The Queen of Queens
Meet the unstoppable Pabllo Vittar, the drag queen pop sensation who is set to take over the world
Brazil’s reigning drag queen, Pabllo Vittar is a record-breaking, crosscultural icon. At 26 years old, she is the world’s most followed drag queen with 11.7 million followers on Instagram, and boasting even more streams than the mother of them all, RuPaul. As a singer-songwriter and pop superstar, Pabllo has a Latin Grammy nomination and an MTV Europe Music Award to her name and each of her album releases are among the most streamed in Brazilian internet history.
Pride is an integral part of Vittar’s persona. Wearing many crowns, she is also regarded as an activist and ambassador, having brought drag into mainstream media, spoken out on prominent issues and unequivocally promoting pride in being true to who you are.
While living in one of the most dangerous countries for the queer community, Pabllo has addressed homophobia, transphobia, bullying and discrimination. She has also publicly condemned the policies of Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro. Her contribution to putting LGBTQ+ rights into the spotlight is unquestionable.
Just as Pabllo uses her voice to address important issues off-stage, on-stage, Pabllo’s fluid persona and catchy songs focus on fun and the joys of drag. Her modern Brazilian pop music, unique performances and videos mix traditional Latin beats with global influences. She has also posed in Calvin Klein campaigns in both masculine and feminine clothing, emphasising expression of gender and pride in identity.
Pabllo has, by her own admission, “plenty still to do, achieve and explore”. Attitude caught up with the singing Brazilian drag sensation to find out more.
Which career milestones are you most proud of?
I think one of the most important milestones is having made my mark as one of the first mainstream drag queens in Brazil and opened so many doors for other boys and girls. Being from Brazil and at the same time getting my name known in many other countries has given me the opportunity to be a representative. This is what makes me happiest – happier than anything else I have achieved.
Is that how you measure success? What is success for you?
I don’t measure success. I just get on with my work, and this is what motivates me. I pour myself whole-heartedly into what I do and what I want most at the moment is to get back onto the stage. I don’t compare ratings or numbers with other artists — I don’t go down that road, it’s not what I’m about. The point of my work is to somehow reach out to people and make a difference for them. If I don’t manage this, then I’m not achieving anything at all. Success is just a consequence of my work. I feel very grateful and very blessed to have the people I have around me and to have my fans. My focus is to keep making music and videos for my fans and to get back to touring.
What or who has influenced you?
Ever since I was a child, I have always listened to lots of Brazilian and regional music. I was born and raised in the northeast of Brazil, in the states of Maranhão and Pará. I always listened to Brazilian music, but also international artists that my mum liked, such as Donna Summer. It was my mum who gave me my first Beyoncé DVD, and my first music video DVD of Britney. That was my introduction to international pop music. My friends are an important inspiration, too — we respect and help each other and that’s what I want to pass on to people.
You were born and raised in Brazil’s northeast – a poor part of the country, where people are not used to drag. How was that?
Growing up in the northeast was an honour for me. It’s a part of Brazil that I love and I’m proud to have been born there. But it was very difficult at the same time. I was bullied at school for being gay, for being camp, for being fat. Growing up in a rough, remote town that wasn’t ready for a person like me was difficult and that’s why I work so hard to change this reality. It was tough, but at the same time I can’t imagine growing up anywhere else, because it’s shaped the person I have become today. We didn’t have much there, but as an artist, you just do it, you create and you improvise. Especially in the northeast, there are no excuses. If you want something, you have to get on and make it happen.
Did the bullying scar you in any way? Has it changed your attitude or opinions?
Ah, today, I’m completely bulletproof [laughs]! I know who I am and what I am capable of. The haters and online bullies will also be there, and people can be cruel on the internet, but this doesn’t hurt me.
“The point of my work is to reach out to people and make a difference for them”
I look at my scars from the past and think how I have overcome them; they don’t affect me any more. Today, I’m able to be my true self because of the past.
How did you get into drag?
