absurd cover editorial.

Kheira is a 23 year old drag queen who has been conquering stages and hearts across the country. From a younger age, Kheira found a strong connection with artform and discovered the world of drag. Her uniqueness and talent inspired me to interview and get to know her perspective about the state of our society and how we can evolve together towards a more tolerant one. The LGBTQIA+ community in Portugal is still a victim of homophobia, discrimination which leads to mental health issues, among others. Absurd is not treating every human being with respect. Absurd is thinking that the LGBTQIA+ is still being discriminated. This editorial aims to bring light to these topics and celebrate the drag world with Kheira.

Photography in film by João Barreiros

How was the journey until you found Kheira within you?

From an early age, I always felt drawn to theater, to breathing something that is completely unlike myself, I search for a form of escapism. I learned of drag earlier in my life but because of a great deal of personal struggles with my sexuality and constantly trying to hide myself from the world in hopes to blend in. It wasn't until I freed myself from my own reservations that I at last managed to start my journey in drag. My first performance being at a hotel working as an entertainer and member of the staff back then. From that point on it has been a constant growth and search to better improve my craft and art.

How do you characterize yourself?

Drag is a process, one without particular rules to follow, what it must achieve is authenticity with what you wish to provide to the world, what you want to bring to the table. Makeup, hair, styling, it’s all according to what you wish to achieve with your drag persona, with your creation. The fact is all of it takes a lot of time and effort to make it work. Rome was not built in a day and the art of drag is ever changing as the world is. We are pop culture shapers, we feed and provide to the world a continuity to what it is creating and perform by gathering inspiration from what surrounds us. We are literal shape shifters with variant talents, surviving in a world that still refuses to give us value or any grade of importance.

Celebrating drag is something that has been conquering the society or not?

It definitely has been, at long last we begin breaking through the mainstream media. We are seen, the talent the queens of the world possess is gradually being appreciated and loved.

What do you think is missing in the society to see drag as an artform?

Information, education... The school system needs to improve the quality of the program and topics discussed, when introducing arts, the art of drag needs to be taught and shared with young minds. To break down stereotypes and phobias, that originate from ignorance.

This edition is dedicated to the absurd. For us, absurd is thinking that the LGBTQIA+ is still being discriminated in the society, that drive into mental health problems. Do you have any experience that you want to share with someone who is living this? How do you overcome it?

No member from the LGBTQIA+ community can say they never faced hardship and scrutiny. It's an unfair and unfortunate fact of the world we live in that those who happen to be born and not be your cisgender heteronormative person is bound to be tormented for it. To think things have changed completely is naivety, we still have to work it together a whole lot more and fight for equality and respect.

That will hardly change any time soon, we are making progress but we march still for things we haven't achieved. To think racism is going to fade soon is naive, to think that homophobia is a thing of the past is an exercise in futility.

In your opinion, how can the society evolve to be more inclusive and tolerant?

It comes through education, the greatest tool and weapon to fight ignorance. Schools need to bring the concept of art in more improved and brighter ways, introducing self-expression art in all its forms, including oral art. The only way from a young age we can break down phobias and misconceptions surrounding drag. Education truly is powerful.

How do you see the role of media?

For a drag queen, a collection of platforms that actually allow us to display our work without it ever being censured or purposefully avoided by mainstream media. It can showcase our body of work and is quite the powerful tool.

You are the face of this drag celebration. How do you see the future of drag? How do you want to be remembered?

I see drag being in more venues, in more platforms. I want it to be celebrated on a daily basis not only when gay pride comes around. I wish to be seen and recognized with the honorability it deserves. And I wish to be remembered as a legendary queen of the world, who payed her dues and brought to the table a new wave of music through the performative art of drag. I wish to open the doors to the new generation. And have my music ring in the ears of children yet to join us in this world.