A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on May 17, 2018, on page 3.
BEIRUT: “I left the house in full makeup—face beat to the gods!” 25 year-old designer and animal
rights activist Joe exclaims, recalling the night of his first drag performance. He describes how
his drag persona, Narcissa (from house of Garçon), had been foreshadowed throughout his life
saying, “I’ve always liked to dress up as a woman. I used to wear my mother’s skirts, tops and
heels without her knowing.” Joe discussed the awkwardness of growing up in a conservative
Christian family where he said deviating from the norm is often looked down upon. “It’s taboo”,
he went on, talking about the parallels in the wider Lebanese society, saying, “Nothing in this
country tells you that you can be whatever you want, sadly.”
Yet, Narcissa puts her stiletto-heeled foot down and is set on extravagantly resisting
society’s rules. She aims to inspire others with her unabashed deviance and impress
aesthetically. She does so, mesmerizing the crowd, in an enchanting spectacle of
entertainment. Joe adds, “When you look at Narcissa, you’re going to be petrified by her
beauty… she has a strong personality and she’s a fiery redhead.” He adds, “[and] of course
she’s Lebanese.”
In Beirut, drag-enthusiasts will say the art form has gained more traction over the years.
Spurred on by reality T.V. shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and increased exposure on social
media, drag has finally started blooming in a non-Western context. Though some looks may
have been inspired by American or European drag models, gone are the days where the West
is seen as the absolute pinnacle of prestige.
According to 24-year old Zyad, there is an oversaturation of Eurocentric drag and
believes that it’s important to gain inspiration from Arabic styles as well. His queen persona,
Zuhal—who he describes as glamorous and beautiful yet sharp and sarcastic—is a focus on
Arabic culture and what he calls “Arab drag.” Zuhal would like to achieve stunning Arabic
makeup and outfits, interpret and lip-sync to Arabic songs, and make an effort to speak and
write in Arabic exclusively. Zyad shares that he wants to shift away from popular drag concepts
and doesn’t feel the need comply with Western standards. “I’m working on my own aesthetic.”
The striking 21 year-old Latiza Bombé, a notable queen of two years characterized by
her black lipstick and ever-changing hair, also known as waiter and business student Mostafa
emphasizes the versatility of drag.“Everyone presents a different kind of drag” he says. He likes
to present what he calls the “gross yet glamorous” parts of drag and asserts a queen should feel
free to express themselves whether they’re more performance-oriented, look-oriented, or just
simply enigmatic. Mostafa notes the fulfillment of being able to watch several unique queens
perform, each with their own styles and crowds. He encourages queens to celebrate their
dazzling diversity.
There is no uniform profile for a drag queen, as each presents a different set of skills and
characteristics. As self-described cat and queen-in-training Imad explains, some are talented
singers, dancers, or actors, while others excel at makeup and sewing, or even possess a unique
body type or sense of humor. Imad’s alter-ego is a called Mloukhiyyé and they say that she is
not any more or less of themself. “[I’m] enabling my own persona to be expressed in ways that
aren’t usually approved by the heteronormative sphere.”
The 24 year-old says Mloukhiyyé aligns herself with more modern drag trends where
one’s ensemble isn’t required to be overly alluring and traditionally female-focused.
“Contemporary drag could be anything outside of the box” they say, “it’s not necessarily about
looking like a woman.” Since the early 2000s — when Lebanese pop-diva impersonator Bassem
Feghali found mainstream success, subtly bringing drag to the forefront — Imad claims that
times have changed. They say, with time, we should expect to see a lot more strides in drag
such as the acceptance and promotion of female-assigned drag queens like renowned
American drag king Landon Cider.
Though the drag world in Beirut is still freshly blossoming, many queens say, it’s already
diverse enough to where it’s hard to generalize all of the city’s distinct patrons and participants.
“There are lots of intersections and spaces where people from different understandings,
sexualites and genders can spend time in here” Imad remarks. The drag community specifically,
has now been able to grow out of “that stereotype of being just for gay men and is becoming a
platform for queer women, transpeople, non-binary people, bisexual people, etc.” they continue.
As for how they personally got involved in Beirut’s drag scene, Imad says Mloukhiyyé really
started sprouting after a workshop given by “half-human half-mannequin” Hans Harling.
25 year-old costume designer by day and drag queen by night, Harling provided her
workshop attendees with makeup, Her handmade headpieces, and a space to perform in their
completed looks during Beirut Pride Week. In the beginning, Harling states it was hard to get a
hold of drag supplies. However, this absence provoked her to make her own pieces as well as
make a name for herself. Her shop is called Moonstone Design House and is in the Burj
Hammoud neighborhood of Beirut. “I do my best to provide [those interested in drag] with
whatever they need” she says.
Noting her love of glam, glitter, magic, and “a pinch of bitchiness,” Harling affirms there’s
no wrong way to display drag and insists that the community should be communal and caring.
“The best part is,” she says, “no one is competition...everyone knows and supports everyone.”
While Beirut’s drag community is cooperative and encouraging, it remains to be seen
whether or not the same sentiment will ring true for it in Lebanese society at large.