Coronavirus forces would-be queens to hold their own drag balls at home – and the category is social distancing
TikTok users created quarantine ball looks using blankets, toilet roll and pillows. (officiallydivinity/ TikTok)
There are two kinds of people in the world, when it comes to social distancing; those who wear pyjamas, and those who wear real clothes.
Now, a new TikTok trend has combined the best of both worlds, with would-be drag queens creating coronavirus quarantine looks and holding their own socially distanced drag balls.
Looks by TikTok user hwrri_02 included “blanket couture”, “bed time eleganza” and “bog roll extravaganza”, while officiallydivinity used props like a furry pillow, a glass of wine and Reese’s peanut butter cups.
@hwrri_02##tiktoktraditions challenge accepted yalls turn♬ CATEGORY IS… – jordandoww
@officiallydivinityWelcome to the ball hunty ##sidehustle ##distancedance ##categoryis ##drag ##lgbtq ##bipride♬ CATEGORY IS… – jordandoww
Superdevin64 created a drag persona, “Quarantina Turner”, for his quaran-queen looks and bmccann14 managed to make four creative outfits using only blankets.
@superdevin64Category is: SOCIAL DISTANCING @rupaulsdragrace ##happyathome ##moodboost ##socialdistancing ##fyp ##foryoupage ##gayguy ##lgbtq♬ CATEGORY IS… – jordandoww
@bmccann14category is…quarantine ball ##fyp ##foryou♬ CATEGORY IS… – jordandoww
User whatstheteakeekee filmed their makeshift drag ball outside, but only in their garden, with accessories including a large pack of toilet roll as a handbag.
Crazytheatreteacher’s ball featured hand sanitiser, disinfectant spray, a hazmat suit and a feather boa.
@whatstheteakeekeeCatogory is… ##fyp ##foryoupage ##foryou ##corona ##bordom♬ CATEGORY IS… – jordandoww
@crazytheatreteacherCategory is… ##socialdistancing ##fyp ##foryou ##foryoupage ##dance ##teacher ##theatre ##distancedance ##rupaul ##quarantine♬ CATEGORY IS… – jordandoww
While these would-be queens are just having fun, professional drag queens are struggling to make money during the coronavirus pandemic as venues close their doors.
Latrice Royale, who first appeared on season four of RuPaul’s Drag Race, told Reuters: “It’s really scary because I’m a small business as well as an entertainer.”
Drag performers are having to adapt, and have been cheering up audiences stuck in isolation with live streamed digital drag shows.
