First of all, a belated congratulations to our reigning Supermonster,
@asiaconsent ! You are a star and deserve every good thing that comes your way! And
@jamesmajesty , you are a force of an artist and seeing you on tv again was a total joy. Both of you are so talented and have made Portland very proud!! 👏
This post is complicated to write- it’s part celebration, but I also need to address something troubling me. I want to emphasize, I hold ZERO hard feelings toward Asia or Majesty, this is a critique of the producers of
@bouletbrothersdragula .
To the point- I made these looks. As the show aired, I learned it’s in the contestants’ contracts that they CANNOT credit or tag the designers in their posts. This is to create the illusion that they make everything themselves on the show.
While Asia deserves an Emmy for this moment, is the audience really convinced?
I felt so lucky working with the first Portland contestants on a drag show, creating FIVE complete looks for one season. For those unfamiliar with the turnaround to get ready for these shows, that’s a crazy amount of work (and I’m proud to have pulled it off)
For a show that prides itself on being punk, this is phony as fuck and damaging to independent designers just trying to survive. What’s the harm in acknowledging that drag artists sometimes work with designers? And what’s more punk than two queer artists in community together collaborating on subversive drag looks?
I am self-taught and began making costumes six years ago when I started doing drag, before this I was a line cook. I am a disabled/sick person (MS) and operate as a one-person show, mostly out of my bedroom. Also, making a living as an artist is hard 🙃 I don’t seek pity; just giving context for how significant every opportunity is to me and how hard I’ve hustled.
Intentional obscuring of my labor is exploitative and wrong. It is harmful to me, my career, and wellbeing.
I wish I could’ve celebrated alongside Asia, Majesty, and all of Portland during the finale. If you’re currently auditioning for Dragula, I’ll hold off on collaborating until after filming wraps up and choose work where my art will get the credit it deserves.
