Drag queen Manila Luzon serves Philippine-inspired looks

Eight years after being named runner-up in season three of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Filipino-American drag queen Manila Luzon has never been more in demand. Having completed tours of Europe, Australia and South America this year, she recently featured on US drama series General Hospital. Manila Luzon was also part of Philippine retail brand SM’s 2019 holiday campaign.

It has not always been this way. Although Manila Luzon has worked full time as a drag queen since 2011, her career positively exploded last year when she returned to compete in spinoff show RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4, wowing audiences with her thoughtful, thematic costumes and smart, tongue-in-cheek style of drag.

Born Karl Westerberg in Cottage Grove, Minnesota, to a Filipina mother and an American father of Swedish-German descent, he chose the name Manila Luzon in 2002 after coming out of the closet – dressed from head to toe in his mom’s clothes. “My mother had this huge wardrobe full of colorful clothes and coordinated outfits, as well as traditional Filipino costumes. When I finally came out as gay, I thought I might as well come out of the closet with all these amazing dresses,” she says.

Why did you choose the stage name Manila Luzon and how is she different to Karl Westerberg?

Growing up, my Filipino heritage was always present, thanks to my mother. We were active in the Filipino cultural society, where we practiced and performed folk dances such as tinikling, singkil and pandanggo. I think that’s where my love of performing first began. As a drag queen, I wanted a name that showcased my Asian roots. Manila is my mom’s and my grandma’s city, while Luzon is the island Manila sits on.

The longer I do drag, the more Manila is becoming part of who Karl is. Karl can be shy, but nobody wants to watch a shy drag queen. Manila brings out a side to my personality that I didn’t use to feel confident enough to show to the world. But as time goes by, Manila and Karl are gradually melding into the same person.

You started out as a graphic designer. How has that led to where you are today?

I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in graphic design, from the University of Minnesota Duluth, and worked as a graphic designer in New York City for five years before becoming a professional drag queen. I consider myself a visual artist more than a drag performer, and I think one of the reasons I’ve been successful is that I’ve applied my knowledge of graphic design, fine arts, performance, marketing and branding to my work. Manila Luzon has a clearly defined brand and that sets me apart from a lot of other queens.

In recent years, RuPaul’s Drag Race has evolved from a niche show catering predominantly to gay men to having a more universal appeal. Why do you think that is?

RuPaul’s Drag Race celebrates the weirdos, the freaks and the eccentrics. It portrays gay people in ways they are seldom seen in the media, as most gay characters are written by straight people. But we’re not characters who’ve been created, we’re just being ourselves. The show gives you access to the normal men and women behind all the wigs and makeup. I believe it’s enabled a lot of hyper-masculine gay men to embrace their feminine side and become more accepting of themselves. For women – both straight and gay – I think seeing a fully grown man transform himself into an ultra-glamorous, feminine woman using makeup and clothes is inspiring. It shows that everyone can be who they want to be, and everyone can be beautiful.

What’s next for Manila Luzon?

I was recently inducted into the Society of Prometheans at the University of Minnesota Duluth, which recognizes alumni who have excelled to the highest level in their art and profession. This has inspired me to set up a scholarship to support the studies of LGBT-identifying people at my old school. I’ve worked with Gilead Sciences, which develops antiretroviral therapies for HIV/AIDS, and am outspoken about breaking down the stigma that still exists for people living with HIV and AIDS.

Apart from that, I will continue to explore every opportunity to continue inspiring my fans. I don’t consider myself a role model; I’m just being me, someone who has learned to accept myself and celebrate my differences. If unapologetically showcasing that to the world is influencing others to do the same, I must be doing something right.

You’re performing at The Palace in Manila on November 10. What are you most looking forward to when you’re in town?

I visited Manila for the first time when I was 13 and I’ve been back a handful of times over the years. This will be my third performance at The Palace. I’m always thrilled to be in Manila: I love the food, the people and their incredible hospitality.

I love that the name I chose to represent my Filipino heritage has become so big and global and that I get to introduce people to this fantastic country. What am I looking forward to doing? Eating. Adobo, pancit, lumpia – I love it all.