Symone and Shea Couleé, Drag World Stars, participate in the Realness Festival in SP

Latin America’s largest drag queen event, The Realness Festival takes place this Saturday (16), in São Paulo. It will be the 4th edition of the festival, which celebrates the drag culture and brings together some of the most influential performers of the international and Brazilian scene, with names such as Symone, Shea Couleé, Sasha Velour, Sasha Colby, Grag Queen and Silvety Montilla.

On stage, world -renowned artists meet on the rise in Brazil, acting as a showcase that connects generations and aesthetic and brings renowned names of new voices in the scene.

One of the most awaited attractions is the American Symone, winner of the 13th season of Rupaul’s Drag Race. She arrives in São Paulo for her first time in Brazil – and in South America – with the expectation in the heights. “Being invited to this tour with so many amazing girls means everything to me,” he says in an interview with F5.

She promises to Brazilian fans an unprecedented number and another already consecrated of her repertoire – one of her favorites, he says. “I like to make stories in my presentations.” If for Symone the news is the debut, also American Shea Couleé returns to the festival after participating in the first edition, and prepares an unprecedented performance for the country.

“When I came, I had an unforgettable experience. The fans and the festival itself are amazing,” he says. She says she is looking forward to meeting the Brazilian public, meeting new artists and performing alongside names with whom she hasn’t divided the stage, like Jules Sparkles. “We are exchanging messages about how excited we are to work together.”

Symone has not yet had face -to -face contact with Brazilian drags, but knows the scene over the internet and highlights its unique identity. “The colors, the dance, the energy… it’s very different from the American drag. It comes from your culture and history, and that’s very special.”

Shea, season 5 winner All Stars, also sees The Realness as a space to display the diversity of drag art, contrary to limited perceptions about the genre. “Talent in Brazil is amazing. Stunts, Flips, Delivery… It’s always exciting to see it”, praise

The meeting with the Brazilian public is pointed out by both as one of the highlights of the festival. Symone says she has always received messages asking her to come to the country and that the expectation accompanied her throughout her career. “I love the energy of the public. If I can feel it, I will return even more on stage. I am very excited to feel this exchange and connect with people,” he says.

Shea keeps vivid memories of the warm reception the first time she came to Brazil and believes that the intense response of the audience directly impacts performance, creating “an exchange that pulls you up.” She reveals that by landing and being greeted by a crowd of fans at the airport on her first visit to Brazil, that’s when she felt really famous for the first time.

In addition to the show, The Realness also has a political dimension. Both Symone and Shea point out that events such as this function as resistance spaces, in a context in which LGBTQia+ population rights and visibility are still contested in various parts of the world.

Symone points out that, more than ever, it is essential for people to feel seen and represented, and that events so reinforce the message that the community will not be overcome by fear. “We must be higher and more proud and continue to have things like this to support and be visible. Let people know that we will not give up.”

The artist also states that her presence on stage goes beyond entertainment. Representing drag art and bringing references from her own experience as a black person queer, she expects the public – especially young blacks LGBTQia+ – to recognize in her. You want everyone to feel that they can follow their own dreams, regardless of the appearance, origin, or social context.