The art of drag has been gaining momentum in the Thai mainstream in recent years, thanks to two seasons of Drag Race Thailand, the Thai version of the Emmy-winning RuPaul's Drag Race, and various gay-friendly parties popping over the town in pre-Covid-19 Bangkok.
However, just like many other sectors of night-time entertainment, the drag scene has also been hit hard by the pandemic. Some queens hosted virtual performances via social media platforms for tips during the lockdown, including Drag Race Thailand co-host Pangina Heals, whose real name is Pan Pan Narkprasert.
But even a pandemic can't keep a good queen down. Pan Pan, one of the most famous faces in Thai drag, came back with a vengeance. Recently, the UCLA art graduate launched his very own drag bar aptly named House of Heals at Five Fifteen Victory Hotel, aiming to reinvigorate the scene and, well, "make it rain".
"It has always been a dream of mine to have my own bar named after me. A place I call home or have a residency of sorts so people from all over the world can come to see this Thai drag queen," Pan Pan said.
A casual fan may not be aware but Pan Pan has been representing Thai drag abroad for years, from attending RuPaul's DragCon (where he and Drag Race Thailand co-host Art Arya presented Thai garlands to RuPaul) to performing at nightclubs and events in the US, Canada and Australia, and competing in waacking contests.
"Everyone dreams but it's up to you to make it happen. Covid-19 is horrible for us entertainers. I was at the absolute worst part of my life. But when you hit rock bottom, you gotta do something to completely turn your world upside down. There's nowhere to go but up," Pan Pan quipped.
Thanks to his previous gig as the host of Maggie Choo's gay nights in Silom where he met his current business partner, Pan Pan insists he's the "mother" of House of Heals.
Its dark exterior may not catch your attention as much as the giant glittering heels in front of it. If that isn't over-the-top enough, wait until you see what's inside; a microphone set covered in rhinestone from the top down to the base of its stand, an ostrich chandelier, a swing, fake animal head mounts in gold (each with its own name) and a high-heel collection on loan from Thai gay icons such as Lukkade Metinee, Chompoo Araya and Gene Kasidit.
"House of Heals is basically a plane crashing in the middle of a jungle. You arrive in the jungle filled with beautiful creatures that dance, enjoy and celebrate life with you. It's a jungle safari wonderland."
These creatures Pan Pan referred to are his crew which includes prominent Drag Race Thailand alumni such as Season 1 runner-up Année Maywong, Season 1 runner-up Dearis Doll and Season 2 plus-sized queen Miss Gimhuay.
Recalling his drag origins, Pan Pan said: "I accidentally discovered drag through Lady Gaga. She dresses up in elaborate costumes and I want to be like her. Be larger than life and a walking celebration of self."
Miss Gimhuay and Année Maywong carry tip boxes on the opening night of House of Heals.
Pan Pan's official drag debut was when he won a Lady Gaga lookalike contest in New York and got free tickets to see the Mother Monster.
"Society often thinks of femininity as weak but when you do drag you exaggerate female qualities with fake eyelashes, fake boobs, heels and so on. Through drag, I turn what society perceives as weak into something powerful and empowering. This means drag queens are people who idolise female traits. I idolise many strong women from Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston and Wonder Woman to my mother."
With 10 years of doing drag, Pan Pan recalled what was it like to spread this subculture in Thailand.
"Back then people were just trying to understand what drag was, but, for me, it was never wrong to dress up as a girl. Society likes to put people in a box and I hate being put in a box. I feel like people should be happy living their true selves despite what society thinks. And I think I'm doing that with my bar.
"I'm very lucky that I've never stopped pursuing my dream when people told me to quit, pulled a wig off my head or called me the f-word. I don't think of them as something to bring me down but instead of something to build me up. Everything that happened so far has led up to this point and shaped who I am today."
As his popularity grew, following numerous interviews, appearances in local TV shows and performances at various events, Pan Pan became one of the most recognised drag queens in Thailand. Although he doesn't consider drag as a form of activism per se, Pan Pan has leveraged his fame for good causes, from putting his father in drag to promote LGBTI acceptance to fronting campaigns to encourage gay men to get tested for HIV -- to name but two. To him, anyone can be an activist so long as they live what they preach.
"I feel that you can be an activist by living your life while championing what you believe as long as it's right. As long as you strongly believe in it. Anyone can be an activist. I'm a drag queen but I say things that I believe in and I never expect people to listen to me."
Apparently, many have and his messages resonate with them as Pan Pan receives messages from fans on a daily basis.
"Those that stuck out to me are kids in Rayong or a province somewhere who tell me their parents hate that they're gay. But when they see me on TV, they know that they're not alone.
"Sometimes in the media, people don't see people that they can recognise themselves in or relate to. I put myself out there and hopefully kids who feel marginalised in some way would know that I'm with them, understand them and am behind them. Let's do it. Let's eff things up."
As one of the pioneers of the drag scene in Thailand, how does Pan Pan feel about drag becoming more mainstream in Thailand?
"It's great because I'm getting paid more," he jokes. "Seriously though, I feel humble and I feel like it's about time. More people participate in the art of drag. People look at me as an artist instead of a perverted creature of the night who steals men or something.
"I think I show that I have a level of success without having to compromise who I am. I think that everyone can be themselves without having to be in any stereotypical mould."
There's always a good story behind every drag name. The first part of Pangina Heals, Pan Pan's anima, refers to certain female anatomy as well as the Pangaea supercontinent as Pan Pan likes the idea of unity. "The world's continents were all together as one before they broke up," he said. The last name is fitting as Pan Pan believes that drag heals.
"The nicest thing that I receive from people is when they tell me that they have had a bad day and I make them laugh. When people come to see me perform and they forget that they just broke up with their boyfriend that's ka-ching to me. My form of merit-making!
"When I was hurting as a boy I put my dress and make-up on and put on a Whitney Houston or Mariah Carey song and I pranced out the door, feeling like I'm the best thing in my life. It's an escape. A fantasy. It makes you feel larger than life. You forget who you are, why you are hurting at the moment and you're gonna be healed through time, great conversation, drinks, stupidity and whatever. And I think that's so beautiful. Drag is a medicine. And hopefully, it heals others too."
