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With his proud parents at a competition
myLife in Drag
Karl Mascarenhas:
Dating back to the dawn of theatre, with the Kabuki in China and Japan, men have been dressing as woman on stage for hundreds of years. The word “drag” derives from the style of women’s costumes in the 18th and 19th centuries, with long, full and heavy skirts that dragged across the stage, thus men who wore them were dressed “in drag.” Nowadays, drag queens dress in the female gender role, often exaggerating certain characteristics for dramatic and satirical effect, with elaborate costumes and complex acts. Gibraltar’s Karl Anthony Mascarenhas has performed at many prestigious competitions around the world, and lets us into this fascinating world, full of sparkle, glamour and pzazz. Growing up in Gibraltar was not easy for Karl, as he was subject to bullying and tormented by his peers. “Growing up was hard for me — I was very different to other people my age, and went through very hard times coming to terms with being bullied. I decided I had to change my life, and left Gibraltar, moving to Malaga, aged 18,” he explains. Out one night enjoying Malaga’s vibrant nightlife, he noticed a pub called Paradise Club had organised a drag queen competition. “I thought about trying it out, and ended up as runner-up. The experience was unforgettable — I enjoyed myself so much that I decided to take it up professionally. That was 10 years ago — 10 years of fantastic experiences, adventures and fun,” Karl smiles. Coming up with an artistic name was also an important step for Karl. “I started using the
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name Platina, but after a lot of thought, I preferred having a name that would describe me, and my journey to becoming a drag queen. I started off with the word hysterical, as I wanted to entertain my audience through humour, and my journey to becoming a drag queen had been a confusing one, so I added these two together to become Isterika Confundida.” When becoming a drag queen, there are times when new ones turn to a drag mother — an experienced drag queen who acts as a
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...it takes me 90 minutes to do my make-up — layers upon layers to transform me into my character
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mentor and guide to a drag queen who is just starting in the business. “My partner was fortunate to have a drag mother from Portugal, who showed him how to get ready and perform, step-by-step. I just kept on watching, and got the skills from observing.” Getting ready for a performance is a long process for drag queens, as they have to make sure every detail of their appearance is perfection. “I start off by having a shower, and getting rid of any excess body hair. Then it takes me 90 minutes to do my make-up — layers upon layers to transform me into my character,” Karl explains. Karl likes to create his own ideas for costumes and performance routines, as he strives to be unique and innovative. “I like to try different styles and colours for my costumes, which I make myself, and an outfit can take
GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE • NOVEMBER 2011