Double shift divas: Queens balancing drag and day jobs

By day, they work in office cubicles, behind laptops and counters. But when the night comes, they transform into glamorous, sequined beings, wielding eyeliners in one hand and liquid lipsticks in the other and commanding every stage they set foot in, one strut at a time.

These queens don’t just werk—they work. Dealing with spreadsheets and paperwork in the morning, and lip-syncs and glamour at night, they are the queens that are redefining the hustle work culture, one fierce wig at a time.

In a world where the art of drag often demands a full-time commitment, these drag queens prove that passion doesn’t punch a time clock. Here’s a sneak peek behind the double lives of drag queens who both manage the day shift and the spotlight.

An advocacy to uphold

One Saturday night, the crowd erupts into applause as Panthera Arma takes the stage in a sequined black gown, glitter cascading from her eyelids like stardust. She gracefully lip-syncs to “Bulag, Pipi, Bingi” by Lani Misalucha—not just mouthing the lyrics, but signing them in Filipino Sign Language. It’s a performance layered with emotion, visibility, and purpose—one deeply connected to her advocacy as a drag artist.

Panthera Arma was born in November 2022, shortly after the televised crowning of Precious Paula Nicole in the first season of Drag Race Philippines. Watching from her screen, Panthera became curious about drag and started researching the art form. What she found was more than just makeup and performance—it was a powerful tool for self-expression and inspiration.

“My drag is all about advocacy,” Panthera told Mamser.net in an online interview. “I use this platform to raise awareness and inspire others to explore drag.”

As someone who is hard of hearing (HOH), Panthera saw drag not just as a creative outlet, but as a means to amplify the experiences of HOH individuals in a hearing-centric society. She wanted to perform not only to entertain, but to educate.

“I realized I wanted to perform when I found out that I am the only hard-of-hearing drag queen in the Philippines. I also came to understand that I must use this platform to support and promote my advocacy,” Panthera said.

By Monday morning, however, the glitter is gone, and Panthera returns to her day job as a finance officer at a large school, handling the financial and administrative aspects of various projects.

When asked how she balances drag and finance, Panthera credits good time management and intentional scheduling.

“Time management is key when balancing drag and my day job. I only accept gigs that won’t interfere with work. Usually on Friday and Saturday nights, depending on the type of invitation. I typically accept gigs that are related to my advocacy,” she explained.

While some queens dream of doing drag full-time, Panthera prefers to maintain the balance, viewing drag as both a passion project and a deeply personal form of artistry.

“I’m not considering drag as my main source of income,” she said. “I always say [that] if you do drag, do it as a hobby or as a way to explore your artistic side. That’s just my personal view, and I fully respect those who do drag full-time.”

And for those thinking about pursuing drag professionally, she offers this advice: “Do drag if it makes you happy, if it’s your safe space. Don’t do drag just to earn money. Do it because you want to share your art with others. You can do drag while having a day job; just make sure it doesn’t affect your work.”

A mix of passion and survival

It’s 11 p.m. on a Saturday night, and the crowd erupts in cheers as the first beat of Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” pulses through the speakers. Moments later, Flora Saint Light strides into the spotlight—wrapped in a white towel and wearing Sabrina’s signature blonde wig, golden boots gleaming under the lights.

With choreography as sharp as her boots, Flora doesn’t just impersonate Sabrina Carpenter—she channels her. Flirty, fierce, and unapologetically cheeky, her performances are more than lip-syncs; they’re full-scale pop spectacles that blur the line between tribute and transformation.

Flora’s journey into drag began as a bedroom queen in 2022, but she officially took the stage in 2023, inspired by an iconic moment among drag fans: Sasha Velour’s rose petal reveal during the Season 9 finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

“Seeing all the queens, I thought maybe I could do it! I have finally found my medium in art which is drag,” Flora shared with Mamser.net.

But behind the glam and glitter is a story of pain and healing. A devastating heartbreak nearly crushed Flora—until she discovered drag as a lifeline.

“I grabbed my mom’s and my sister’s foundation [and other products] and played with it and then it clicked. I wanted to pursue this,” she said. “Drag literally saved me from that rock bottom moment of my life.”

By day, Flora works full-time at a media company, producing streaming and online content. Though the spotlight beckons, she continues to balance her two worlds—driven by both passion and practicality.

“I balance it well because I only do drag whenever it’s available. My day job is still my priority because that’s still my primary source of income. I’m just grateful to do drag from time to time,” she said.

Flora is also fortunate to work in a supportive environment. Her boss and teammates not only understand her art—they celebrate it.

“It’s not an issue because I could file for a leave and, thankfully, my boss understands ‘cause my teammates are also supporters of my drag,” she said.

