This week’s episode of “Drag Race Philippines” season 2 put Filipino drag artists to the test when it comes to presenting their brand through a shampoo commercial. While some of their campaigns were hilarious enough to leave Filipino drag fans gagging, what made the “Branding-ding-ding” episode extra special was the appearance of “Drag Race Thailand” host and “RuPaul's Drag Race UK vs. The World” star Pangina Heals.
Pangina is not only known as a lip-sync assassin and side-splitting queen, but also for serving one major look after another. And that’s what she did during her time on “Drag Race Philippines” season 2. According to the international drag artist, the look was inspired by the garb Thai women wear in court—perhaps a nod to her role as a guest judge in the episode—only made more glamorous and fit for the main stage of the local “Drag Race” franchise.
“I want to represent a part of my culture being Thai. The outfit has a silhouette very much like what women in the court would wear,” Pangina told Manila Bulletin Lifestyle. “The fabric is made to reflect Thai silk.”
Designed by Thailand-based design house, Thee-Si Couture, the blue and silver gown featured a dramatic silhouette, with many of the hours making it were dedicated to the intricate embellishments. Thee-Si Couture is known for creating looks for Thai beauty queens. For Pangina, choosing the design house was a way to connect both Thailand and the Philippines, which are both passionate about beauty pageants.
“I went to the best designer that works for the pageant system. It is like bridging the cultures of Thailand and the Philippines,” the drag artist said. “I chose the navy blue color because I knew the background of the judges panel would be pink. So, this would be a beautiful contrast of colors.”
Pangina also noted the sabai element of her look. Sabai is a shawl-like garment seen in many Thai costumes and traditional garbs. Completing her look was a feather-like ear cuff, which also complemented her three-bun updo.
Pagina may have appeared in a just single episode of “Drag Race Philippines,” but we will definitely remember this look for days.
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