The Art of the Beat: How to Achieve the Signature Looks of Filipina Drag Superstars

We’re currently living in a golden age of drag—and Filipina queens are right at the center of it all.

Drag in the Philippines is thriving thanks to the queens’ charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent (if you know, you know). With every beat, death drop, and snatched wig, they’re rewriting the rules of beauty and self-expression, one lip sync at a time. 

Have you ever watched a drag performance and thought, “How is that makeup not melting?” or “How is that wig still on after that split?” Same. It makes you wonder how they look flawless all throughout and still serve a look that’s unmistakably their own.

Sure, we all know RuPaul’s classic blonde wig. But what about our Filipina drag superstars? So we got the tea straight from the source.

We sat down with three of the country’s magnetic drag queens—Eva Le Queen, Marina Summers, and Minty Fresh—to talk about the stories behind their signature glam, the products they swear by, and the intricate details of their look. Plus, they’re spilling secrets and tips they’ve never shared before.

Eva Le Queen: The royalty of ethereal drag beauty

Courtesy of Eva Le Queen

For Eva Le Queen, drag makeup is more than just transformation—it’s about discipline, storytelling, and detail. She has a meticulous process that focuses on skin and getting that lit-from-within glow. Fans often joke that she carries her own ring light wherever she goes. 

Eva incorporates bridal makeup techniques she picked up at CosmoProf Academy in Singapore to create a base that photographs like a dream to her drag (no wonder she looks radiant in photos!). “The goal is to look ethereally beautiful. Not quite human, but not beyond human either. It should blur the line between real and surreal,” she says.

Eva’s base is her blueprint

While most queens center their routine on bold eyes, Eva goes all in on the skin:

Color correction: She uses three different color correctors (like purple and green) to neutralize shadows, redness, and uneven tone.

Foundation gradient: Eva builds her base using five to six different foundations to create a natural-looking gradient—from the highest highlights to her deepest contours.

Setting powders: She sets each tonal zone with a specific powder: one for highlights, one for mid-tones, and a deeper shade for contours.

Layered blush: Her cheeks get layered too, starting with an orange-toned blush to create warmth and dimension.

Eva’s bouffant updos—snatched, voluminous, and swirled—have become part of her signature. She’s worn them in every shade imaginable: red, green, blonde, brunette. The silhouette elongates her face and complements her sharp cheekbones and angular eye makeup. “It’s very drag, very high, very me.”

But lately, Eva’s been exploring softness. She’s embraced long, flowing hairstyles to lean into a more feminine energy. “There’s just something about letting the hair down,” she admits.

She’s also made the switch to human hair wigs, with some pieces costing up to PHP 80,000. But for Eva, it’s worth it. The shine, the movement, the realism—it all elevates the fantasy. And the secret? Melting the lace to perfection. “You just know when someone’s wearing a crunchy lace. I’m an international girl—I will not be caught dead in a crunchy lace.”

Products and tips Eva swears by

Eva’s glam routine may be intense, but her kit is tight. She doesn’t just rely on technique—she invests in skin care and long-wear formulas that hold up under hot lights and long nights.

Primer: One/Size Secure the Sweat Primer to grip her base.

Skin care: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex—an investment, but one she swears changed her skin.

For Eva, blending is a non-negotiable. She always makes sure that everything is blended seamlessly. Eva doesn’t just blend—she teaches it like gospel. As a drag mother to new queens, she’s firm about this one golden rule:

“If you don’t have time to blend, come to work earlier so you can blend your makeup. Every time people see you, that’s your resume. You never know who’s watching. Crunchy lace? Unblended face? You might’ve just missed your next offer.”

Marina Summers: The bronze goddess of Filipina drag

Photo: Lord Zoleta

Marina Summers doesn’t just serve glam—she refines it. Known for her “drag meets pageant meets runway” aesthetic, her beat is clean, sculpted, and soft in all the right places. It’s feminine but drag, runway-ready but Filipina at heart.

Her signature? Seamless contour, a radiant base, and a neutral color story that still delivers maximum impact.

Her glam isn’t about chasing trends. It’s about crafting something that feels true—and letting her drag evolve. Whenever she finds a new product or technique, she incorporates it to her current look. “It gives my drag more finesse over time,” Marina says.

Marina-approved products and tips

To achieve that effortlessly soft, gradient-forward look, here are the things that Marina love: 

Primer: YSL Touche Éclat Blur Primer is a Sasha Velour-recommendation that gives skin for that slip-and-glide finish, and layers it with a second primer to control texture.

