Camp is an aesthetic style and sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its bad taste and ironic value. Camp aesthetics disrupt many of modernism's notions of what art is and what can be classified as high art by inverting aesthetic attributes such as beauty, value, and taste through an invitation of a different kind of apprehension and consumption.
Sophie Anderson was an English pornographic actress and internet personality. She began appearing in pornographic films for such studios as Fake Taxi and Evil Angel in 2017, later finding internet fame in October 2018 when she and fellow porn star Rebecca More, who branded themselves "The Cock Destroyers", posted a video that went viral. Both her and More's videos became internet memes and the pair were subsequently regarded as "gay icons" within the LGBTQ+ community, which saw them go on to front the Men.com series Slag Wars: The Next Destroyer (2020). Anderson appeared on various podcasts discussing her life and also served as a team captain on the Canadian OutTV sex education quiz show Fucking Smart (2022–2023).
A gay icon is a public figure who is regarded as a cultural icon by members of the LGBT community. Such figures usually have a devoted LGBT fanbase and act as allies to the LGBT community, often through their work, or they have been "openly appreciative of their gay fanbase". Many gay icons also have a camp aesthetic style, which is part of their appeal to LGBT individuals.
Sharon Needles is the stage name of Aaron Robert Coady, an American drag performer and recording artist. A self-described "stupid genius, reviled sweetheart, and PBR princess", Needles rose to international attention on the fourth season of the Logo reality competition series RuPaul's Drag Race, where she quickly became a fan favorite and was subsequently crowned "America's Next Drag Superstar" in April 2012.
Yara Sofia is the stage name of Gabriel Burgos Ortiz, a Puerto Rican drag queen, professional make-up artist, and reality television personality.
Chantaize Darius Jeremy Pierce, better known by the stage name Shangela Laquifa Wadley or simply as Shangela, is an American drag queen, reality television personality, and actor best known for competing on RuPaul's Drag Race. Shangela was the first contestant eliminated in season two, and returned as a surprise contestant in the series' third season, placing sixth. She returned once again for the third season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars where she finished in joint-third/fourth place alongside winner of the first season, BeBe Zahara Benet. Shangela has also made several television appearances and regularly performs across the United States and Canada.
Peppermint, or Miss Peppermint, is an American actress, singer, songwriter, television personality, drag queen, and activist. She is best known from the nightlife scene and, in 2017, as the runner-up on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. In 2018, Peppermint made her debut in The Go-Go's-inspired musical Head Over Heels as Pythio, becoming Broadway's first out trans woman to originate a lead role.
Christopher Delmar Caldwell, known by his stage name Caldwell Tidicue, and better known as his drag name Bob the Drag Queen, is an American drag queen, comedian, actor, activist, musician, and reality television personality. He is best known for winning the eighth season of RuPaul's Drag Race. As of 2020, he has more than one million followers on Instagram and was the first Black Drag Race queen to reach the milestone. After Drag Race, he pursued acting, appearing in television shows such as High Maintenance (2016), Tales of the City (2019), and A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019). In 2020, he began co-hosting We're Here on HBO alongside fellow Drag Race contestants Eureka O'Hara and Shangela.
Ryan A. Taylor, known professionally as Trinity "The Tuck" Taylor or just Trinity the Tuck, is an American drag queen and recording artist best known for competing on the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race and for winning the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, shared with Monét X Change. She went by Trinity "the Tuck" Taylor on her original season, but on the first episode of All Stars, she indicated that she would henceforth go simply by Trinity the Tuck.
Rebecca More is an English pornographic actress and model. More began her pornographic career in 2010, and went on to appear in an array of films for various different studios until her retirement from mainstream pornography in 2023. She found internet fame in October 2018 after she and fellow porn star Sophie Anderson, who branded themselves "The Cock Destroyers", posted a video that went viral. Both her and Anderson's videos have become memes and the pair have subsequently been regarded as "gay icons".
Jared Johnson, best known by the stage name Jaida Essence Hall, is an American drag queen and reality television personality best known for winning the twelfth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, and later returning to compete on the seventh season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars, an all-winners season. Since her season aired in 2020, Hall has been a staple of several domestic and international tours that feature Drag Race contestants, including Werq the World, A Drag Queen Christmas, and Drive 'N Drag. In October 2020, Johnson was a featured performer in Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Fashion Show Vol. 2.
Slag Wars: The Next Destroyer is a British reality television competition series that premiered online on 27 November 2020. The show features Rebecca More and Sophie Anderson on their hunt to discover the next LGBTQ+ icon.
Kandy Muse is the stage name of Kevin Candelario, an American drag queen and performer most known for being the runner-up on both the thirteenth season of RuPaul's Drag Race (2021) and the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars (2023).
Hot Haus is a reality television competition series aimed at finding the next queer sex symbol. The show premiered on January 27, 2022 on OUTtv. Hot Haus is the brainchild of the creative team behind Slag Wars. It is hosted by Tiffany “New York” Pollard and judged by rapper CupcakKe, social media personality Matt Camp, and trans activist Nicky Monet.
Pan Pan Narkprasert, known as Pangina Heals, is a Thai drag queen and judge on Drag Race Thailand, who later went on to compete on the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World (2022). She has been described as one of the most popular drag performers in Asia, and is often called the RuPaul of Thailand. Narkprasert founded the Bangkok drag venue, House of Heals.
Club Quarantine is a virtual gay club based in Toronto that began hosting URL (online) parties in early 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Created by four friends, recording artist Ceréna Sierra, DJ Casey MQ, comedian Brad Allen, and digital creative Mingus New, Club Q began by hosting parties on Zoom in March 2020. In Ontario, full closures of all non-essential businesses were recommended by the province on March 16 2020. Club Q's first online event took place on that same Monday, March 16, 2020, with a modest 12 attendees. The Club Q Zoom event on March 17, 2020 featured a spontaneous live stick-and-poke session where a virtual club-goer got a tattoo reading "Club Q". Later online events often saw 1,000 attendees. By April 2020, Club Q had partnered with PAPER magazine to host a series of events. Club Q hosted their first IRL - as opposed to URL) event for Halloween 2021 at a membership based co-working space called Eastroom in Toronto where 700 people attended. The IRL halloween event was called "Literally Dead" and was also live streamed to a Zoom audience.
Generation Drag is a television series produced by Tyra Banks for Discovery+. The show features children ages 12 to 17 preparing for a drag ball along with their families. Reception to the show has been mixed; while some groups have praised the premise, others have criticized it and have made accusations of grooming. The show premiered on June 1, 2022.
Fantasia Royale Gaga is the stage name of Latavia Goldson, an American showgirl, drag queen, and entertainer. She is best known for winning the first season of Hot Haus and for competing on the fifth season of The Boulet Brothers' Dragula.
