Hoosier queens sashay onto "RuPaul's Drag Race"
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Ciara Myst attends "RuPaul's Drag Race" S18 Premiere Event at Aqua New York on Dec. 9 in New York City. Photo: Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for MTV
The new season of "RuPaul's Drag Race" is set to air in January and Indianapolis viewers may recognize a few of the faces.
Why it matters: The show will feature two Indiana contestants: Drag queens Ciara Myst and Darlene Mitchell.
Zoom in: Myst has been performing in Indy for years, alongside former "Drag Race" contestant Blair St. Claire. Myst is known for her fantastical makeup and costumes, inspired by her time working in makeup for Marvel Studios and television shows like "Chicago Fire" and "Chicago PD."
- Mitchell grew up in Greentown and calls herself the "Hoosier of Hollywood" as she now resides in Los Angeles.
State of play: Both are excited to represent Indiana drag to a national audience.
What they're saying: "Indiana used to have a lot richer history in the past, but with the way local politics have evolved, there's no money coming into queer spaces, so we are losing them left and right," Myst tells Axios. "The opportunities for queer artistry to be on display or to reach an audience are dwindling."
- "Growing up, I thought Indiana was a place where I really had to run away from to really embrace who I was and what I wanted to do," Mitchell tells Axios. "To come back, I realize that all of these people here are looking to us to be a voice and break open that door for them. It's a very emotional feeling to be so proud of where we come from."
Yes, but: While Myst and Mitchell both recognize the challenges of doing drag in Indiana, they are hopeful the community will grow.
- "While there isn't a lot of opportunity, there's a lot of demand from the community," Myst says. "Drag always finds a way."
The bottom line: "When you don't see examples on television of who you are, where you're from, you can feel so lost," Myst adds.
- "For a community that has struggled to be seen, I hope seeing us on this show brings a lot of joy to those who need it."
What's next: Mitchell, Myst and the rest of "RuPaul's Drag Race" new cast will debut on Jan. 2 on MTV.