Arizona Brandy learned about drag from a YouTube recommendation that included Jiggly Caliente. Her casual curiosity quickly developed into a desire to leave her mark on the drag world after she streamed “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 4 thanks to just one click.
She began her quest by participating in competitions anywhere she could, on little stages and in packed backrooms. She eventually sought safety behind the walls and on the stages of Rapture in Cubao and Chelou in Malate.
She was unaware that these early steps would mark the beginning of a journey that would take her well beyond Metro Manila’s nightlife.
When Arizona debuted on television in the second season of “Drag Race Philippines,” she opened a new chapter in her life by showcasing her camp, charisma, and undeniable energy to the audience. From there, she developed her chaotic genius to ever-higher levels with “Slaysian Royale,” gaining notoriety and a steadily expanding fan base.
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
It has been sixteen years since the debut of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” which brought drag into the mainstream and changed the face of LGBT entertainment. It made its way to the Philippines in 2021 when World of Wonder announced that it was looking for the first Pinay drag superstar with the launch of “Drag Race Philippines.” This caused a stir in the local drag scene, and Arizona was among those who felt an immediate push.
Arizona decided she wanted to be a part of the forthcoming franchise as soon as she learned about it. But fate had other ideas. Rather of viewing her failure to make the cut of the first season as a rejection, she saw it as a sign of redirection, and she went on to make it to the second season.
Arizona had two goals going into the second season: to stand up for her “Royalties” sisters and to tell the tales of all the local drag performers that work tirelessly for their passion. Her “Royalties” sisters were more than simply friends; they were the queens who supported her during her drag career and seen her develop, falter, climb, and change.
They had big dreams, small stages, long nights, and dressing rooms in common. These sisters watched, shaped, or supported many of Arizona’s pivotal moments in drag, so it is all the more significant for her to represent them on a global stage.
