b'COVER STORYW hen Kendall Gender first sashayed into the Canadas Drag Race (CDR) workroom, she proclaimed, Gender is a construct. The only one that matters is Kendall.Gender certainly did matter, making the coveted top three in CDR Season 2. While audiences were living for her drop-dead gorgeous lewks and stunning performances, they were also charmed by her real talk about being biracial and sober and the importance of living as yourtrue self. Now, Gender is both a bona fide drag phenomenon and a boss CEO. Drag has become big business, and Canadian drag queens have more opportunities than ever before. We sat down with Gender to get her take on the business of drag andlearn what advice she has for newdrag performers. FROM MOMS CLOSETTO BEYONCGender connected with her innate femininity early on. I was always borrowing my moms hats and pearls, laughs Gender. That character was developed at a very young age.By her early 20s she was hitting the clubs and getting into the art scene, and thats when she got her first glimpse of drag. Drag combined how I felt about myself and my interests, Gender recalls. It was really cool to immerse myself in that world and feel, Wow, this is totally where I fit in!When she heard about a show that put people into drag for the first time, she begged the organizers to let her participate. It took a few tries, but they finally said yes. I performed Ring the Alarm by Beyonc in Vancouver. Im still performing Beyonc to this day, so some things dont change, laughs Gender.It was absolutely electric! Gender is a construct.ENTERING A NEW DRAG STRATOSPHEREThe only one that mattersMaking top three took Gender into a new phase of her drag career. Prior tois Kendall.Drag Race, I loved drag, and I was super passionate about it. But it was definitely- KENDALL GENDERmore on the hobby spectrum,Gender explains. When Drag Race happened, it took me into this wholeother stratosphere.Issue 22022 | QBiz CANADA |5'