LinkedIn Drag: Map Registers Drag Queens and Transformists from All Over Brazil

The LinkedIn of drag queens: this is the idea of Bruno Fuziwara and David Costa, who teamed up to document the names and talents of drag artists in Brazil. With about ninety profiles, the Mapa Drag (Drag Map) will launch this Saturday (4) through the initiative of the Coletivo Acuenda from the East Zone of São Paulo—precisely the region where the duo began mapping these professionals.

"We prioritized our region to bring visibility to the artists from these neighborhoods, and we will soon expand to other areas," explains David. "Just like the records used by actors and artists, we started with the desire to create a 'drag portfolio,' something that would help us track how many of us exist in the city and the country."

To create the initial profiles, Bruno's apartment served as an improvised studio space where each drag queen was interviewed and photographed before being added to the platform. "We want the map to be used by producers and agencies interested in hiring these artists, who often also work with makeup and costumes."

With the exception of those who "dress up" to work in nightclubs throughout the year, Bruno and David say that most are only remembered by companies during June, for LGBTQIA+ Pride events. "We realized how important it is for them to have a space to exist as professionals, and creating this space has been a great healing process," celebrates David.

Today, the founders' main occupation is as drag queens in shows and performances. Bruno started dressing up at a poetry reading, not fully understanding the concept. "I’ve been doing this since 2013, and soon created a cabaret with friends. We were all dressed up without knowing what we were doing, but we had fun and discovered ourselves," he recalls.

From Rio Grande do Norte, David started around the same time. "I only dressed up for Carnival contests until I was named 'quenga de Natal,' performing on the main stages at parties. In São Paulo, I found Bruno and the collective, who gave me the desire to dress up all the time."

In addition to holding free rehearsals to register new artists on the website, they plan to create a section with the stories of pioneering drag queens in Brazil, like Kaká di Polly, an icon from the '80s, who passed away earlier this year. "We’re also going to release a book dedicated to the people on the map," Bruno adds. "Reality shows and competitions in this genre often showcase the rivalry among drag queens," notes David. "But this art form could achieve much more if all of them were united."

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