Highlight: Marina goes hard on concealer and highlight. Her trick? Using Anastasia Beverly Hills Magic Touch Concealer in three shades: Shade 6 on outer highlight zones, Shade 2 blended in the inner face, and Shade 1 on the nose bridge and highest points for that subtle pop.

Contour and bronzer: Finding the right bronzer for morena skin is no joke. You have to look for something that gives you warmth without looking ashy. For her, the KVD Good Apple Sculpt + Bronze Balm Duo in Tan 500 is the one. Marina applies it a little higher on her cheek area so that when she applies her favorite blush—Dior Rouge Blush in 999 Satin—for a peachy pop of color.

Lip: Marina’s a gloss girl, period. Whether she’s in drag or not, you’ll catch her with Dior Lip Glow Oil—001 Pink for everyday tint, and 000 Transparent over red lipstick. 

Her secret scent: “This is the first time that I’m going to be revealing my perfume,” she announces to Allure Philippines. She reveals that it’s none other than the bestselling Jacques Polge-creation Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. Regal, expensive-smelling, unforgettable. 

Her favorite trick? Perfuming her hands—so when she signs merch, accepts a tip, or waves to a fan, they remember exactly the smell of who they just met.

Minty Fresh: The cool kontrabida with a killer eye for detail

Courtesy of Minty Fresh

If there’s one thing Minty Fresh wants you to know about her drag is that, “it’s not that serious.” But don’t let her chill attitude fool you—her looks are always cohesive, intentional, and clean.

Inspired by teleserye kontrabidas who are often “prettier than the bida,” Minty doesn’t follow a strict reference or character archetype. Unlike many queens who base their drag on a single muse, hers shifts depending on the day. It’s all about the vibe—she plays around, has fun, and lets the energy of the moment guide her look.

Thanks to her background in fine arts and design at the University of Santo Tomas, she’s also grown comfortable working with brushes, a skill that translates into the precision of her paint.

Minty’s (not-so) makeup steps

Minty’s process isn’t rigid. Sometimes she starts with the eyes, other times with the skin, but one thing stays constant: The entire look has to come together. Wig, outfit, makeup—it all needs to be cohesive.

She even considers the type of event—whether it’s a photo shoot, a brand gig, or an outdoor show—and tailors the look to match the setting. Of course, she also makes sure her glam is hulas-proof, especially when it comes to the Philippines’ unpredictable weather.

Lately, Minty’s been leaning into printed hair—think tiger stripes, color-blocked wigs, and patterns that match her makeup and outfits. “No one’s really doing it yet here in the Philippines, so I’ve been experimenting with stripes and matching everything,” she shares.

For Minty, lashes can make—or break—the entire eye look. “Kahit gaano kaganda yung silhouette ng eye look mo, if the lashes don’t work or don’t complement your eyes, it just won’t hit,” she admits. That’s why she takes her lash game seriously, often custom-stacking pairs to get the perfect shape and volume. 

She’s always on the lookout for dramatic, detailed lashes—whether she’s traveling abroad or just casually passing by a mall kiosk. Price doesn’t matter; if they look good, they’re going in her cart. Finding the right pair is a must.

Minty’s staples

Minty may joke about gatekeeping her techniques, but when it comes to her staples, she’s more than happy to spill.

Base: For staying power, she swears by a good gripping primer and a reliable long-wear setting spray—especially for high-energy performances under hot lights. One of her favorites? The One/Size On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray, which keeps her beat locked in all night. 

Hair: For hair that doesn’t move (literally), she trusts the Butterfly Shadow Strong Hold Hair Spray—a budget-friendly drag queen essential known for its performance and iconic scent. “I need something that’ll last. When I have a show, I can’t be worrying if my makeup and wig’s slipping off.”

Fragrance: For Minty, the finishing touch goes beyond makeup and hair. She shares, “Whenever I do drag, it’s not just about the look. I also think: ‘Anong perfume gagamitin ko tonight?’”

Fragrance, for her, is part of the full fantasy. It’s the detail people remember long after the end of a show. Her favorites? Statement-making scents Jean Paul Gaultier So Scandal! and Prada Paradoxe, which both feature white florals.

Their look, their legacy

Together, Eva, Marina, and Minty aren’t just painting faces—they’re painting a new picture of what Filipino drag can be. With every perfectly-blended base, gravity-defying wig, and killer lash, they’re pushing artistry forward and taking up the space they deserve. Their glam isn’t just about looking good—it’s about owning the spotlight, and showing the world that the future of drag is proudly, powerfully Filipina. 

And who knows? Maybe this is your sign to pick up that brush, snatch that wig, and start your own drag story.