While she dreams of doing drag full-time one day, she acknowledges the realities of living expenses and stability. For now, she’s focused on building both careers, brick by brick.

“Sometimes, we still need a back-up, because we still need to survive at the end of the day. For now, I’m just happy enough that I can do drag from time to time while I still have a stable job to survive,” she said.

Her advice to aspiring queens balancing drag with a day job is simple: Follow your passion, but stay grounded.

“If you want to pursue drag full time, do it! There are many drag bars where you can audition. But, if you still have your day job, good for you as well. You can still mix passion while working to survive. At least, from time to time, you are doing what you love!” she said.

The dental drag queen

A warm crowd circles the stage in a bar in Poblacion, Makati, cheering loudly as Katy Perry’s “Woman’s World” blasts from the sound system. Resident queen Ruth Qanal, all decked out in knee-high boots, a sweater jacket, a sequined purple top, and a beautifully styled purple wig, mouths the song with ease, leaving everyone in awe of the emotion she brings to the performance.

The drag queen sends the crowd into a frenzy when she removes her jacket and top, revealing a superhero costume reminiscent of Wonder Woman. She continues to wow the audience with a dash of choreography, getting the party started as the show-opener.

But when the weekend nears its end, Ruth trades the makeup brushes for mouth mirrors and excavators in her day job as a dentist—a career that, profoundly enough, began through her love for the arts.

“I chose to pursue dentistry because, as a dentist, I get to create beautiful things inside the patient’s mouth and improve their quality of life and confidence at the same time,” she told Mamser.net.

Yet when the world stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ruth had to halt her dental practice—a pause that eventually took a toll on her mental health.

It was during that time, however, that she discovered the first season of Drag Race Philippines. Inspired by the stories of its contestants, she began to wonder: Could she be a drag queen, too?

“Something in me clicked, and I got so into it that I wanted to see if I could do it too,” she said. “I started as a bedroom queen, learning makeup through YouTube tutorials, lip syncing to my favorite songs, and living my best drag fantasy in the comfort of my own bedroom.”

Fate eventually helped Ruth find her potential as a drag performer. One day, while she and her partner were checking out a new burger restaurant, she was amazed by the drag queens performing there—namely Lady Gagita, Muah Dayaw, and Riley Nicole.

“Out came three beautiful glamazons and they started performing on stage. I was amazed. This was the first time I saw real-life drag queens,” she recalled. “I enjoyed the show so much—it got me so excited.”

After the show, Ruth was handed a flyer for an open audition for new drag performers, and she immediately signed herself up.

Upon seeing that many of the other auditionees were young stunt queens, she initially hesitated—but reminded herself that her self-confidence and gift of gab were her strengths.

“I was already in my mid-30s, and I can’t compete with that. But one thing I had was confidence in myself, and the talent to communicate—which came with maturity and life experience,” she said.

Two months later, Ruth received word that she got in—officially beginning her blooming journey in the drag industry.

Today, Ruth balances her passion for drag with her day job as a licensed Doctor of Dental Medicine and a lecturer in aesthetic dentistry and temporomandibular joint and pain management.

“It’s hard!” she admitted. “Drag is very demanding and physically consuming. Proper scheduling is key, and I’m just lucky that I have a team of dentists and dental staff working for me—keeping my practice alive while I venture into the world of drag and performance.”

Although she’s a firm believer that one cannot serve two masters at the same time, Ruth also believes that nothing happens by chance.

“We are meant to do what we are meant to do. It isn’t a coincidence. So far, I consider myself one of the lucky ones to have the freedom to enjoy both worlds at the same time. We only live once, so make the best out of it, right?” she said.

When asked if she would eventually consider doing drag full-time, Ruth answered: “My being a dentist is one integral factor why my drag persona is so strong. I will never leave one for the other. They are both part of who Ruth Qanal is—and this will never change.”

Ruth encourages anyone juggling a day job and a creative pursuit to take the leap. “Do it!” she said, believing we all have the potential for greatness. In her view, if your mind can imagine it, “your body can do it.”

From sequins to scrubs

\Wearing a black gown and a fierce mug, Curvedilol Filipinas struts across the stage, emotionally mouthing the lyrics to “Satisfied” from the musical Hamilton. She commands attention with her powerful lip sync, leaving the audience in awe with every dramatic movement.

That’s how the drag queen usually makes a mark on every stage she is in. But, when morning strikes, she takes off the costume and wears a scrub suit as a registered pharmacist from a well-known hospital’s extension clinic. Her day job, in fact, is a top inspiration for her drag name Curvedilol, which is named after a heart medication.

Curvedilol has always believed that drag was a part of her, even as a child. When she was alone, she would sneak into her mother and grandmother’s closets, wearing their dresses and dusters and strutting around when no one was looking.

