Las Vegas drag queen competes on national stage in MTV’s Ru Paul’s Drag Race
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Some may see it as fun or funny. Others think it’s a joke. However, for some, dressing in drag can be a life-changing experience.
Many of the performers are made famous by the Emmy-award-winning competition show on MTV, Ru Paul’s Drag Race. For one local, the rise to the national stage was just the beginning of an already arduous journey.
It’s Sunday morning. The lights are on. The tables are ready. Gipsy is open for Ultra Brunch with the hottest drag stars and the performers are almost ready to take the stage. However, it’s a lengthy transformation becoming Mirage.
Mirage was on season 16 of Ru Paul’s Drag Race. A Las Vegas local with something to prove after Anetra, also a Las Vegas Drag Queen, placed second in season 15.
“If you’re going to come this far, knock it out of the park,” Mirage said.
As for the stage name?
“I thought like a deserty [sic] Mirage was kind of like, uh, also you know, they look much better from far away and you get close and you’re like oh, that was not what I thought it was,” Mirage added.
Mirage turned heads on the show with a signature move. A heel clack.
“Oh, I think that was a Vegas thing,” Mirage said.
Drawing inspiration from Las Vegas, Mirage said the whole point of drag is to have fun.
“It is goofy. It’s funny. It’s supposed to be lighthearted.” Mirage added, “Yes, you want to take it seriously. But, how can you take this too seriously?”
It hasn’t been an easy path to success.
“I never thought this was what I was going to be doing with my life, in a million years, at all,” Mirage said. “I tried hair and makeup and that kind of got boring,” Mirage added. “I tried dancing. I started too late. I was a bit too old. “I don’t know, I kind of mixed it all together and do everything.”
Mirage was eliminated early on in the season but didn’t go home empty-handed. Mirage said it was a learning experience.
“Getting to live your dream and then getting sent home and having that crazy moment,” Mirage said. “That was my biggest fear and I survived.”
As for what’s next, Mirage said, (this is) “Just the beginning. A platform. A springboard if you will. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
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