In Tel Aviv, Tamara Todevska’s emotional performance of “Proud” gave North Macedonia its best ever Eurovision result. Now the song continues to move audiences, this time at Holland’s Best Drag Queen 2019. Drag queen Ynel Regalo scored a victory in the competition with a lip-sync interpretation of “Proud”.
Ynel earned her title earlier this month when she was crowned Miss Travestie Holland 2019 – Holland’s Best Drag Queen.
What clinched the win for Ynel was her lip-sync performance of Tamara Todevska’s Eurovision entry “Proud”. While Tamara had performed the song as an female empowerment message for her young daughter, Ynel reinterpreted the song as an LGBTQ+ anthem.
Ynel was looking glamorous in a black evening gown, with a matching choker and earrings and a sophisticated blonde updo. She was joined on stage by a number of special guests, including transgender women who proudly held aloft signs declaring themselves to be “TRANS & PROUD”. To further emphasise the message, two banners unfurled with the LGBTQ+ rainbow and “PROUD”.
The performance was a hit, giving the audience all the feels. Ynel was rewarded with huge applause â and the Best Drag Queen 2019 crown. Congratulations, queen!
And one particular fan of the performance was Tamara Todevska herself. In a message to Ynel Regalo, the North Macedonian star wrote,
“I was crying all the time while I was watching your performance. It’s sooooo emotional and powerful, and I’m really touched that u chose my song. Thank u for this and pls, kiss that guy that is crying during the performance, that was so emotional for me”
Drag queens and Eurovision
This isn’t the first time that a Eurovision song has become part of a drag queen’s repertoire. Last year, American drag superstar Shangela performed Netta’s Eurovision-winning song “Toy”.
The RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3 finalist gave a dynamic lip-sync performance, complete with choreography, hairography, voguing, and of course a little bit of the chicken dance.
And with drag performers Conchita Wurst and Verka Serduchka known for giving two of the most beloved â and best scoring â Eurovision performances this century, it’s clear that there is a close connection with drag queens and Eurovision.
What do you think? What Eurovision songs would you like to see performed by your favourite queens? Tell us your thoughts below!
Of course the LHBG etc community is part of the Eurovision as it is part of society as a whole. It would be a pity however if Eurovision would be “dragged away” completely by that community. Eurovision is for everyone. So let’s give each group the degree of attention in the media that it represents in our society.
I agree! Wise words. Sometimes it gets too much attention. Many male ESC-fans are straight too. And many are female fans. Sexuality is not important. What is important is that we love the contest, and our fan community, no matter what. Gay, straight – we all have fun together
I agree with you Peter. Some people I met have thought I was gay just because I love ESC. Shows there are many silly myths and stereotypes
Good for you
Ynel regalo? Seriously? Open up makes even more sense now
Beautiful performance and a great song choice
This song is just so perfect and it even gets better when I know it’s from N. Macedonia and they got everything right this year (leading to their best result ever!)
I’m not crying, I just happened to be chopping onions while I watched the video. And my hayfever flared up. And my eyes started leaking for no reason.
Great!!!! Let them perform alongside each other as an intervalact on one of the semis.
Open up to LGBT pride and give Tamara another moment to shine as she was robbed the win of the juryvote this year.
No, less drag acts in Eurovision is better for Eurovision.
Why do you think that way?
Not here to fight, just to nicely discuss đ
I agree with him, because drag acts are acts – not real persons, and with that you can’t take them as serious singers or artists, they are just fun that’s it (for me not even thatâŠ)⊠That’s my opinion đ
Totally respect your opinion However, I disagree with you for 2 reasons mainly First, some acts really are not real, as you said and are just in it for the show and entertainment I do believe they’ve got a place in the Eurovision bubble as singers and songs are also made for fun and joy and not just meaningful messages etc. Also, some of them are not just made up characters but more like an identity, as in the case of Conchita He gave us a brilliant performance of a very well written song performed with powerful vocals and lots… Read more »
I respect yours too, I mean I wouldnât bash someone for being drag, I just prefer ânormalâ acts, with that I mean acts that perform as their identity and not as someone else… Conchita was great! But I do think she won just because of her being drag, nothing wrong with that(I think the whole story matters), but at the same time I would prefer Common Linnets to take the trophy..
The story behind Conchita definitely helped :3 The bearded lady etc.
Welp, thank you for a nice discussion without being toxic đ
I wish more people would know how to talk to others like you do <3
Thank you and the same goes for you! <3
Wow ,not taking drag acts seriously as artists. Do you have any idea how much time, work, practice goes into a dragact. Yes most of them are not singers but they act. They are actors. So movie or tv actors are also not artists ????. Their make up and outfits are not art ?
So true!
*yawns…*
Puppet – You are so right. And those who dislike your comment, should really think twice
It is not, even if some fans almost treat it like that
A song I don’t like in the first place, certainly does NOT get better performed as drag. Could one ask for more (bad!)? đ :-O
Yes it could – could have been Say Na Na đ