FAQ     Key Terms     Finding Your Name     Binding

Eyebrows     Stubble     5 O’clock Shadow     Facial Hair

Hairstyles     Dressing to Pass     Packing

FAQ

1.  Why are you a Drag King?

My love of performance, hearing the ladies cheer, and hanging with the boys.

2.  Do all Drag Kings want to be real men?

Not all of them, no. Kinging is art form.  Drag Kings portray men, it does not necessarily mean that they want to live their life as a man.  (FTM Kings do exist.)

3.  Do you want to be a man?

No, its all about the illusion for me.  I am happy the way I am.

4.  Are all Drag Kings lesbians?

No. Some are Gay.  Some are Straight.  Some are Bisexual. Or - Transgendered, Transsexual, Queer, Asexual, Pansexual, Intersexual, etc.

5.  Do Drag Kings dress in drag every day?

Drag Kinging is entertainment.  Some Kings don’t dress in character every day and some do.

6.  Do I have to have facial hair to be a Drag King?

No. Not all guys have facial hair; therefore, not all drag kings have to have facial hair. Facial hair can aid sometimes in covering the more feminine face, but it’s not mandatory.

7.  Do I have to cut off my hair in order to pass?

No. Some of the Kings use their long hair like a man with longer hair.  Others hide their longer hair with hats of bandanas.  Personally, shorter hair is easiest.

8.  I’m femme; can I be a Drag King?

Of course.  I know some femme Kings that wear thongs, LOL.  When you are in drag, you are your character, not yourself. If your afraid of looking too feminine, makeup, facial hair, costume, and poster can help you look more masculine.

9.  How do you hide your chest while in drag?

Personally, I have tried many methods.  I have tried binding with sport bras, ace bandage, and duck tape straight to the skin.  Ouch! 

10.  What does a Drag King pack?

Well, some Drag Kings don’t pack.  Those that do use sorts of phallus shaped objects.  Some methods include - the sock method, the gel-filled condom method, and the harnessed dildo method. I have seen Kings even use a banana. Who really knows? Only the packer and perhaps his lucky lady friend.  And before you ask, does it really matter what I’m packing in my underwear?

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Key Terms

Androgyny: 1. A person who is intermediate between traditional gender roles, or rejects such roles entirely. 2. A person whose biological sex is not readily apparent, whether owing to heredity or choice.

Bi-Gendered: Someone who identifies as female half the time and male the other half.

Binding: When someone ties down their breasts, one way or another, to look more masculine.

Butch:  Someone of any sex whose outward appearance, attitude and behavior is toward the male or masculine end of the spectrum.

Cross Dresser: Someone who wears the clothing of the other sex on occasion, but do not desire to change their sex.

DK: Abbreviation for Drag King

DRAB: Means DRessed As Boy, referring to [what is currently considered as male] clothes or in male’s clothes, used mainly by gender benders and cross-dressers of both directions. Not used as frequently as the word drag.

Drag: 1. When a guy dresses like a woman, or when a woman dresses like a guy. 2. When a [person] wears clothing unlike his or her normal attire- ie: when a butch lesbian wears a dress, when a conservative fag wears all leather... etc.

Drag King: A person [usually female] who takes on a male persona as convincingly as possible, usually exaggerating sexual stereotypes for entertainment or self-gratification.

Femme:  Someone of any sex whose outward appearance, attitude and behavior is towards the fe-male or feminine end of the spectrum.

FTM: Female-To-Male [cross-dresser or transsexual].  It is more [acceptable] to use the abbreviations rather than the complete phrase, except to explain it to someone who doesn't know what FTM stands for. Also abbreviated as F2M, [or FtM].

Gender Bender: Someone who switches or plays with their gender through appearance, ie- a woman wearing a suit.

Gender Fucker: See Gender Bender - only more extreme.

Male Impersonator: A person who takes on a specific male persona (ie portraying Elvis)

Packing: When someone stuffs their pants to give the illusion of a penis being between their legs [most commonly done with a sock].

Pass: This means to be in one’s preferred gender image, and to be able to do so convincingly.

