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Will One Of These Boystown Queens Be The First Chicago Winner of 'RuPaul'?

By Ariel Cheung | March 2, 2016 5:58am
 Two Boystown regulars are cast in
Two Boystown regulars are cast in "RuPaul's Drag Race" Season 8, which premieres at 8 p.m. Monday.
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Provided/RuPaul's Drag Race

BOYSTOWN — One hundred queens have strutted the stage on "RuPaul's Drag Race" — isn't it time they crown one from Chicago?

Boystown queens Naysha Lopez and Kim Chi are among 12 contestants who will vye for the top spot on the popular Logo TV show starring international drag star RuPaul. 

Chicago has had seven queens compete on "RuPaul," but none have taken home the crown. Phi Phi O'Hara came closest as a Season 4 runner-up. But it just might be that this year's Chicago ladies have what it takes to catch Ru's eye.

It's been a long road to "RuPaul" for Lopez, who has been doing drag for 13 years (mainly at Hydrate) and auditioned three times — including for Season 1 — before making it onto Season 8.

"I feel like everything has its time and place, and I just felt like it was the right time," he told DNAinfo Chicago. After winning Miss Continental in 2013, he decided to give "RuPaul" one more shot for the eighth season — and this time, he made it.

"This cast is ridiculously talented. Everyone is so different from one another, which I find to be really refreshing," Lopez said.

Kim Chi, for example, is her own, fully crafted persona — that of a 16-year-old live-action character who models high fashion.

"All my looks are very over-the-top, avante-garde," he said. "In a way, it's very polarizing. But even if they don't get the references to my looks, they can still see the artistry that went into it."

 

Chi started performing in drag three years ago, and auditioned for "RuPaul" with Season 7 runner-up Pearl, who has been a friend for years, Chi said. With a signature look and intense attention to detail, Chi made it onto the show on his first try.

Being on the show was "definitely fun and interesting," Chi said. Two takeaways? "I learned I can be in drag for so many hours without having to pee, and I also learned they feed you pretty well when you're on television," he said.

Lopez found himself struck by how much the drag community has grown since he began performing in Chicago. "RuPaul's Drag Race" has "shed light on all types of drag," Lopez said.

 

 

At the gigs!!! #hydrateshowgirl #beautyqueen #beautiesandbeaus

A photo posted by Naysha Lopez (@nayshalopez) on

 

"It's definitely evolved, especially here in Chicago. Now there's a night of drag in Chicago every single night, and there's a place for everyone," he said.

As for their competition on the show, "Everyone wowed me in one way or another," Lopez said. "Naomi [Smalls] is only 21. Robbie [Turner's] vintage style was just amazing. I have a little soft spot for every one of them."

RuPaul also left a big impression.

"In person, he looks even better," Kim said. "The makeup is flawlessly blended, just very well put-together."

Learn more about the Chicago queens and catch them at the premiere party at Roscoe's Tavern at 8 p.m. Monday:

 

 

A lil red carpet glamour !! #nayshalopez #beauties #teamnaysha #thebeauty #rpdr8

A photo posted by Naysha Lopez (@nayshalopez) on

Naysha Lopez

Age: 31

Neighborhood: Belmont Cragin

Favorite Boystown venue: "Hydrate. First off, the staff is just amazing, and [the audience] has such an appreciation. They love the drag show."

Look: Designers Eddie Couture and Joshuan Aponte are two favorites for Naysha's custom-made costumes. Aponte "actually does a lot of my things for this season," he said.

Advice: "Know that drag is an art form, and art is subjective. Don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. With art, only you have to understand it. Nobody else does."

 

 

Kim Chi

Age: "My persona is 16 years old, and I'm 28."

Neighborhood: Andersonville

Favorite Boystown venue: "I'm the main host of Neverland parties here in Chicago, and I've performed at Roscoe's, Berlin, Scarlet, Sidetrack."

Look: "I do my own makeup, but my favorite makeup company is Sugarpill cosmetics. They have these bright pigments that are bold and perfect for drag. Wigs and Grace is my favorite wig company, hands down."

Advice: "If you're not sure where to start, just start doing drag for fun. Go to the bars and see how you feel in it."

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