5 questions for a drag king

Christina Sell is a senior majoring in sport communication broadcast and telecommunications. She plans to go to law school and eventually enter the field of sports agency. In her free time, Sell primarily plays with her cats, Nike and Marley, cooks experimental meals with her roommates, focuses on schoolwork. She works at shows and charity events as a drag king by the name of Duke McAllister. Duke was crowned the 2008 IU Hoosier Daddy.

Q: Have you ever been in a situation where you’ve witnessed complete strangers react to the drag lifestyle?
A: Yes. I was with a few of my friends after one of the Miss Gay IUs ... we all went to Steak ’n Shake afterward in full drag. There were some high school kids who were really aggressive and definitely verbally harassing some of the people I was with.

Q: Does this kind of response bother you?
A: Yes and no. I can understand that people everywhere aren’t really used to gender norms being challenged ... so I can understand where they’re coming from, being curious but afraid to express their curiosity, so it comes out as aggression.

Q: Do you think it’s harder being a drag queen or a drag king?
A: Well, queens definitely have to go through more of a dramatic transition. There’s a lot of sequins, a lot of make-up and a lot of feathers involved. But I think they both have their challenges. I would say queens probably have it a little harder. It’s easier to cover up than it is to create.

Q: What do you feel is the biggest misconception relating to the drag lifestyle?
A: I think a lot of people assume that people that do drag are transgender, which is true in some cases, but in a lot of situations that’s totally not the case.

Q: If there was one thing you could tell outsiders about your lifestyle, what would it be?
A: Don’t be afraid. I think a lot of people hear “drag show” and they think “freak show.”  But it’s a fun and very lighthearted atmosphere. There’s really nothing to be intimidated by. It’s just some boys in makeup with fake boobs chilling. There are girls in baggy jeans with fate goatees. If you check your fear at the door and just let yourself have a good time, it’s really awesome.