By Ryan Kaspar
On December 2nd, the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 was announced. Among the 14 contestants is DeJa Skye, a drag queen from Fresno, California, and the first contestant from the Central Valley to appear on the show.
RuPaul’s Drag Race (often shortened to Drag Race) is a reality show competition where drag queens compete to be “America’s next drag superstar” and win a $100,000 cash prize.
“It feels amazing and an honor to represent not only myself but a community,” says DeJa Skye, “I don’t feel [any] pressure at all because I know that I will have the backing of my valley. I’m just excited to show that the Central Valley is talented.”
Taylor McElree ’24, a Drag Race fan of 2 years, says “I’m very excited to hear [that] somebody from someplace that’s so close to where we are, is going to be doing something so amazing.”
“I feel she represents a smaller community of people [in] such a republican and religious area, even [for] a blue state,” McElree adds.
Skye grew up in Kerman, California and was the only male cheerleader at her high school “and many surrounding schools for that matter.”
“I knew I wanted more for my career so I hustled and traveled all around California to get my name out there,” Skye continues.
Bailey Burdick ’24, who has been watching Drag Race on and off for 2 years, says “It feels cool knowing that someone who grew up in the same place that I did succeeded in their passion. [It] makes me feel like I could pursue what I want to do as well.”
Though she is based in Fresno, Skye recently moved to Visalia, “I love the peace and quiet. It’s far enough that I feel like I moved, but close enough where I can still see my friends.”
Regarding the Fresno drag scene, Skye says “[It’s] small – very small. We have the Imperial Dove Court [an LGBTQ+ non-profit organization], the bar scene – we even have a small community of alternative queens. There’s a pretty good variety if you ask me.”
Matthew Bartolo ’24, who has been watching Drag Race since 2017, says “It’s pretty cool because you never see that type of representation [from the valley]. Especially someone who is a POC [person of color] because we live in such a conservative area.”
Bartolo continues, “I feel that in the Central Valley, we get a bad reputation about the treatment to the LGBTQ+ community;” adding that its important that “we get to hear DeJa’s experience about being a queer entertainer in the Central Valley.”
When asked about any harassment she has faced as a queer performer, Skye says “I think any queer performer has gone through heckling and eye rolls and occasional slurs, but I’m a strong individual. I have tough skin and I will never let anyone’s bigoted mindset stop me from my happiness.”
“[If I could,] I would tell DeJa good luck, and make a good name for the valley!” says Burdick.
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 will be premiering on VH1 on January 7th at 8 pm PST.
“Do not listen to someone who is trying to control your drag. It is your drag, don’t let someone else’s opinion deter you from your end goal.”
DeJa Skye
Tags: arts and entertainment, central valley, deja skye, drag queen, fresno, lgbt, LGBTQ+, local artist, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rupaul's drag race, rupaul's drag race season 14, visalia