Kuciia Diamant and the South Korean Drag Community

Kuciia Diamant

The drag queen community in South Korea is growing and consists of both Koreans and foreigners. By definition, a drag queen is a male who dresses in exaggerated feminine attire (drag) and acts with exaggerated femininity often as entertainment. Drag queens tend to have extravagant characteristics and bold features created by heavy makeup.

I interviewed one of my favorite drag queens here in Korea who goes by the name, Kuciia Diamant. Kuciia is the most widely known queen in Korea’s LGBTQ community and she is now trying to gain worldwide fame. Here, I ask Kuciia questions regarding her experience as drag queen in Korea and other personal questions.

Hello, please introduce yourself to our readers

My name is Kuciia Diamant and I’m a drag queen working here in Korea.

What else do you do besides performing Drag?

When I’m not performing, I spend most of my time exercising, practicing new performance sets, making my own accessories, and doing interviews like this.

Why did you choose Kuciia as your Drag name?

“Kuciia” is actually what I used for my email address when I was young. I just thought it sounded beautiful and made it my drag name.

For those who don’t know, would you explain what a drag queen is?

A drag queen is a male performer who dresses up as a female using a lot of makeup and wearing extravagant clothing.

What are the biggest misconceptions that people have of drag queens?

People usually think that most Drag Queens wanted to become transgender.

How did you start in this business?

5 years ago, my friends performed drag at club that I worked at. Seeing them inspired me to try it for myself.

How is it to be Korean and be a part of the LGBTQ community?

While it was difficult for us to be part of this community in the past, in recent years, things have been getting better. Social perceptions have changed.

How have your friends and family reacted to your sexuality and your career?

I haven’t told my family yet, but as for my friends, they were all very helpful and supportive when I first said that I’d like to become a drag queen. They were the ones who taught me how to put on makeup and dance like a drag queen.

Who is your Idol?

Lady gaga! Her passion and personality is so full of hope and honesty that she inspires me every single moment

Who is your favorite drag queen?

I don’t have a favorite drag queen, but I respect all drag queens who work hard in their own places. I’m also just trying to make my drag identity known to the world. .

How long does it take you to prepare for a performance? What goes into your preparation?

When deciding which song to use, I usually start choosing a month in advance, depending on what I’m going through at the time and what I have seen and been exposed to. Putting on makeup and wearing the outfit for a performance takes around 2-3 hours.

Can you tell us about an average work day?

On a typical day, I try to get as much sleep as I can so I wake up around 4 hours before a show. I make sure that I save up enough energy to focus on the performance. After the show, I stick around for the after party, talk with friends and fans, and then go back home to sleep.

You have been in the opening act for drag queens including KIM CHI, Naomi Smalls and Violet Chachki—tell us about those experiences?

I’m always happy to meet other queens and perform with them. Meeting other people and entirely different drag fans always excites me for an upcoming show.

You have also featured in music videos like Dumbfoundeads how did that come about?

The goal of the Dumbfoundead’s Hyung (“older brother” in Korean; only said by a younger male) M/V was to show all the different kinds of “Hyungs” in our community. Dumbfoundead wanted to show that drag queens can also be very strong and fierce characters, not just feminine. Throughout the video shoot all the workers were very kind, open-minded, and supportive of the LGBTQ community.

What is the best part about being a drag queen?

That would have to be meeting new people and fans; being given their love and support.

What are some challenges in relation to your job?

Drag Queens are often like chameleons in the sense that every time they perform, they need to come up with something new and exciting. So I’d say this need for constant evolution and improvement is the most challenging—but fun—aspect about being a drag queen.

What advice would you give anyone interested in doing drag?

Well, you should start by checking out different drag queens and see how each performer has their own unique style. It’s important that anyone who wants to be a drag queen find his own persona to make his performance really his own. Also, learn to enjoy yourself; many people do this as a hobby and then make it their career.

Any future goals?

My biggest dream is to be able to perform in my own voice to my own songs and to go on world tours. Kuciia is one of a kind and provides audiences with a serving of both fierceness and extravagance. Follow Kuciia through her Instagram (@kuciia) for more information about events. Below is the link to the Dumbfoundead “Hyung” music video that Kuciia appeared in and a photo gallery of some of Kuciia’s best looks.

Dumbfoundead “HYUNG”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOxGNh3cwJo

By Amiira Ismail, reporter for The AsiaN