From Shakespeare to RuPaul Charles: A Brief History of Drag

Since RuPaul's Drag Race began airing in 2009, the art of drag has slowly yet steadily entered the mainstream. No longer appreciated solely by the LGBTQ+ community, drag queens have become some of the world's most venerated pop culture icons, fronting magazine covers, music videos and ad campaigns.

However, drag hasn't always been a widely accepted practice. In honor of Pride Month, HYPEBAE CN is shining a light on the history of drag and and its roots in the LGBTQ+ community. Before RuPaul Charles became America's face of drag, Shakespearean actors would dress up as women to portray female characters (back then, only men were allowed to perform). It wasn't until the 1920s that the term "drag" became closely linked with the LGBTQ+ community.

Head to HYPEBAE CN to read more about the history of drag, and check out a video summary above.

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