“Many people keep asking me: ‘Are you going to change your gender?’ or ‘When are you going to go for surgery?’
The truth is I never want to change my gender identity at all. Most people especially in Malaysia are confused between a drag and a transgender.
For me, I love to put on my favorite makeup, dress, shoes, and other accessories then perform or just show up to any occasion like my friend’s wedding to enlighten the crowd.
When I first started few years ago, one of my family members in China was visiting us and he claimed that I was possessed by a female demon.
Not knowing better, my parents, especially my father was very worried and insisted that the family member exorcise me on a traditional Chinese superstitious ritual.
I felt ashamed and depressed after this incident because my family would rather accept the fact that I was possessed instead of accepting who I really am.
I threw away all my belongings when I was doing drag back then and it took me a year to recover from that, thanks to my friends. After a wake-up call, I decided not to just throw away everything I have worked so for and continue to be happy with who I want to be. Besides, those things ain’t cheap!
Not only I am working my way to attend shows and perform, I am also getting request from some companies to host their corporate events and I believe there is a huge potential for the drag scene in Malaysia despite controversial religious issues.
Most of my friends are very supportive of what I do and even offered their help and places for me to change and do my thing.
I find that drag is a performance that mocks masculinity, and ultimately brings light into everyone, to reveal the truth within themselves”.
Photostory by Ooi Chia Shen
Edited by Mushamir Mustafa
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(This post was first published on August 20th 2018)
