Interview - Lola McQueen
Lola McQueen, welcome beautiful to Spill the Tea. Kicking things off how did you get into Drag?
I played many years in a deaf theatre company, because I moved out of the city where I lived before it was not possible to play anymore and then I went to a club where i saw some drag queens for the first time and i was amazed about those creatures! But it took many years to realise i wanna become a Drag and find the guts to do it!
How did you choose your Drag name?
I knew I wanna be a special Drag Queen, my drag mom Tchooky Harajuku was a special Drag Queen in Belgium, we have a lot of show performers and fishy queens but my drag mom was a true Club Kid and I wanna do something in between! My boyname is Alexander and when I was looking for dresses I found always my inspiration in Alexander McQueen his designs so I was for sure I would pick his last name! I choose for Lola because I wanna pick a name that is a little bit naughty but still classy! Even Barry Manilow sings in his song, "Her name was Lola, She was a showgirl”, and I am a true showgirl!
How would you describe your Drag style?
I would say, when i perform I try to be commercial because I work in a nightclub and when I work together with other show groups as special guest, the audience love the commercial things! BUT when I can go to a red carpet event my looks are very fashion! I love to try some special looks and try to wear some “haute couture” dresses! In Belgium a lot people now my about my fashionstyle… And when I perform I like to give a reveal after reveal!
What emoji describes your Drag?
I would say the princess emoji 👸
What does being a Drag Queen mean to you?
It means that I am a performer and artist but also a role model for a lot of young LGBTQ people who doesn’t have the confidence yet to be theirselves! I’m confident enough to to walk as a Drag Queen on the street! I’m proud of who I am and I have a strong personality! But i’m also a Drag Queen who’s an activist! I’m ready to fight for my rights and speak out loud! Because of my drag I found more confidence to speak out loud!
What is your go to Lip Sync song?
That’s a difficult one! I love to lipsync an uptempo song but I can put all my emotions in a very beautiful ballade and it’s difficult to keep the attention for 3 a for 4 minutes in a ballade! So I think I go for “This Is Me” from the greatest showman.
“When you are a member of the deaf community you can see we are proud of our identity”
Image copyrights @dpgmedia
Some people may recognise you from Belgium’s Got Talent. What made you want to audition for the show?
There was an event in the cultural house in antwerp and I asked them, can I also perform at the show because I believed I could do something magical, but they say, we don’t think you have enough talent… also a few months later I “lost” the pageant Miss Travesty Belgium 2019, I was the runner up…. And something inside of me wants to show the what I really can do! The auditions of Belgium’s Got Talent had place in that cultural house in antwerp so I though, why not, try to go to the auditions of belgium’s got talent and see… I got the golden buzzer, most magical moment ever, but the most beautiful moment was my liveshow, where I was performing with a choir (all members of the deaf community) of 36 people and my sister besides me! I really care this for the rest of my life!
During your audition you revealed that you are a deaf. Were you born deaf or did you lose it as you grew up?
I’m born hard of hearing, when I was born I had a hearing loss of 50db (decibel) on both ears, when I grew up, my hearing loss went bad and now I have a hearing loss of 80-85 db, when you have 90db hearing loss you are deaf.
What do you think is the biggest misconception of someone who is deaf?
That they are stupid! We’re not stupid, we can do anything except hear… When you are a member of the deaf community you can see we are proud of our identity, I also have a deaf family so I never hear from them, you can’t do that because you are deaf, they say, work harder because you are worth it! While a lot of hearing people told me, I think you are not capable to do it because i’m deaf! Never underestimate a deaf person, even a hearing person!
However, this didn’t stop you from becoming a Drag Queen. What do you find is the hardest thing about being a deaf Drag Queen?
The hardest thing is the fact I have to lip-sync on time! It works very well but i have to work extra! A lot of people don’t see the work I put in my songs to learn the timing and sometimes I have bad luck that the music box in the club or pub is not perfect for me and then I think sometimes, DAMN!!! But it makes me stronger and unique… and when i’m not on time with my lipsync, i have an excuse… hahaha
You didn’t let this stop you and you auditioned for Belgium’s Got Talent, what made you want to apply for the show?
I really wanna show the world that also deaf people can do whatever they want! I always believed in myself and I work hard… You need talent but you also need hard work and luck!
On your audition you blew the judges away and received the golden buzzer! How did that feel?
Magical! I touched them already before my act with the words that people never have to decide what I can do, the only person who can do that is ME! and then I brought the perfect act where I reveal another dress under my beautiful blue gown they were blown away and I have belief that they would love it!
The hardest thing on BGT was, I got an golden buzzer, I was so proud and then i had to shut up for 4 months… but it felt amazing and then i got all the love from the viewers at home because they also gave to the golden buzzer!
But the most thing i’m proud of my audition is the support I got from my parents! they were part of the audience and they looked at my very proud! that’s more worth then any golden buzzer! the fact they support me so hard!
Flash forward to a world of Covid19, how has it affected how you do Drag?
I lost a lot of bookings like a lot of Drag Queens… It’s really a hard time but it makes me also creative… I’m thinking how can I work from home, how can i stay in the picture and i’m still working on those projects! So I invested in a home studio and i’m learning and trying to make some cool video’s for my social media!
Image copyright left to right - Noortje Palmers / Bob Reijinders / Ake van der Velden
What one other Queen deserves a shout out from you?
We have a lot of talents in Belgium, they are truly amazing! It’s hard to say one name so i will say 3 people… Danity Grace, a real showgirl with the perfect moves and a heart of gold! Vanessa Van Cartier who won Miss Continental last year as first european Queen! A true inspiration for me and the last one, La Tash, She grew so much and is now one of the best stand-up/comedy dragqueen in Belgium
Any last shout outs?
I only wanna say! Work hard and believe in yourself! And thank you for this interview!
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