Drag spectacular Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap is now streaming on Showmax

Now streaming on Showmax, Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap is a reality TV show that follows the lives of seven drag queens who are putting the sparkle in Cape Town’s drag industry. The show will give viewers an inside look at the world of drag, the behind-the-scenes work that goes into putting on a show and their trials, tribulations and wins.

The larger-than-life cast members include multi-pageant winner Emogan Moore, Miss Sovereign Western Cape winner Ina Propriette, Miss Cape Town Pride winner Kat Gilardi, SA’s Got Talent runner-up Manila von Teez, Miss Gay Western Cape winner Maxine Wilde, and rival house mothers BB Vahlour and television personality Madison Scarr. 

Watch the trailer

We caught up with the ladies and they shared what being on Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap means for them and the people in their communities 

BB Vahlour 

Pronouns: She/Her

Although BB Vahlour is new in the drag world, she feels like it has changed her life for the better. “For me, being a drag queen has changed my life and has given me a purpose. I found a sisterhood and I will forever be grateful for that. I am glad that Beaulah will show this to younger queens who might be struggling and it will give them hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Emogan Moore

Pronouns: He/Him

Fabian van Schalkwyk, also known as Emogan Moore, is happy for the opportunity to be on the show. “I have been doing drag for 13 years and, at this point in my career, being on Beaulah is a stamp of approval and it means the world to me. It means that I have been doing things right and that all my hard work is finally paying off.”

Ina Propriette

Pronouns: He/Him

Wade Khoosal, also known as Ina Propriette, has been doing drag for five years and has already been featured in Vogue. He feels like being on the show is another stepping stone to reaching even higher heights. 

“Being on this show is major because it will show that this is not just a dress-up game; it will show that the artform has developed and it can be a solid career. I am also happy to be on this show because it will show the people from my community in a more positive light for a change.”

Kat Gilardi

Pronouns: He/Him

Carl Richards, also known as Kat Gilardi, is excited to show viewers that drag queens are multidimensional people who are all different. “A lot of people do not get to see who we are beyond drag, so this show is an opportunity for people to know us on a more human level. We are normal people with struggles and emotions and we go through the same things as everyone else. I am hoping that people will laugh, learn and relate.”

Madison Scarr

Pronouns: She/Her

Madison Scarr feels like drag is an art form for everyone. “As a transwoman who does drag, I look at it as an art form. I feel like anyone can do drag and enjoy it and that is why I love it. It is very inclusive and everyone has a place. Whether you are a man, a cis woman or trans, everyone is welcome.” 

Manila Von Teez

Pronouns: He/Him

Veon Wentzel, also known as Manila Von Teez, feels like this show is very important for the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as other marginalised communities. "It is important to showcase the struggles that the queer community, and especially the POC community, go through on a daily basis. Drag has always been a tool of activism, and one we take seriously.”

He added, “Through the show, the audience will get to see that drag is not just about a person dressing as a female, but it is an art form in which a career can be created, lives changed, people entertained and much more.”

Maxine Wild

Pronouns: She/Her

Maxine Wild has been doing drag for 11 years. As an OG in the game, she has seen a recent shift in how drag is perceived by the general public. “The world is now more understanding of what we do; there are still challenges but it has gotten better. There are now many opportunities that were not there when I started and that makes me happy because I can see the advancement of our community.”  

Stream the first episode of Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap first on Showmax here, with new episodes every Thursday until 19 September 2024. 

Join the conversation: #BeaulahQueensShowmax