Killer Queen, Madrid
Emergency room doctor by day, drag diva by night, Killer Queen has more tricks up her sleeve than Harry Potter. Between a riotous Snatch Game as conservative Spanish politician Isabel Díaz Ayuso and some razor-sharp wit in the Roast of the Judges, she left us in no doubt as to who the comedy queen of the season was.
What are the best sights to see in Madrid?
Madrid is a city where you can walk around for days, stopping for tapas and beers. I’d recommend getting lost in the old town (also known as Madrid de los Austrias), and don’t forget to hire a boat in El Retiro Park and visit the Prado museum.
Does Madrid have a signature dish?
The most classic dish from Madrid is cocido Madrileño, a meat and chickpea stew. You should also try a calamari sandwich, or bocata de calamares, in one of the bars around Plaza Mayor.
Where can we find the tastiest tapas?
Get carried away in the tiny streets around Plaza Mayor, which are full of small, traditional taverns, or tabernas.
What is your favourite queer space?
Too many to mention, but I’d say that the LGBTQ+ bar where I have the best time and that’s also popular with Drag Race fans is Barbanarama.
Where should we go for a good drag show?
I would definitely go to Black & White or Quién La Invitó (Who Invited Her?), both in Madrid’s famous gay district of Chueca.
Are there any LGBTQ+ events we shouldn’t miss?
If there is one time of year to come to Madrid, it’s for Pride. It has gained an international reputation as one of the best Pride celebrations and, during that week, the whole city fills with people celebrating love and diversity.
How did you discover drag?
My first contact with drag was as a small child at home watching
Priscilla Queen of the Desert. Later, I discovered local drag and became aware of the international scene thanks to
RuPaul’s Drag Race.
How did your first drag performance in Madrid go?
It was at a new drag talent show called Mum, I Want to Be a Transvestite, hosted by Spanish drag icon Kika Lorace. I did a Beyoncé and Tina Turner show, put my heart and soul into it and ended up slaying the competition.
out in drag in Madrid?
Going out in drag, especially outside of our safe spaces, like the Chueca neighbourhood, is tricky, because people are still not used to seeing us either in daylight or in drag and there are always looks. In Chueca, people give you compliments, ask for a photo, but that’s not always the case in other parts of Madrid, especially outside the city centre. Sometimes people call me “manolo” (a Spanish insult meaning butch queen), and I’ll tell them: “I am not manolo, I’m a real queen!”
What does Madrid have to offer queer travellers?
Madrid is a cosmopolitan place; everyone is welcome here. Chueca is in the very centre of the city, it’s colourful and there’s always a great atmosphere. It’s a very safe place for LGBTQ+ people. You can be exactly as you are and nobody will ever give you a bad look.
“During Pride, the whole city fills with people celebrating love and diversity”