How Do You Like Me Now

Living up to the expectations of others is such a chore. These queens of drag are paving their own paths, bending and breaking every rule in the book along the way, as they fight for the freedom to be their authentic selves.

- NIKITA NAWAWI

KUMELA KUMSLUT (@KUMELAKUMSLUT)

A professional photographer by day and a free-swinging drag performer by night, Kumela Kumslut—this story’s lensman’s very own alias—is a creative in every sense of the word. She and her bright-colored wigs have become synonymous to the local drag scene ever since she made her first appearance at a Halloween bash in 2016. There, she was approached to host a Rainbow Rojak happening, a notorious queer community event, which she said yes to and the rest is, as they say, herstory.

That’s an interesting name you got there. What’s the story behind it?

I want to use drag as a medium to speak about an issue that’s important to me which is sex-positivity. I also want to start a conversation on HIV and AIDS because a lot of young people in the community don’t seem to care about it and that worries me.

How do you incorporate that in your routine?

I work with PT Foundation quite regularly. Sometimes I’d have their representatives at the parties and they would provide free screening or give away condoms for free. I’d also get them on stage to talk about what they do and basically share information about these things.

When it comes to the performances, how long does it take you to prepare and what goes into that preparation?

I would take about three hours because I like to take my time. When it comes to preparing a set, I essentially plan according to what I’m feeling at the time. From there, I’d think about the song selection, the colours that I want to wear, the hair and so on.

If you were to perform today, what would the set look like?