GLAAD contributor Enrique Torre Molina is a diversity, inclusion and LGBTQ+ community activist, speaker and consultant working with companies, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and media. He co-founded Colmena 41, co-hosts the “Mafia Gay” podcast and lives in Mexico City.
Spoiler alert: this article contains details about Drag Race Mexico’s season 1, episode 5.
The season is almost at its halfway point and, as the contestants mentioned at the beginning of the episode, it’s getting increasingly challenging. After Pixie Pixie was eliminated, we are left with 8 queens who undoubtedly gave their all.
Valentina announced the mini challenge of the week in the werk room, in which the participants had to show off their best cowboy dance moves. Each of them had to ‘drag’ a pair of boots and hit the dance floor. As Serena Morena said, “It was a challenge that eased the tension from the last episode, which was heavier. It was a really fun moment.”
Argennis and Matraka won, each taking home 9,000 pesos (around $530). And both of them got to choose their teams for the maxi challenge, which involved creating a girl group.
The teams had to showcase their creativity and musical talent by naming their band, writing their own verses for the song This Is How I Am, and creating choreography.
One of the most emotional moments of the episode happened while they were preparing for their performances. It was Matraka’s birthday, and as everyone celebrated with cake, she opened up about her childhood and the difficulties she faced: “I am finally fulfilling a dream that has burned in my heart for so long.” She talked about enduring bullying in school and how home was not a safe place. “There were abuses and very sad things, but now I feel like I can talk about them. The fact that I’m standing here talking about them can be a reference for future generations.” This is an important aspect of the show: bringing visibility to these issues with which so many people can connect.
Showtime came and both teams took the main stage to show us who had what it takes to be in a girl band: Meximamis (with Matraka, Margaret y Ya, Regina Voce, and Serena Morena) and Las Palanquetas (Argennis, Gala Varo, Cristian Peralta, and Lady Kero). To me, Margaret y Ya stood out the most.
The runway theme was “Flowers of Mexico,” and the guest judge was a historical icon of our community: the actress, dancer and hostess Alejandra Bogue. The participants expressed immense admiration for Bogue, who was the first openly transgender woman on Mexican television. Gala Varo told her she’s one of her biggest inspirations.
The queens interpreted the theme of the night in very different ways. Argennis, Serena Morena, Lady Kero, and Cristian Peralta took it more literally, wearing dresses representing a Chihuahuan cactus, an agapanthus, an orchid, and a dahlia. On the other hand, Margaret y Ya, Regina Voce, and Matraka went with more abstract looks. Gala Varo stood out with her luxurious style, orchids and a Frida Kahlo-inspired makeup.
At the moment of truth, Regina Voce and Cristian Peralta were saved, but Valentina said, “being safe is no longer in fashion.” As for the top performers, the judges selected two winners: Gala Varo and Matraka. Argennis and Serena Morena were chosen for the lip sync battle, dancing to Selena’s Amor Prohibido. In the end, Serena Morena was eliminated.
Drag Race Mexico S1 airs every Thursday at 2am ET on WOW Presents Plus, with its local airing in Mexico on Paramount+.