‘Drag Den 2’ winner Deja on beating more seasoned finalists: It’s the audience that’s bitter

Drag reality shows may seem like they’re all about glamour and fierce competition, but off-cam, they can also be places where you find your truest of friends, said Deja, who was recently declared Drag Supreme of the second season of “Drag Den Philippines.”

“Yes, this was a tough competition, from the very start until the finale,” said Deja who bested nine others, including Mrs. Tan and Moi, who placed second and third, respectively.

“Mrs. Tan did a really great job, no doubt about it. I really saw his effort. This was because we were roommates during the filming and we would always leave the set together. We got used to doing things together—we slept, woke up and ate breakfast at the same time. We grew very close because of this show. I consider Mrs. Tan my big sister. He has been doing drag far longer than I have.”

“Drag Den with Manila Luzon Season 2: Retribution” was created and directed by Rod Singh. Deja competed with nine other queens namely Margaux Rita, Elvira B, Feyvah Fatalé, Maria Lava, Mrs. Tan, Moi, Marlyn, Jean Vilogue and Russia Fox. Unlike Season 1, the second season had an elimination format where queens were eliminated every episode until only three remained. Deja won a cash prize of P1 million and a talent management contract with Cornerstone Entertainment.Happy with victory

Deja said that Mrs. Tan and Moi are both happy with his victory. “It’s just the audience who feels bitter, to be honest. The three of us are OK. In fact, I’m OK with all the other contestants,” he said. “We would borrow costumes, wigs and props from each other. If you watch the first episode, it’s true that Maria Lava made Jean Vilogue use his costume. I’m super thankful to Elvira for letting me use his accessories. He said, ‘The earrings you’re using aren’t nice. Replace them with one of mine.’ Mrs. Tan lent me some of his wigs because I didn’t have the budget to buy stylized wigs anymore.”

What people didn’t know, said Deja, was that he had to raise money before agreeing to participate in the show. “I was actually hesitant to audition because I was just a student and didn’t have enough money to spend on costumes. The money I used only came from what I earned while doing drag shows in Baguio. I’m thankful to my boyfriend, from whom I got 80 percent of my budget. Now that I won, I’ll be able to repay him. I was also able to solicit money from good friends in Baguio. I pulled it off with the help of family and people who care for me,” he said. Socializing

The contestants worked on the series for almost three weeks in August last year. “I was fine about it, mentally. I know that in drag communities, you really have to socialize with everyone around you. There were just times when I, especially when I was not in drag, simply wanted to stay in one corner,” Deja began. “It also helped that I had just finished school and didn’t have to worry about that aspect of my life anymore. I told myself, ‘I’m here to have fun.’”

For Deja, the hardest part about competing was not being able to eat whenever he wanted to. “By lunch time, we were already dressed in drag—with all the padding, stockings and corset. If we eat and suddenly need to use the toilet, then we’d have to remove them all. This is why I only got to eat after filming,” he recalled. “It was fun in the beginning, but it became stressful and extremely difficult toward the end. Since it was always a close fight, the slightest mistakes got noticed.”

The show, hosted by Manila Luzon (referred to as the “Drag Lord”) and cohosted by Nicole Cordoves (the “Drag Dealer”) and Sassa Gurl (the “Drag Runner”), is exclusively streaming on Prime Video. The finale viewing party and concert was held at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Pasay City on March 7, coinciding with the release of the final episode on Prime Video.

Deja said that his victory is just starting to sink in. “The number of my social media followers has started to increase. I’ve been receiving a lot of messages from supporters, too. While outside, people would recognize me and greet me, even when I’m not in drag. That’s OK, as long as they approach me nicely and don’t invade my privacy. ‘Wag naman ‘yong nasa CR,” he said, laughing. INQ