Here's how to catch the 'Drag Race México' premiere in Phoenix
Mexican drag queens are finally stomping their heels on the "Drag Race" runway. Debuting Thursday, "Drag Race México" welcomes 11 drag performers from across Mexico vying to be this spinoff’s first-ever winner.
"They really grabbed the top 10 queens of Mexico," said Phoenix drag artist Alí L'aveau, who is hosting a viewing party in town. "I love it because some of these girls have come from small towns all over the country and it’s amazing."
Here’s how Phoenix Valley viewers can tune into the show’s premiere and what to expect this first season.
How to watch 'Drag Race México'
"Drag Race México" will be available at 11 p.m. Wednesday to Arizona subscribers of the streaming service WOW Presents Plus, according to information provided to The Arizona Republic by the company.
Viewers in Mexico can watch the show at 9 p.m. Thursday on MTVLA.
L'aveau will be assuming weekly hosting duties starting at 6 p.m. Thursday at Kobalt, a 21 and up cocktail bar at Park Central on North Central Avenue near Thomas Road. Premiere night will be open seating. The event will have no cover charge.
Due to another event at Kobalt, the second episode’s screening will be postponed until July 6 when it will be coupled with the third episode. Also on July 6, Kobalt will begin taking table reservations at $5 a chair.
L'aveau said she will incorporate her theater background and Mexican American heritage into the show.
'Drag Race México' is about highlighting culture
Born and raised in Phoenix, the 43-year-old L'aveau has been doing drag for 23 years.
L'aveau said she is looking forward to “Drag Race México” because she thinks it will convey a deeper meaning than the typical competitive drag reality series fixated on gimmicks.
"Latina drag is more about showing your culture, showing you who you are as a person and your background," L’aveau said.
A pair of former "Drag Race" contestants will be the faces of this Mexican entry. Hosting the show will be Mexican American drag artist Valentina, who competed in the ninth season of "RuPaul’s Drag Race" and in the fifth season of "RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars."
"(Valentina) wanted to prove a point, to showcase that Mexico drag is at the same level as American drag, if not higher. She wanted to show that professionalism and that dedication," L'aveau said.
Valentina is joined in hosting duties by Lolita Banana, a Mexican contestant on last year’s debut season of "Drag Race France."
Lolita is openly HIV-positive. And L'aveau, who is an advocate for HIV awareness after being diagnosed about six years ago, said Lolita has been an inspiration.
"Sometimes that little piece of ray of light really helps one," L'aveau said, adding, Lolita’s example helped her "to push further and be able to communicate more and then to better my life."
The "Drag Race México" season one contestants come from different corners of Mexico, from Ciudad Juarez on the northern border to Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast to Guanajuato in the interior. Some of them have cited influences in their drag as varied as Latin American folklore, Roman Catholicism and Mexican surrealism.
The inaugural "Drag Race México" roster:
Argennis
Cristian Peralta
Gala Varo
Lady Kero
Margaret Y Ya
Matraka
Miss Vallarta
Pixie Pixie
Regina Voce
Serena Morena
Vermelha Noir
How did 'Drag Race México' come about?
Drag superstar RuPaul Charles hosts and produces the Emmy-winning "RuPaul’s Drag Race," which premiered in 2009 and completed its 15th season this past spring. Charles and the show’s production company, World of Wonder, have launched multiple spin-offs in the U.S. and abroad.
"Drag Race México" will be the 13th international edition, with the franchise including Thailand, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, Spain and the Philippines.
After Chile, Mexico is only the second Latin American country with a "Drag Race" spin-off. Mexico’s, however, appears closer to the original format than Chile's. The South American country's version is the international edition to have departed most from the franchise format, focusing on live singing over lip-syncs and featuring gender illusionists on par with drag artists.
A casting call searching for Mexico’s "best" drag queens was sent out in early August on social media, along with an audition announcement for drag performers in Brazil and Germany. A confirmation on spinoffs for the three countries came in December.
"Drag Race is about universal themes of love, self-expression, and acceptance – and there has never been a more important time than now for these ideas to be expressed internationally," said World of Wonder CEOs Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato in a statement at the time.
Reach breaking news reporter Jose R. Gonzalez at jose.gonzalez@gannett.com or on Twitter @jrgzztx.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Here's how to catch the 'Drag Race México' premiere in Phoenix
