Filipina drag queen honors roots with Filipiniana look on ‘Drag Race UK’
Filipina drag queen Zahirah Zapanta proudly showcases her Filipino heritage during the premiere of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” season 6. Photo from zahirahzapanta/Instagram
“Queen of your hometown.”
The opening statement of Filipina drag queen Zahirah Zapanta as she proudly showcased her Filipino heritage during the premiere of “RuPaul’s Drag Race UK” season 6.
In an Instagram post, the drag queen was seen in a Filipiniana dress waving the British flag and shared the story of her upbringing in Obando, Bulacan, where her family played a pivotal role in shaping her identity.
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“So I was born and grew up in Obando, Bulacan in the Philippines with very humble beginnings,” she wrote. “I was always very family oriented growing up with loads of cousins, titas, titos, lolas who helped raise me. I was always quite feminine growing up but I was never deterred from just being me.”
At the age of 10, Zahirah’s life took a turn when her family moved to Nottingham, England.
“It was a massive change from growing up in the sun to the cold,” she explained. “From being surrounded by local pinoys to being surrounded by a melting pot of different cultures. It is a special kind of experience growing up with two very distinct cultures, but I am so forever grateful for it.”
Despite the move, she continues to cherish her Filipino roots and frequently returns home to visit her family and explore the Philippines’ beauty.
Reflecting on her runway look, Zahirah said she wanted to express her identity as both a Filipino and a British citizen. However, she also addressed a moment during her performance that caused controversy within the Filipino community, as her outfit unintentionally grazed the floor while walking.
“I do want to apologise for grazing the flag on the floor as I walked down the runway,” she said. “A fact that I know has caused an upset with some of the Filipino community, and something I had not intended to do. I only wanted to pay homage to my culture and I want you all to know that I am now aware of these mistakes and will try my utmost not to do the same again.”
She ended the post with some Filipino words, “Gusto ko malaman ng kapwa ko Filipino kung gano ko pinagmamalaki ang aking lahi.”
Zahirah, along with Saki Yew, is one of the first two queens of Filipino descent to compete in the regular season of the popular franchise.
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