In the sequined, high-camp world of drag, few names shine as brightly as Brooke Lynn Hytes. From her transformative experience on RuPaul’s Drag Race to her burgeoning media empire as host of Canada’s Drag Race, she has not only captivated audiences with her stunning performances but has also become a beacon of queer visibility.
Originally a pageant queen with a penchant for perfection, her time on Drag Race allowed her to break free from rigid expectations, embracing the fun and unpredictability of drag. This shift not only revolutionized her approach to the art form but also resonated deeply with fans worldwide, who saw in her a reflection of their own struggles and triumphs.
In a time when queer communities face renewed challenges, she stands as a testament to the resilience and creativity that define drag culture. Her commitment to joy, visibility, and progress underscores why we need drag culture now more than ever. Drag queens remind us of our shared humanity, challenge societal norms, and celebrate the vibrant tapestry of identities that make up our community.
In her GLORY Media digital cover story, Brooke Lynn Hytes joins Editor-in-Chief Lance Chung to talk about how she’s building her own media empire, the importance of queer visibility, and why we need drag culture now, more than ever.
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Drag culture is really just everything, everywhere, all at once now. It seems like it’s quite the phenomenon.
Brooke Lynn Hytes: It feels like we’re taking over. It’s pretty awesome.
For a long time, drag has been an underground movement and community that’s informed a lot of different pockets of culture.
Brooke Lynn Hytes: A lot of things have been pulled from drag queens without us getting credit for it, 100 percent.
What brings you the most joy when it comes to the art of drag and being a drag queen?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Honestly, getting a good paycheck for my work is really nice because I’ve been in the arts for a long time and severely underpaid for a long time. Drag Race was the first time I started to make actual money doing what I love. It was nice not to be a struggling artist for once.
When you think about the dialogue around commerce and culture, historically, people try to see them as separate things. But with drag, it’s long overdue for those worlds to overlap.
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Drag is a business for me. It’s what I do. I still see it as an art form, but the business side took over when it became my full-time job. It’s how I pay my bills, my mortgage, and put money into my pension. It’s my job and my way of life. Art and business don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Artists work so hard and contribute so much to the world; they deserve to be paid well.
It’s incredible to see the business ventures that drag queens are involved in. It challenges traditional narratives and shows that drag queens can be TV hosts, entrepreneurs, and media moguls.
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Drag queens are definitely self-starters. We’re responsible for everything, from hair and makeup to performances and personalities. We have to do everything ourselves. I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur, but I guess we are. We’re resourceful and have to be to make an impact and build our communities.
How has your perspective of your own brand and business changed over the years?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: My whole life, my brand and business have kind of just fallen into place. I’ve never really had a plan. My one goal was to get on Drag Race. After that, opportunities like *Canada’s Drag Race* just came to me. I don’t really have a plan; I just go with it and see where it takes me. It’s worked out well so far.
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So much of being a drag queen is understanding your brand and who you are as a persona and as a person. What do you think are the key ingredients to building a superstar personal brand?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Authenticity is big. [It’s about] being true to who you are and not trying to be someone else. Uniqueness and having a special skill set are important. Likability is also key, which comes with authenticity. People can sense if you’re being fake.
Your background in dance and ballet is a big part of your story. How has your training in dance influenced your drag career?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Definitely discipline. It’s served me well because a lot of drag queens aren’t disciplined. Punctuality and professionalism are crucial. It set me apart in the professional sector. I’m punctual and serious about my work, and I want to respect everyone’s time.
Drag has always been around, but it’s now thriving as a big part of mainstream media and pop culture. The American franchise of RuPaul’s Drag Race just finished its sixteenth season, there are multiple franchises around the world, a Vegas show, Broadway debuts, book deals, tours, and more. What do you think it is about drag queens and drag culture that resonates so much with people, especially now?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: For a lot of young kids, seeing queer people and drag queens on TV helps them feel less alone and gives them someone to look up to. When I was younger, I didn’t have anyone like me on TV. It’s also a fun world full of joy, colour, glitter, laughter, and a little bit of shade that people can get lost in. It teaches people to be confident and love themselves. Drag culture isn’t just for the queer community; it brings joy and humour universally, especially with everything else going on in the world.
Drag culture originally started as a protest. Do you think it still serves as a protest today, and how has that conversation evolved
Brooke Lynn Hytes: We’re still fighting for our rights and freedoms, so it should be both a protest and a celebration. We’ve made progress, but we still have a long way to go. It’s important to remind people of that.
Over the course of your career, has your perception of drag changed or evolved
Brooke Lynn Hytes: RuPaul’s Drag Race opened my eyes to the possibilities of what we could do. I always thought it was limited to performing in bars, but now we can do world tours, appear in movies and TV shows, and be embraced in all these different sectors. It’s amazing.
Since competing on season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in America, you’ve gone on to host the Canadian franchise Canada’s Drag Race and 1 Queen 5 Queers. You’re building the foundation of a media empire. Why do you think queer representation and drag visibility are so important in today’s discussions?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Visibility is important in general. People need to be exposed to different kinds of people, cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities. It’s important for a little queer kid who doesn’t fit in to see themselves on TV and feel less alone. It gives them hope and something to dream toward.
When was the first time you felt like you saw yourself reflected in media and culture?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: That’s a great question. I can’t pinpoint a specific time. I remember the first time I saw The Ten Commandments with Anne Baxter. I didn’t know what a drag queen was at five, but I wanted to be glamorous and gorgeous like that. It wasn’t drag, but it might as well have been.
What constitutes drag, and what does it mean to be in drag?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Anybody can be a drag queen. It’s not limited to cis males. Trans women, straight women, and men can be drag kings. It’s about dressing up and becoming something other than what you are normally—transforming into something else. There are many different forms of drag and different ways to do it. Some are done badly, some well, but anybody can do it. It’s a work in progress. It’s for everybody.
On the subject of transformation, what have been some big moments where you felt you transformed in your life, whether through your drag career or in your personal development?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Being on Drag Race was a big transformational experience because it taught me not to take myself too seriously, to let loose, have more fun, and relax a bit. I was a pageant girl before, so everything was very serious. Drag Race allowed me to be okay with being stupid and just having fun.
You’re also a mentor to other queens, officially and unofficially, especially here in Canada. What gives you hope about the next generation of drag queens?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: They’re very business-savvy and hungry for it. They want to get out there, be seen, and do something with themselves, which is exciting. It’s great to see many of them using their voices for good and wanting to see positive change in the world. They’re excited to represent their culture and show different versions of it through drag. It’s wonderful to see.
Celebrating wins is crucial. It shows progress and what’s possible. What has drag taught you about yourself?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Drag teaches you that you’re stronger, more creative, funnier, and more powerful than you ever thought. You can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it.
What do you wish people understood better about the art of drag?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: That it is a lot of work. Pay your drag entertainers well.
At the end of each season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, there’s always a dialogue about the future of drag. What do you think the future of drag looks like today, and what are your hopes for it?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: I don’t really know what the future of drag looks like. I hope it keeps growing, thriving, and being part of the mainstream conversation. I hope it keeps informing popular culture and that more opportunities arise for drag artists and queer people in general. Inclusivity and diversity are key.
What is your overall mission for yourself and the work you’re doing?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: I want to make people happy, entertain them, and bring joy. I’m an entertainer, first and foremost. That’s my purpose.
Why do you think we need drag now more than ever?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Because drag and queer people are under attack again. We need to remind people that we’re not going anywhere and that we deserve the same rights and love.
What does the word “glory” mean to you?
Brooke Lynn Hytes: Ascension to the next plateau. Leveling up.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
