What is "drag queen"

n. (context colloquial English) A male who dresses up in women's clothing and makeup, typically in an exaggerated fashion and for public performance.

A drag queen is a person, usually male, who dresses in drag and often acts with exaggerated femininity and in feminine gender roles. Often they will exaggerate certain characteristics such as make-up and eyelashes for comic, dramatic, or satirical effect. While drag is very much associated with gay men and gay culture, there are drag artists of all sexualities and genders. There are many kinds of drag artists and they vary greatly in dedication, from professionals who have starred in films to people who just try it once, or those who simply prefer clothing and makeup that is usually worn by the opposite sex in their culture. Drag queens can vary widely by class and culture. Other drag performers include drag kings, women who perform in male roles and attire, faux queens, who are women who dress in an exaggerated style to emulate drag queens, and faux kings, who are men who dress to impersonate drag kings.

There are many reasons people do drag including self-expression, comfort, transvestic fetishism, and spiritual reasons, as well as the higher-profile performing and entertaining. Drag can be a creative outlet, a means of self-exploration, and a way to make cultural statements. While the general public may be most familiar with the "high drag" of professional performance artists, drag is also part of regular life and street culture for many gender-nonconforming or gender-variant people, who may or may not consider what they do, "drag." Drag queen activities among stage and street performers may include lip-synching performances, live singing, dancing, participating in events such as gay pride parades, drag pageants, or at venues such as cabarets and discotheques. Some drag artists also engage in mix-and-mingle or hosting work in night clubs, such as drag bingo, and at private parties and events. Famous drag queens include Divine, Dame Edna Everage, Lily Savage, Lady Bunny, RuPaul, Bianca Del Rio, Raven (drag queen), Raja Gemini, Jinkx Monsoon, Sharon Needles, Willam, Violet Chachki, Alyssa Edwards, Shangela Laquifa Wadley, Manila Luzon, Courtney Act, Pearl Liaison, Jackie Beat, Adore Delano, Tyra Sanchez, Trixie Mattel, Katya Zamolodchikova, Naomi Smalls, Kim Chi, Bob the Drag Queen, Thorgy Thor, Acid Betty, Conchita Wurst.