Eevee told me she really wants to go swimming in full drag once… So I decided we should go midnight swimming in drag. I live near the Vecht in Utrecht so we went for a swim! I was surprised to see my make-up stayed on my face after diving in the water.


Name: Pieter
Drag Name:  Patty Pam-Pam
First Time drag:  2.5 years ago during gay pride (already during  Carnival, but that is not “drag”)
Work / Profession: Costume designer
About yourself: Host at Queers Fancy Friday. Always busy, acting through my life, I enjoy everything

Why did you start drag in the first place?
My first time in Drag was during carnaval, which is a big event at my home area. After a few times dressing up as a woman, I discovered the art of Drag.

What did it change for you in your daily life?
The biggest change is the huge amount of powder, dresses and wigs Which are always around in my living. And of course a lot of crazy stories all my friends have to deal with.

What is the best thing about being a drag queen?
The chances to express yourself in so many ways. And the diversity of locations you get in to during gigs.

One fun fact / fun story that happened as a drag queen
Once I was booked together with Lady Galore, Admira Thunderpussy, Nomai, to perform in a nightclub in Paris. We all had to perform 1 song, but just a day before the gig, the organisation came up with the idea to do just 30 seconds on stage. So we went to Paris, stayed in a luxurious hotel for 2 nights, enjoyed our stay at the VIP area and Where on stage for only half a minute. Crazy!

Contact:

Instagram: @aardenburg_devries
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aardenburgdevries@gmail.com