I was aware of the art of drag from a young age. There were beauty pageants in the town — Miss Gay and other drag shows. I loved them. When I was a child, it was my dream to be Miss Gay in my hometown. I wanted to take part in the pageants. I loved the world of drag – the glamour, the wigs, the rhinestones and the feathers – I was completely mesmerised. But I never thought I would be a drag queen when I grew up. It was something that was completely unthinkable for me in my situation. I was just a kid who loved to watch. It wasn’t until I had moved to the state of Minas [in southeastern Brazil], and I saw RuPaul’s Drag Race for the first time, that I saw there were other types of drag. Queens who sang, acted, modelled… and I said to myself, I can do that. I want to do that! Why not? I could do the two things that I always loved and when I put singing and performing together with drag, on stage, it just complemented and completed who I am as an artist. I just don’t have the words to explain the feeling the first time I got into drag and performed and sang and the crowds were singing along with my songs. My first opportunities to perform as a drag queen came during Pride in Minas. My style was androgenous at first, but I was well on the way to becoming a drag queen.
You mention androgyny. Your drag name is masculine. How do you relate to gender and pronouns?
It’s great, because you break the stigmas of what is masculine and what is feminine. In my head, names are names and are there to be used, just like clothes or anything else. I like to be free to explore both my masculine and feminine side and I think it’s very important to make this something natural for children and future generations. They need to grow up knowing they can be free and can question who they are. I was always very fluid, and when people asked me why, I didn’t know how to answer them. Today, I know that I am free. I love my name. I think it’s a strong name. I Iove being addressed as a female in drag, even though I have a man’s name. This breaks even more paradigms – people think, wait, it’s Pabllo, but she?
In Brazil, there is a fine line between drag and transsexuality. How do you see this?
I’m a gay, feminine boy who does drag. I think people need to understand that. I prefer not to take a standpoint on transsexuality — that isn’t really where I’m coming from. I’m a gay man, a drag queen who likes to emphasise and show female beauty.
We have to mention the political situation in Brazil. How is extreme right-wing, Brazilian President Bolsonaro’s mandate affecting the LGBTQ+ community?
He hasn’t just affected the LGBTQ+ community; he’s affected the whole country with his misgovernment and now,
“Growing up in a rough, remote town that wasn’t ready for a person like me was difficult”
with COVID, things have only worsened. Those who already had little, have nothing. What is even more difficult is that much of the LGBTQ+ community finds itself in the situation of not knowing from one day to the next if there will be food on the table, if they’ll have a job or survive. I hope and pray that this will be over soon and that when the elections come, we can change the pitiful situation.
Do you worry that there is a real chance he will be re-elected?
No, there is no chance. I’m an extremely positive person and he won’t be re-elected.
How will Brazil heal post-Bolsonaro?
Ah, I just want it to be over.
You mentioned drawing inspiration from RuPaul’s Drag Race. You’re the most streamed drag queen in the world, surpassing RuPaul. Have you been invited onto Drag Race?
I haven’t been asked yet, but it’s one of my dreams. One thing I always say is that you can’t compare the numbers today with when RuPaul started. There was no internet, no streaming platform. She struggled and fought for the community, and her voice was heard without the internet and the tools we have today, so you just can’t compare. She is a legend. The work she has done is extremely important for us today. Being a special guest star on Drag Race is one of my greatest dreams – and it’s one I hope will come true!
So, you’re a fan of the show — who are your favourite queens?
I watch all of them, all the seasons and I can’t wait for the next All Stars, I’m super excited. It’s the Drag World Cup! I love all the queens, but I have some personal friends among the cast, such as Adore Delano — Adore is fabulous — and Shangela, who I had the pleasure to go out with in LA. Those two are iconic, but I love them all.
We hear you recently got engaged.
Yes! [Laughs] No, no, I’m kidding. I didn’t really get engaged. This was all marketing for my latest single. The track is called Ama Sofre Chora [Love Hurt Cry] and I’m dressed as a bride in the video, but I’m not engaged! Lots of people believed it, because my marketing team is so amazing and did such a good job. Loads of people sent me messages saying I was cheating on my fiancé, hurting some poor guy [laughs]. But I’m not really getting married. It was all for the video, so if you haven’t seen it, download or watch Ama Sofre Chora on my channel!
“RuPaul is a legend. The work she has done is extremely important for us today”
What are your plans for the future?
I always say the future belongs to God. In the light of the past year, I just want to be healthy, with the strength to continue working, be vaccinated – so we can all see each other, party, have a drink and enjoy ourselves. I want to work hard, to see my fans again and continue making music, which makes me happy and keeps me alive. And I hope everyone unites to make a difference in the years to come. I like to emulate positivity, because there have been so many bad things, that we just need to say everything will be fabulous and it will.