Transgender: A term to describe anyone who crosses the line outside the "man" or "woman" boxes expected by society.

Transsexual: A person who desires to permanently live as the opposite sex from their birth sex.

Transvestite: A person who doesn't seek a sex change, yet live as the opposite gender.

Troupe: A group of Drag Kings who perform together.

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Finding Your Name

First think of what kind of character you are going to be performing. Choose a name that is personal to you and that will reflect your persona.

1. Play with words and phrases. Try to connect the first and last name into a witty little phrase/word (ie. Hunter Down, Ryder Strong, Cord Long, etc.).   A Drag King can just have one single name, but it is best to have a last name just incase there is another say Diesel out there.

2. Try not to think of other drag kings’ names while coming up with one of your own. It might cause you to unintentionally modify it and claim it as your own.

3. Find some characteristics that are present in your drag persona and incorporate them into your drag name.

4. Modify your out-of-drag name. Maybe, if your name is Leigh Ann, you would like to be an Lee. Justine into a Justin, and so on.

5.  Ask other Kings for advice – believe it or not, Noah Rex named me.

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Binding

Things to avoid:

• Using plastic wrap as your binder is a no. True, the width can be a real help while binding yourself down, but plastic doesn’t breathe.
• Binding yourself too tight. If you bind yourself too tight, you won’t be able to breathe right, if at all.

What you can use for binding:

• Ace Bandage - Wrap the bandage around your chest while pressing down on your breasts towards your armpits. Start at the top of your chest and work your way down as you wrap the bandage around. Women with larger breasts may need to use more than one bandage. After the bandage is completely around you, take some duct tape and wrap it around your chest over the bandage once or twice. This will make sure nothing “falls out of place.”
• Duct tape [or any kind of tape for that matter]  - When taping down you might need assistance.  Press down on your breasts toward your armpits and tape a layer at a time.  This is for optimal hold.  However, when you try to take it off, you’re going to rip out the little hairs on your chest along with the skin. Seriously, it hurts. A lot.
• Sports bras - If you use a sports bra, use one that is one size smaller than you would usually wear. Then add a layer or two duct tape around the sports bra for extra compression. This generally work for women with smaller breasts. Sport bras can also be used in combination with other methods.
• Ultra Control Top Pantyhose - Generally used for women with smaller breasts; buy a pair that will be small on you, cut off the legs, and make a hole in the crotch. Then, put your arms through the leg holes and your head through the crotch. Try to flatten your breasts as much as possible and pull the rest of pantyhose over your chest.
• Abdominal Binders - For about $13, you can buy an abdominal binder and use it for your chest.  I have found you might need to reinforce the edges with tape so it will not roll during performances.

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EYEBROWS

A Guy’s eyebrow is usually thicker and darker than most women’s. Get an eyeliner pencil or some mascara, that matches the color of your hair, and just fill in your eyebrows.

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STUBBLE

What you'll need:

1.  Toothbrush

2.  Mascara - You want to try to find a color that is closest to your natural hair color.

3.  Tissue

Steps:

1.  Take old toothbrush and lightly dab it with the mascara

2.  You want to dab the bristles of the toothbrush lightly and fast to create that not too painted on look. 

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5 O’Clock Shadow

Method 1:

What you’ll need:

1.  Same as above

2.  Baby powder

Steps:

1.  Repeat same methods as above

2.  Take tissue and blot over mascara

3.  Take baby powder and blot over remaining mascara

4.  Wipe away excess baby powder

Additional Methods:

1.  Rub eye shadow slightly darker than your skin tone until you have the desired effect.

2.  Slightly burn one end of a cork, let it cool, and lightly run your face until you have the desired look.

3.  Lightly run charcoal onto your face until you achieve the desired effect.

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FACIAL HAIR

Simple Method:

A realistic look can be simple and easy by taking eye shadow rubbing on desired area as a base.  Then take different shade of brown (or color closest to your hair) and drawing on in small hair like strokes.  Be sure the pens or pencils are sharp and draw on lightly to evoke that depth of real hair.

Complex Method: