The art of drag predates recorded history. One can imagine primitive cave gays slipping on their finest lady animal pelts, sipping cave cosmos and lip-synching along to Madonna (who also predates recorded history) while their counterparts whooped and tossed them clamshells or beads or whatever passed for tips back then. Cross-dressing is no new phenomenon in China either, with men often donning womenswear for performances in Peking opera.
In Shanghai, however, the drag scene is a little newer and much more transient. From our former columnist, Gwen from Tempe, to the well-known Chinese, Baixue, there are and have been loads of drag performers in our fair city practicing the high arts of tucking and glamazon eye shadow. I caught up recently with one of the town’s newest drag divas, Jolene De Palma.
