Let’s talk a little bit about you first. For the uninitiated, how would you introduce yourself?
Hi, I’m Becca D’Bus, Singapore’s biggest drag queen. I’m interested in colours and improbable shapes. I studied theatre, my first job was in a queer theatre company.
What kickstarted your drag journey?
May 17 2004, the date of my commencement ceremony (not the day I started in drag). It was the year of gay marriage, and I was invited to be the bride of the Statue of Liberty in the U.S. My boss at that time was the maid of honour. He then invited me to work for him the following Monday.
My first job after college was on the streets, guerilla marketing-ish. That was how I started my show there, we did a show at The Fens (Boston) about safer sex. Those shows lasted a maximum of three minutes, or less. Our presence had to be big and known. We could be near people who were literally having sex just ten metres away. We had to come in and be like, "We're not public health and projecting our ideals on you. We get you and we're making the experience better." We had wet wipes, hand sanitisers, bug spray (during summer), food and drinks. Part of the job was also doing risk assessments with people at clubs, and we had to be sensitive to how we approached them. So my friend and I decided to try dressing in drag.
After that, I started competing in some amateur competitions, one of them was at a small bar. The manager (of the bar) subsequently gave me a chance to do my own show every 3rd Monday of the month.
Drag has a persona, not a character. Nobody can be Becca D'Bus except me.
There’s no denying that you’re a big girl. Has your size and sexuality ever been an issue for yourself in your formative years?
Hate stems from insecurity. It comes from people who are not sure who they are, not about whether they’re gay or not, but when they don’t have a strong sense of self-identity. Often when you say “Yes, I’m a sissy faggot, who are you?” They have no answer. Also because they have never been asked this question themselves. It’s all about marketing for skinny people. In return, I'll throw the question back to them, why are you so stressed with being concerned about my health or how fat I am?
When was it, if ever, that you came to yourself? Was there a trigger point?
I don't know if I "didn't give a shit" or I simply if I didn’t know what shit was.
There was never a moment of "coming out" for me because I was in Anglo Chinese School’s (ACS) drama club and people just acknowledged this as a fact. There was no intentional statement to say "I'm gay". I am culturally gay, meaning I was interested in arts, and theatre. I am part of society and I have finesse and freewill. It’s all celebrated.
I only knew what wasn’t “the norm” after secondary school, when I went to Junior College (JC) for two months and then poly (Polytechnic). In fact, I didn't know I was gay even at 16. Only eventually did I realise (I was gay).
I want my drag to be political. I have this reputation and some of my shows or works can be quite pointed. But it must first be entertaining.
Do you feel a bit out of place, as a drag queen in Singapore? Or even amongst drag queens, as a big girl?
I think in Singapore, I've created a community or simply a world around my persona. Singapore's policy in 2020 has revealed to us that we (entertainers) are not a priority. I embrace the term “entertainer” first. Sometimes, I also use the term “artist” but in a lot of my art, entertainment is an important part of what I am working with. Entertainers and drag queens, we’re beyond non-essential, and non-necessary. The only reason I have a show now is I have to apply for the same license as a musical.
Back to the question, I've always felt out of place as a drag performer, because of what I want out of drag, and how I do drag.
With Drag Race popularising drag in mainstream media, it’s been used as a platform to raise many issues with the LGBTQ community. What do you hope to say with your drag?
I'll always say, "OMG, I'm so beautiful today.” I don't really think much of this question.
As long as it's pleasing to the eye, it's easier to do something that goes further. For example, if I can get you to look at this face for instance, then I can get you to pay attention to more details. If it's hard for you to look at my eyes, then it'll be hard for you to hear what I'm saying.
Does being Becca affect your life as Eugene, or how people see Eugene? In an ideal world, would you rather live every day as Becca, or as Eugene? Why?
There's no distinct line between the two. I think Becca is braver and more colourful. Not necessarily more outspoken. In fact, when I speak, people know it’s Eugene who is speaking or giving his thoughts. I say more things as Eugene, than Becca. Honestly, I don't telegraph Becca a lot.
Pronouns don't bother me a lot either.
In an ideal world, I wouldn't have to pick either or.
How do you see Becca, moving forward?
I'll be old, which is why I want to do drag now. I'm aware that there's a physical expiration date. Eventually, you either 1) kill it, 2) evolve it, 3) reinvent it.
On a business level, it's about expanding the things that I do. I want to be less reliant on performing, but perhaps be a producer. I want people who watch my shows to feel something, not necessarily a message.
As a drag queen - I'm not here to be judged. Period.
This interview was edited for brevity and clarity.