The Italian queen Farida Kant, a familiar face from Season 1 of Drag Race Italia, stirred the pot when she took to her Instagram Story to criticize Lady Camden, the Season 14 American Drag Race runner-up. Kant’s post, written in Italian but widely translated, took aim at Camden’s dancing skills, her use of background dancers, and the fact that her costumes were designed by others.
Kant lamented, “She’s traveling the world, earning millions. Us Italian queens get excluded from all of this even though our level is the same or even better.” She used an Italian idiom that roughly translates to “licking someone’s boots” to express her frustration at feeling overlooked in the drag world.
While Kant’s frustrations with the inequality between international and American versions of Drag Race had some merit, many fans and fellow queens criticized her for coming after Camden. Season 14 sisters like DeJa Skye, Jasmine Kennedie, and Kornbread Jeté defended Camden and pointed out that tearing another queen down wasn’t the solution.
In contrast, Heidi N Closet, a Season 12 and All Stars 8 contestant, offered constructive advice to Kant. She encouraged her to reach out to promoters, be visible in her community, or create her own opportunities. Despite some tension, queens across the board recognized Kant’s frustrations and the challenges of doing drag outside the United States.
Ivory Glaze and Pomara Fifth from RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under empathized with Kant, acknowledging the difficulties faced by international queens in terms of market and opportunities. Even Brooke Lynn Hytes, host of Canada’s Drag Race, defended the notion that being an average dancer was perfectly fine.
While the drama may have simmered down, it’s clear that these conversations within the drag community will continue. Kant later apologized for her initial outburst, expressing that she didn’t intend to single out or throw shade at anyone but wanted to highlight the challenges international queens face in achieving recognition and success.
As the debate rages on, the idea of Kant and Camden squaring off in an international all-stars season remains a tantalizing prospect for fans of the show, proving that the world of Drag Race is as vibrant and dramatic as ever.