Cover Shoot: Six local drag artists strike a pose for Pride

Where drag leads, the fashion world follows. To mark Pride month, we asked six local drag artists to share a signature look and strike a pose on location in Cambridge. Photographs by Luana Martignon - @intimateportraits_bylu

Guillotina: “My first performance as Guillotina was at an April Fool’s drag night - someone I met in a nightclub suggested I do it. I've always had fun dancing on tables, so drag to me was a great excuse to have a mic and to be on stage. My style is probably best described as extremely energetic dancing combined with absurdist Gen Z comedy. It's very entertaining to be a drag performer. It's really fun to excite and rile people up during a performance. You rarely get that rush anywhere else!”
@itz_guillotina

Aria the Kween: “I love the transformation side of drag - doing my makeup and doing my hair and getting to put on the crazy and sparkly outfits. I’d describe my style as fun and colourful, with a touch of sexy thrown in. My main focus is that people enjoy the content I put out; when I perform, I want to make people happy and feel joy. If you were to go to an Aria the Kween show, I’d want you to have a good time!”
@ariathekween

Tony Cambridge(rton): “Tony is a Regency-style bad boy, inspired by icons like Colin Firth in BBC’s Pride and Prejudice. I’ve been a performer most of my life and just really wanted to give drag a try; Tony first performed at NTWICD’s Pre-Pride Party last year. Joining the Cambridge drag scene has given me a sense of community - and sense of belonging as a Queer person within the arts.”
@tonycambridgerton

Ilinx: “I was drawn to drag by the opportunities it affords for community and unrestrained artistic expression. I bring the effervescent nervous energy of oddball novelty acts like Emo Philips, Tiny Tim, and Shooby Taylor ‘The Human Horn’, trapped in the body of a mid-century lounge bar compère. I try to steer clear of references and songs my audiences will be familiar with, as I think it's more exciting to bring them into the realm of the unknown and the unexpected. . .”
@ilinx.ethelburga

Bussy the Vampire Layer: “I am a drag Thing, which is different from a Queen or a King. This definition outside of the binary, and even the human, resonated deeply with my experience as a non-binary creature. Drag is accessible to everyone, and it can be anything you want it to be - my drag style is gothic camp and monster glam. Art can connect, scare, challenge, and heal. Especially in these times where bigotry is on the rise again, we need to celebrate our differences and support our local communities.”
@philosofear

Stealia Jobs: “My style is glamorous but has a slight edge to it; I blend classic drag with more modern drag. I always carry my Polish heritage with me and often make my drag political. But overall, I just like to be silly and have fun with audiences - my drag is all about bringing joy to people! It’s also about breaking gender and binary norms. You have to be prepared to fight for your community; there's a sense of power and duty that comes with drag.”
@stealiajobs

BOOK NOW! You can see all six artists featured here perform live in Cambridge on June 5 as part of Grand Arcade’s Rainbow Runway event, held in support of the city’s Pride celebrations. Click HERE for full details and ticket booking.