“The fact that I exist makes it possible for others to exist,” Madazon Can-Can said.

The local drag scene in Utah is fierce, colorful and full of surprises. Madazon Can-Can, Lilia Maughn, Carrie and Sequoia are a few drag artists who have shared this sentiment and their stories as they’ve grown in the scene.

“Utah drag is multifaceted. You have the glamor queens, you have dancing queens, you’ve got live singing queens, you’ve got alternative, you’ve got drag kings. We have the burlesque scene, which is really great,” Maughn said. “We are all just these beautiful colors coming together to make this beautiful scene.”

Drag is a parody and comedy that can reveal layers as the artists perform. It’s an art full of joy and perseverance. Madazon said, “I love high camp, high comedy, high concept and high color.” They’ve been a drag king in the scene since 2018, and kings aren’t as popular as queens. Because of this, Madazon has had a very different upbringing in the world of drag, and their art carries a different meaning for them.

“Us showing up as ourselves is the most radical act, and they will just be angry no matter what we do… I don’t care anymore if they’re offended. And I’ve had to learn to turn it from fear into excitement when I offend someone. I’m like, ‘Oh, good, what’s next?’” Madazon said.

Carrie, a younger queen in the scene, shared what it’s been like for her as she approaches a year of performing. “It went very well for me in terms of just like how I felt once I was in drag, and also the receptiveness from the other drag queens and the audience. It quickly consumed my life,” Carrie said.

She explained that drag can take on different roles in an artist’s life. It can be a hobby, a daily routine or a full-time job. For many artists, drag is their full-time job. Another queen, Sequoia, started her career in the scene in New York City. She explained that performing drag in Utah has been more fulfilling. “As I started to get into this community, I realized how interesting the

counterculture of it all is, and how much more impactful drag can be,” she said.

Maughn, a queen who has been performing for many years, described Utah drag as a chosen family. It’s a place where everyone and their ideas are welcome. “Drag is very much an appreciation or a love letter to something that we see in the world or that we appreciate. To me, drag is love,” she said. Along with Sequoia, she explained Utah drag is different from the other scenes, given the culture of the area. “I really do think that the way we get people to understand us and listen to us is by approaching that conservativeness with something they’re familiar with and understanding of,” Maughn said.

She has a drag brunch called “Sunday Service” at the Cabin bar in Park City that does just this. The audience is immersed immediately as the space becomes the “69th Ward.” The entire show is tongue-in-cheek to Mormonism. The jokes poke at familiar Utah culture. Artists perform at other venues, including Metro Music Hall – a favorite among them – Pearl on Main, Blue Gene’s and Waikiki. They all gave props to these venues for continuing to be supportive. “Salt Lake does a pretty good job of making queer spaces queer and keeping us very secure,” Carrie said.

As drag continues to become more mainstream, the queens, kings and things also continue to push for more respect for what they do. Madazon said, “Don’t settle. If you settle, you’re undercutting you, you’re undercutting your elders and you’re undercutting your community and your scene.”

Sequoia agreed. “The culture of drag is inevitably going to shift moving into the next presidency, and that is going to be really interesting to see how Utah responds and how Salt Lake City responds,” she said. “There are a lot of people who are really fighting to keep queerness alive in Utah.”

“I just would encourage anybody who loves drag to keep getting your friends to be into it and support it and appreciate it. And like, even if you don’t love something, you still need to be giving what you can to them, because we can only get better with the community support,” Maughn said.

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@laneypauline.bsky.social