Long Live the Kings!
A photographic journey into the art and identity of drag kings.
July is Pride Month and I think this is the right occasion to talk about a project I started in winter 2024 to spread the voice about the drag king community: Long live the kings!
If you are not familiar with the term drag king, you are not alone. Queens got a lot of popularity thanks to movies, shows, brunches, everyone knows the term drag queen, but when we switch to kings, the reality is that the voice is not so loud (but very proud).
What is a drag king?
Drag King is a person, a performer artist, that dress up in masculine drag and personifies male gender stereotypes. For many performers, drag is a way to explore gender identity, challenge societal norms, and express themselves in a theatrical and empowering way. If you are familiar with history, you all know that the practicing of dressing up in male clothes, it’s not a recent act of rebellion.
In ancient China (617–908 CE), during the middle of tang dynasty, kunsheng, female men, where women portrayed men in stage performances. We found other examples also in France, Italy, Uk.
In Shakespeare Play Twelfth Night, the main character, Viola, after a shipwreck, she found herself in Illyria (while this place is fictional, it was based on a real region between Croatia, Montenegro and Albania), disguises herself as a eunuch, Cesario, to serve Duke Orsino. She quickly falls in love with the Duke, who is in love with Olivia, who in turn falls for Cesario. The confusion and longing are central to the play's comedy and romance. I’m a huge fan of this play.
If we are looking to the term drag king, seems that as first cited in print in 1972. One source points to its appearance in "The Queen's Vernacular: A Gay Lexicon" by Bruce Rogers. Merriam-Webster also cites 1969 for its first known use.
Thanks for reading this history excursus, but I thought it was important to give you context.
Then why Long live the Kings?
I was aware that drag kings existed, but until I moved to London, I’ve never had the occasion to see one performing and, thanks to a friend, I went to see a performance on a Monday evening. It was great. Since then I thought a lot about kings in general.
When I was younger, I used to do a lot of cosplay, and the majority of the characters I did where male (I basically covered all the Johnny Depp make, from Jack Sparrow, to Sweny Todd and Willy Wonka). Even if this personal experience, is not the same in terms of performance and career, I felt somehow seen.
I started reaching out king, if they were up to having some pictures of them. At the beginning, the replies where few and nothing really happened ( I was also moving house, again, so I was not 100% focus on the project). Then in November, I started again to reach out more kings, and everything started.
Long Live the Kings! was created to raise awareness about the drag king community, a vibrant yet often overlooked aspect of queer culture. This project seeks to celebrate the artistry, resilience, and individuality of drag kings, who challenge traditional notions of gender and performance through their craft.
At its heart, this series captures the essence of transformation, portraying performers both in drag and out of drag. By juxtaposing these two facets of their identities, I aim to highlight the fluidity of human expression and the multifaceted nature of individuality. Each portrait reveals the complexity of these artists, showcasing how they navigate the intersections of gender, creativity, and personal experience.
Through these images, I want to spark conversations about the societal norms that constrain our understanding of identity and the possibilities that arise when we embrace diversity. Drag kings embody the power of self-expression, using their performances not just as entertainment but as a statement of authenticity and defiance against rigid gender roles.
Drawing on my background in fashion photography, I approached this project with a focus on storytelling and aesthetics, blending editorial sophistication with intimate moments. The fashion-inspired aesthetic reflects themes of resilience and individuality, capturing the strength and vulnerability of each subject.
Long Live the Kings! is not just a celebration of drag culture, it’s an exploration of the human capacity for reinvention. It invites viewers to reflect on their own identities and the ways we all, in our unique ways, embody transformation. Ultimately, this project is a tribute to the courage of those who dare to challenge societal expectations and express their true selves unapologetically.
So far, Long Live the Kings! has featured 20 portraits, in and out of drag, of UK and European performers. It’s an ongoing project that I would really like to spread wide, perhaps as an exhibition or a book. So far, while I'm trying to find publications interested in at least discussing it, not for my ego, but for the king community, there has been radio silence.
However, this silence will not deter me. I will keep pushing because the stories of these performers deserve to be seen and heard on a much wider scale. This project is a vital celebration of identity, artistry, and queer visibility, and its importance to the drag king community fuels my determination. Even if the path is quiet now, the powerful impact and undeniable relevance of Long Live the Kings! mean that its time for broader recognition will come.
What an original and creative work. Great concept, writing, pics. Makes me think about "the multifaceted nature of individuality," as you so aptly term it.
Awesome project, the photos are just perfect. Your skills shine through and put the focus directly on the amazing performers and their outfits. I hope you get some bites soon so more people can see and learn more from this side of the culture. Nice job, Giulia!!