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
Ryan Kaspar
Ryan Kaspar ('24) is a four-year member of the Redwood Gigantea. They work as managing editor along with being a writer and editor for the News section.
You can reach them at ryan.kaspar05@gmail.com
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