Deja, 22, of Baguio City, didn't expect to win Season 2 of Drag Den, which aired on Amazon Prime Video. He described becoming the country's newest drag queen as a beautiful blessing.

"Hindi ko siya ineexpect. Malaking blessing po ito. Ang gusto ko lang talaga ay ma-represent yung provincial queen at yung drag queen industry sa Baguio. Yun talaga ang isa sa main goal ko kung bakit ako pumasok sa loob. Parang bonus na lang na nanalo ako," said Deja during an exclusive interview recently.

Deja, the Sexy Rockstar of Baguio City, bested nine other contestants in the popular reality competition for rising drag queens. He won P1 million cash, a talent management contract from Cornerstone Entertainment, a one-year ambassadorship with Avignon Clinic, and P25,000 worth of Bragais shoes.

Asked about his plans for the cash prize, Deja said: "Sa ngayon wala pa akong plano kung saan ko siya ilalagay kasi hindi ko ineexpect na mananalo ako. Pero parang gusto kong mag-give back sa family ko."

With his talent management from Cornerstone Entertainment, Deja hopes to collaborate with p-pop boyband VXON. "Gusto kong maka-collab ang VXON. Gusto kong maging sixth member nila. Pero gusto ko ako lang yung naka-drag."

The Pinoy Drag Supreme wants to dedicate his Drag Den victory to drag queens in the provinces.

"For the longest time kasi kulang ng representation yung mga queen sa probinsya. So gusto namin ipakita na kaya namin makipagsabayan sa mga drag queen ng Metro Manila at kaya rin namin manalo. Isa yun sa main goal ko. Maliit lang ang entablado nila sa probinsya at hindi sila gaano napapansin," he said.

Deja admitted he had second thoughts about auditioning for Drag Den because he was still studying in 2023. Then he tweeted, 'What if Baguio wins the Drag Den?' Some people retweeted his tweet. He believes this was a sign that he should audition for the reality show. And the rest is history.

Deja describes himself as a full-time drag queen. He took up hospitality management at Pangasinan State University in 2023. Although he joined the drag industry almost two years ago, he said he was already aware of drag queens in Grade 8.

"Nag start ako mag drag after the pandemic. Pero I was in Grade 8 when I learned about drag queens. That time nanonood na ako ng mga drag shows at lip sync battle sa YouTube. Then kami ng mga friends ko na drag queens na rin ngayon nagpe-perform lang kami sa school. Yun ang pangarap na pinanghawakan namin kasi sa probinsya mahirap yung resources para maging drag queen. And with God's grace, naging totoo na siya.

"Siguro nakita ng universe yung tyaga ko kaya binigay niya ito sa akin.Maybe sabi niya, 'Okay, ibibigay ko sa'yo ito dahil nakafocus ka rito at mahal mo ito.' Unti unti po ako nakilala at nag so-show na rin ako sa Manila, Pangasinan at Baguio. Mina-manifest ko talaga noon na magkaroon ako ng drag career at manalo sa competition. 

"Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na kaya ko rin ang mga ginagawa ng ibang drag queens. Pero at the back of my mind, malabo kasi hindi naman kami mayaman para makabili ng mga gamit. Pinanghawakan ko lang ang pangarap ko. At nangyari na nga. Supportive naman ang family and friends ko. Kahit na sa bahay lang kami noon nagpe-perform at nasisira na ang mga tiles dahil sa high-heeled shoes namin. Okay lang naman sa kanila," Deja said.

Now that she's the newly crowned drag queen in the country, Deja wants to organize shows in the provinces to promote drag entertainment.

"Gusto ko mag recording kahit hindi naman ako singer. Gusto ko rin magshow sa iba't ibang probinsya para mabuhay ang drag industry sa probinsya. Who knows? Baka taga probinsya uli ang manalo sa next season ng Drag Den," he said.

Deja enjoys lip-syncing Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Adele, and Ariana Grande.

Given the chance to choose the star who would portray himself in a movie, Deja said he would go for Sassa Gurl. 

"That's a tough question. Pwedeng ako na lang? Sino ba? Ang mahal kasi ng talent fee ni meme Vice Ganda. Kung nangangarap din lang ako, big dream na di ba? Kaso hindi kami magka-age bracket. Siguro si Sassa Gurl na lang. Okay na sa akin si Sassa," he said.

Deja stated that he would burst into tears if he ever had the chance to meet his idol, Vice Ganda, in person.

"Oh my God! Super idol ko siya. Siguro kapag nakita ko sya sa personal iiyak ako. Nanonood daw siya ng Drag Den. May mga tweet siya. Hindi naman sa nag-a-assume ako pero feeling ko kilala niya ako kasi nanonood siya ng Drag Den. Gusto kong maka-attend ng 'Unkabogable' event niya," he said.

Deja also shared his thoughts on other topics: 

Best compliment ever received: "Sobrang ganda ko raw sa personal. Kidding aside. May mga nagsasabi at lumalapit, 'Alam mo, na-inspire ako sa'yo.' May mga DM sa akin ang mga baby drag queens na inspired daw sila i-pursue ang dream nila maging drag queen kahit taga province lang sila. Nakakataba ng puso. Hindi ako sanay sa ganung atensyon pero it melts my heart."

Dealing with bashers: "Pumapatol ako pero I realized dummy accounts lang naman pala sila. So wala na silang magagawa dahil nasa akin na ang crown at hindi na nila mai-snatch yun."

Misconception about himself: "Akala ng iba masungit ako in drag. Kasi I do my makeup, bitch daw ang peg ko. Hindi nila alam sobrang kalog ko." 

Misconception about drag entertainment: "Akala nila basta drag pang bar lang. I want to say drag is for everyone. Hindi lang siya pang adult at pwede rin itong ma-enjoy ng mga bata. Dapat nating lawakan ang utak natin when it comes to drag."

Touching moment during the competition: "One of the most touching moments in the show was when my family visited me during the show. Napaka-touching noon kasi napasiip ko sila sa tunay na mundo na ginagalawan ko." 

Close friends in Drag Den: "Lahat naman close ko pero ang pinaka-close ko ay si Mrs Tan and Moi. Kaming top 3. Si Mrs Tan wala akong choice kasi roommate ko. Si Moi naman same kami ng struggle as provincial queen."

Message to the world: "Spread love and kindness. Sobang cliche na siya pero wala naman kasing bayad para maging mabuti sa kapwa. Kahit hindi drag." 

Advice to provincial drag queens: "Akala ninyo walang nakakakita sa inyo dahil maliit lang ang ginagalawan ninyo sa province pero isipin na lang ninyo na practice lang yan for a bigger stage. Look at me now! Kapag may itinanim, may aanihin."

Ultimate goal: "Noon taboo ang drag sa probinsya namin. Naka-tangga kasi kami habang nagpe-perform kami so hindi nila alam kung ano ang ginagawa namin. Pero ngayon dumarami na ang drag events kahit sa mainstream. Kahit papaano nakikilala na ito. It's about time na marecognize na rin ang talent namin. Pero mukhang mahabang laban pa ito. We still have a long way to go but at least nagsisimula na tayo. Baby steps."

Drag Den is produced by Cornerstone Studios and Project 8.