8 Drag Kings That Have Us Falling to Our Knees!
Drag kings don’t get enough credit. As much as I worship and adore drag queens, I get a real special feeling deep down inside when I’m kneeling before a king. You know what I’m saying? Of course you do!
Thanks to shows Hulu’s Drag Me to Dinner and The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula, drag kings have had some light shone upon them, but not nearly enough. Drag kings put just as much effort into their craft as the queens and their acts can be just as jaw-dropping, subversive or uplifting as their counterparts. It all depends on the performer, naturally.
To try and help balance the scales, we put together a list of some amazing drag kings we think you should check out. This list is by no means exhaustive, and we invite you to tell us about any of your favorites we may have missed!
Tenderoni – Chicago
Tenderoni is a Chicago based, nationally renowned drag king known for his throwback high-energy performances and rhinestoned looks. He was the first Drag King to ever perform at Lollapalooza and was the winner of Alaska Thunderf*ck’s Drag Queen of the Year Pageant in 2021.
K. James – New York City
Brooklyn royalty K. James has made quite a name for himself in the queer arts scene and can often be seen performing with Switch n’ Play, Brooklyn’s queer drag and burlesque collective, and at Sasha Velour’s Nightgowns.
Mr. Wesley Dykes – London
A queer Nigerian-British drag king and self-described ‘friendly neighbourhood fxckboi’, Wesley performs with The Cocoa Butter Club in and around the UK.
Justin Abit – Vancouver
Justin can be seen on season 2 of Call Me Mother where he placed top 5 and is celebrated for his dramatic looks/ performances and his activism.
Myster E Mel Kiki – New York City
Named Best Drag King of 2022 by the Glam Awards, Myster can be found at many venues and parties throughout the city including Bear Naked at Phoenix Bar where he performed back in April.
King Molasses – Washington DC
King Molasses is known for his sexy and high energy looks and performances in the DC area. He is also nominated for Best Drag King at the first annual DC Drag Awards taking place on July 9.
Murray Hill – New York City
Mr. Show Business himself, Murray Hill is a New York legend currently enjoying success as the host of Hulu’s Drag Me to Dinner and as costar of Somebody Somewhere and Life & Beth. Can’t you just picture Murray cleaning up at Bear Week?! Woof!
Landon Cider – Los Angeles
Landon Cider is the season 3 winner of The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula and a Los Angeles mainstay. He is a judge on season 2 of Call Me Mother, appeared in last year’s Huluween Dragstravaganza and most recently appeared on the cover of Billboard alongside other drag legends to discuss the ongoing drag bans around the US.
