Chris’s vid for heroic workers is not a drag

A drag queen originally from Perthshire has got creative in a bid to pay tribute to the efforts of key workers on the frontline in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

Chris Nicoll from Crieff has been performing as Miss Crystal since 2013 and has rallied members of the close-knit performance community to show their support for NHS staff and many others helping to guard against the COVID-19 outbreak.

Now living near Norwich, the 35 year-old issued an appeal on social media for fellow drag acts to record videos of themselves either singing or lip-syncing to American singer-songwriter Josh Groban’s version of ‘You Raise Me Up’.

Chris, who received around 30 responses in a whirlwind few days following the publication of the request, explained the primary motivation was to create a lasting “thank you to all the amazing NHS and key workers working hard to keep Britain great”.

Collectively referred to in the video as the Drag Choir, Chris said the choice of track was particularly personal as it is one of his mum Rhona’s favourite songs and she is a nurse based at Crieff Community Hospital.

The financial services employee said: “It’s difficult being away from family at a time like this because you worry about people being safe with everything that’s going on - that was one of the reasons for the video.

“I’m a member of a few drag groups on Facebook and I put out the appeal because I thought it was be a nice way of saying thank you to everyone who’s working in the NHS and all the key workers.

“I had about 30 responses in roughly a week – it took me three days to edit the clips together – I couldn’t believe it really.

“You Raise Me Up is a popular song and it has a lovely sentiment behind it. It’s one of my mum’s favourite songs, too, which was another good reason for choosing it.

“People got in touch from all over the country – I’m really pleased with how it turned out.”

Chris, who has previously said Miss Crystal is a way of expressing “positive diversity” and “empowerment”, said it is possible some form of live performance of the song could be arranged in aid of charity once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Should it come to pass it would not be the first time a charity has benefited from one of Miss Crystal’s performances as Chris took part in the inaugural Miss Drag UK final in March last year and raised more than £700 for the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society.

The performance of You Raise Me Up by the Drag Choir can be viewed by searching for the ‘Miss Crystal’ page on Facebook.