Pinay Drag Superstar Maxie Andreison talks about fighting for the crown and the crucial role her family played in her journey
Every Wednesday now looks duller without the fabulous glam and glitter of the Drag Race Philippines queens. After ten episodes and various challenges that put performance, visuals, improv, comedy, design, and songwriting abilities to the test, Drag Race Philippines has reached the end of the finish line. And at the conclusion of the competition series, Maxie Andreison was crowned the country’s newest Pinay Drag Superstar. At a press conference with select members of the press, Maxie gets real about the iconic moment of crowning her sister during her final lip sync battle with Khianna, and how her family’s support got her through her journey in Drag Race.
RELATED: Maxie is Crowned Drag Race Philippines’ Season 3 Winner
“This production gave me another opportunity to show who Maxie is. Parang panaginip ang nangyari—hindi ko alam na ako ang makaka-experience nito,” the drag queen begins. From the first episode alone, it is clear that Maxie approached the season with a sense of levity and fun—but she admits that she felt a certain pressure from herself to do better than her run on Queen of the Universe. “Drag Race was my only opportunity to redeem myself from my recent failure in Queen of the Universe. Gusto ko manalo this time,” she confesses.
The queen left at fifth place due to medical reasons on the international reality show, but she came back with grit and determination on Drag Race, besting 10 other contestants with three RuBadges under her belt. Read a rundown of her stellar performance throughout the season here.
In the final lip sync battle against runner-up Khianna, Maxie reveals that she thought the crown felt so near yet so far—but she focused on lip syncing from the heart. That emotion brought out the need to share that crown with her sister and fellow finale-placer Angel: “I really wanted to crown my sister kasi kung hindi siya mabibigyan ng korona ng Drag Race, ako ang magbibigay sa kanya ng korona,” the queen shares.
This moment touched all Drag Race fans. Throughout the competition, Maxie and Angel’s sisterly relationship brought a number of emotional moments; the nation saw how the Galang sisters became each other’s support and pillar in the competition’s high-pressure environment. Not only that, but both their parents were present for the Super Queens episode, where they had to give them makeovers and share the runway with their mother and father. It was a true family reunion—in drag.
Maxie weighs in and tells MEGA Drag, “We competed together because we have this big dream that we will be somebody that everyone will look up to. So it’s very important na mapakita namin ‘yung suporta ng pamilya namin sa telebisyon kasi makikita ‘yung pagmamahalan na nabubuo sa loob ng pamilya at sa loob ng bahay.”
She goes on to say that her and Angel are products of love by their parents, and that other parents need to be as supportive to their children who want to be drag queens as well. “Kung bibigyan n’yo ng chance ‘yung mga anak n’yo na parte ng community namin, mapapakita rin nila na hindi kami salot, hindi kami masamang tao—talented kami, at kaya namin tulungan ang pamilya namin.”
Maxie has worn many hats (or crowns)—performer, older sister, breadwinner. She is able to fulfill her dream of being a drag queen and supporting her family through Drag Race because of their encouragement and love.
The queen goes on to claim that one of the most defining moments in her Drag Race experience was when Angel transformed their mother to a drag queen, and Maxie transformed their father and shared the runway with him. “Ito ‘yung pangarap namin, e. And seeing my parents in drag, nakaka-proud kasi na-try din nila,” she tells MEGA Drag. “Napakita na kasama ko talaga pamilya ko sa pangarap ko—sila ang nagpapatibay ng puso ko.”
But in the ten episodes, it’s Angel who motivated Maxie further to be focused and remain composed. When asked how different her Drag Race journey would be without her sister in the show, Maxie admits, “Mas palaban ako ‘pag wala si Angel. Mas maipapakita ko ‘yong lakas ko—kasi si Angel ‘yong nagpapalambot ng puso ko sa loob. Dapat role model ako sa kanya. ‘Pag wala siya, wala akong masyadong i-fi-filter. Ayaw ko rin naman na makita ako ng kapatid ko na nase-stress, kailangan kalmado lang ako sa harap niya para mas focused siya sa laban niya.”
Now, the Pinay Drag Superstar shares that she’s much more dedicated to be the best queen she can be with the Drag Race crown because younger queens now look up to her: “I want them to be inspired, na kahit ilang beses kang matalo sa competition, there’s always a day for a winning moment.”
As a final note, Maxie shares that she learned patience is crucial when it comes to reaching for your dream: “Hindi talaga minamadali ang pangarap…at dapat may puso ka talaga sa laban. Kasi kung wala, hindi mo mabibigay ang best mo.”
Photos and Featured Image: ANGEL GALANG (via Instagram), WOW PRESENTS PLUS, DRAG RACE WIKI, HBO GO
