In two years, “Drag Race France” has established itself in French popular and audiovisual culture. Season 2, the quality of which was praised internationally, was followed on France 2 and on the France Télévisions website by 11.2 million people, according to Médiamétrie. That is 4 million more than the first. An image success for public service but also a unifying event for LGBTQIA+ people and their supporters.
“It was more than a show, it was something that went to the streets. We saw a community and allies come together. It was my dream, a little naive, to bring people together while having fun, while thinking,” rejoiced Raphaël Cioffi last year, author of this French adaptation of the American franchise “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
“Find the figures seen on TV in real life”
One of the effects of the phenomenon, which production had not necessarily anticipated, is the viewing parties, that is to say, collective viewings of episodes, in bars or other festive places, which have continued to flourish. In Lille, there are five this year, compared to two for previous editions. One of them will take place at the Garage, a coworking space which, in event mode, can accommodate up to 400 people.
“They offered me to host a viewing. The capacity is larger than most other evenings which revolve around 150 or 200 people. This allows me to invite two people from Drag Race », Explains drag queen Stargirl to 20 minutes. For the first, this Friday, she will welcome Parisian icon Cookie Kunty and Alvilda, the reigning winner of “Drag Race Belgium”.
“I think it’s going to be like every year: we’re going to see more and more people and excitement as the episodes go on,” predicts Stargirl. People will recognize themselves in the cast and come and discover them on stage. LGBT and friendly families like to see in real life the figures they see on TV. »
“Like with my friends, but with 100 people”
Minima Gesté, figure of the French drag scene, will present her viewing alone. This Friday, then every Saturday for the following episodes, she will, like the last two years, wait for her audience at La Folie (Paris 19th).
“My goal was to rediscover the atmosphere I had with my friends six or seven years ago where every week we met to watch the new episode of the American “Drag Race” around an aperitif. . So there, it’s the same, but with 100 people, she says. No question of watching the episode in one go, we will take the time to pause after the minichallenge, after the maxidechallenge or after the runway to discuss and bitch about what just happened. »
“I take great pleasure in “hosting” these evenings which, for me, are there to bring together several types of people: queer people, Drag Race fans, curious people who know neither drag nor drag. show, and who take advantage of the opportunity to discover all that…”, summarizes Beauregard, who organizes his watch party every Friday – the first, in the company of Soa de Muse, finalist of season 1 – on the Sonic barge, in Lyon.
“I won’t be intermittent from the show without the show”
The program changed her life, even though she hasn’t participated (yet). “I simply wouldn’t be part of the show without “Drag Race France”. Since the arrival of the show I’ve done a lot more performances than before, whether it’s hen parties, drag shows, birthdays… I’m also going to celebrate my first marriage of a lesbian couple who discovered me during a watch party! “, she rejoices.
Kitty Space, candidate for season 2 of “Drag Race France”, decided to launch her own evening, entitled “Let me be RAMEN my queens”. She will co-host it on Sundays at Wanted (Paris 19th) with Madame Wasabi. “We are Asian drag queens, it is important to show that we exist, to show the diversity, which is sometimes forgotten, in the drag world and in society,” she emphasizes.
The ex-participant will not have a pang in her heart when launching the episodes. Above all, she sees the experience as something “exciting”. “I will share anecdotes about what I experienced during the filming of my season, I will say what I would have done if I had competed in this one… It’s always great to discover a new season, but, when we participated, we didn’t have the same outlook as the outside public, and that’s what’s interesting to talk about, even if I can’t reveal everything. » All the candidates have signed a confidentiality clause with Endemol, which prohibits them from spoilers and the revelations of certain confidential elements. But, the world of drag wouldn’t be what it is if there wasn’t frequent gossip to be deciphered between the lines…
“If you come solo, you will have people around you to talk with”
Edeha Noire, competing in season 3 of “Drag Race France” will be both on screen and at Chromatique in Lyon. “We will try to feed the curiosity of spectators and offer unique and singular moments with obviously my feelings and those of my sisters from the season whom I will invite to each broadcast,” she promises.
merger of viewing parties – there are a dozen on the menu in Paris alone in the coming weeks – the public is spoiled for choice. While almost all of them also offer live drag performances, each has its own specificities (“meet and greet” options to meet the artists, games, DJ sets, etc.) but all the drag acts contacted highlighted the collective experience side of their evenings.
“This moment is important for me and the community because you can come alone, you will have people around you with whom to exchange and give your opinion,” says Minima Gesté. “When, during the episodes, the queens talk about their experiences and traumas, these are great moments of awareness and prevention. Everyone is silent and focuses on what’s going on, Stargirl notes. Experiencing this in community is beautiful and important. »