Drag Queens Show Off Dual Identities
Jessica Payge Daye
Check out a modern day Dr. Jekyll and
Mr. Hyde! Jessica Payge Daye took a razor to only part of his face to
achieve his half-drag look for the Leland Bobbe portrait. It also looks
like he shaved only half his chest to fully demonstrate his double
personality.
Crystal Demure
These drag queens aren't afraid to
showcase their dual identities, and they're getting a little help thanks
to New York photographer Leland Bobbe. In a project entitled "Half-Drag
... A Different Kind of Beauty," Bobbe sets out to capture both the
female and male sides of New York City drag queens, having his subjects
pose only halfway in drag. Check out the amazing series of photos ...
With half of his face done up in dramatic makeup and the other half
showing off his natural-born male state, Crystal Demure poses for the
photographer to showcase what's underneath his drag queen persona.
Vivienne Pinay
Capturing drag queens, like the fiery
Vivienne Pinay, in their dual state allowed the photographer to "explore
the cross over between males and females and to break down the physical
barriers that separate them," he said.
Vikki Villianese
Vikki Villianese is one heck of a
chameleon. With just a little hair and makeup, the drag queen transforms
into a purple-haired, green-eyed prima donna!
Epiphany Get Paid
No editing here! Though it may look
like each photo is made up of two images digitally placed together, the
portraits are actually composed in front of the camera, making the
distinction between the drag queens' male and alter-ego female sides all
the more impressive. The men, including Epiphany Get Paid, also did
their own transformative makeup for the shoot.
Miss Fame
"Through the power of hair and makeup these men
are able to completely transform themselves and find their female side
while showing their male side simultaneously," said Leland Bobbe. In
some cases, the makeup went even beyond the face. Drag queen Miss Fame
went all out in silver body makeup on a portion of his chest.
Heidi Glum
Is Heidi Glum trying to channel the "Project
Runway" star? With his ironically chosen moniker, this drag queen went
into full-on supermodel mode, finishing off his half-diva half-average
Joe look with a sheer black glove.
Kittin Withawhip
Kittin Withawhip looks like he could be
a glamorous drag queen one minute, and a regular looking man walking
the streets of New York City the next.
Magnolia Applebottom
Though a bespectacled Magnolia
Aplpebottom poses for the portrait in minimal makeup -- at least
compared to the other drag queens -- the point that photographer Bobbe
tries to make is still evident. "[The photos] in turn questions the
normative ideas about gender and gender fluidity," Bobbe said in his
artist statement about the project.
Maddelyne Hatter
This is one drag queen diva! Maddelyne
Hatter's male and female sides are so extreme, it's hard to comprehend
that one person could actually look so different.
Pattaya
Working it for the lens sporting lengthy gold nail claws, drag queen Pattaya hams it up in his half-drag photo.
Roxy Brooks
The half-drag series isn't the only piece of
work that Bobbe has been recognized for. The native New Yorker has been
working as a professional photographer for over 30 years and has won
countless photography awards in recent years. Here, Roxy Brooks goes
heavy on the pink eye shadow for his half-drag portrait.
Sherry Vine
The "Half-Drag ... A Different Kind of
Beauty" project has been garnering a lot of attention lately, with
Leland Bobbe's work going viral. The portraits, like this one of Sherry
Vine, have now appeared on thousands of blogs, websites and online
magazines.
Sabel Scities
Bobbe first came up with his idea after
meeting drag queen Sabel Scities at a carnival-themed Workbook party.
This shot was the first in his series of half-drag photos, and the
response to the photo caused the photographer to delve further into the
idea. "I got great feedback on the image so I decided to reach out to
other drag queens using Facebook as my main means of communication," he
wrote on his blog.
Azraea
Drag queens are known for their over-the-top
complexions and personalities. As his blue lipstick and yellow-tinted
hair can attest to, Azraea is a natural when it comes to dressing up,
though he did leave his beard and hairy chest intact.