“I grew up in a very traditional family, surrounded by military and police influences, with my father as a high ranking police officer,” she told Mamser.net. “Being manly wasn’t just expected, it was required. I was even constantly reminded na ‘Bawal babakla-bakla!,’ which only made me hide that side of myself even more.”

But queerness would find its way to her younger self. With home becoming a place where she was forced to hide her identity, both school and work became her safe space where she got to do drag with everyone's support. Every classmate and co-worker would cheer her each time she strutted around in her beautiful drag persona.

“I’d show up in full costume, ready to perform, and people were honestly more excited about my outfit than the raffle prizes,” Curvedilol shared of her experiences at the Christmas parties at her job. “That’s when I realized that drag wasn’t just a side thing, it’s a part of who I am, it’s my joy, my freedom, and my way of showing the world my feminine side.”

Curvedilol’s penchant for doing drag started when a friend introduced her to RuPaul’s Drag Race. Sasha Velour’s iconic rose petal reveal was the moment that made her want to pursue the art form in all its glory.

“I finally understood na ito pala ’yong tawag sa ginagawa ko: DRAG! It was like finding a missing piece of me,” she said.

Curvedilol would eventually dive into the world of drag by binge-watching make-up tutorials on YouTube and learning the basic tips and tricks of drag—from covering eyebrows to gluing lace front wigs. From then on, Curvedilol Filipinas, named after a heart medication, was born.

“Drag is more than just performance, it’s therapy. Growing up, I had to hide my femininity because of fear and pressure. But when I finally said ‘Bahala na si Batman.’ and embraced who I really am, it was so freeing,” she said.

But, it’s not all fun and games for drag for Curvedilol. As a pharmacist, she would work all day then rush home by night to shave, put on her make-up, and transform into the gorgeous glamazon that she is.

“It’s super tiring!” she shared. “Minsan gusto ko na lang mahiga pero lagi ko sinasabi sa sarili ko na ‘Laban, girl. Ginusto mo kaya ipush mo!’ [Kaya, here I am]: Pharmacist by day and drag queen by night.”

There are times when Curvedilol would have a late-night drag show and have an early shift at the pharmacy the next morning. She would only have two hours of rest in between but, for her, it’s just a normal part of being a drag queen.

“When I’m tired, I remind myself that I love both. Drag makes me feel alive and creative, and pharmacy gives me purpose and it is my promise to my parents that I would still pursue my pharmacy profession,” she said.

“Yes, it’s a lot of work (and kulang lagi sa tulog!), but doing what you love makes it worth it. Nakakapagod, pero sobrang fulfilling. Both sides of me are finally getting the spotlight that they deserve,” she added.

When asked if she has thoughts of pursuing drag full-time, Curvedilol would still consider balancing the art with her profession in pharmacy, saying the latter is something she has worked hard for and one that has helped her parents in many ways.

“One feeds my soul, the other keeps me grounded. It’s not easy to juggle both, but I’m proud to do so because I get to live both my dreams without letting go of the people and values that helped shape me,” she said.

Curvedilol advises other people who dream of balancing their day job with drag to always keep going, trust themselves, and believe in their dreams.

“Yes, juggling a day job and drag can be really tough at first. There are days when you feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day or that your energy is completely drained. Pero, push lang ng push!” she said.

Multi-tasking and time management are the top tips Curvedilol always follows that have helped her in her pursuit of purpose and passion.

“You become stronger, more creative, and more determined,” she said. “Remember, it’s okay to rest when you need to, but don’t let fear and exhaustion stop you from shining.”

But, more importantly, she reminds everyone to not forget why they started drag in the first place.

“That passion will carry you through the hard days.  Keep your head up, your heels high, your mug snatched. Never stop believing in yourself, girl!” she said. “At the end of the day, balancing both isn’t just about surviving, it’s about thriving and showing the world that you can be both: A hardworking professional and a fabulous drag artist. So go out there, slay your day job, and WERK your drag dreams! In time, everything’s gonna be worth it!”

In a world that often demands us to choose between practicality and passion, these drag artists continuously prove that you have the option to choose both. Whether it’s through healing smiles, processing payrolls, crafting content, or filling prescriptions, they are proof that getting it on in a fierce lip-sync and working hard in a 9-5 can beautifully co-exist.

Drag is not just an escape for queens like Panthera Arma, Flora Saint Light, Ruth Qanal, and Curvedilol Filipinas. It is also an extension of who they are. Behind the make-up, sequins, and stage lights are professionals who clock in each morning, showcasing the same drive they had in their nightly performances to their day jobs.

So, whether it’s a patient, an audience, or a spreadsheet waiting, these double shift divas show up, show out, and slay. Because at the end of the day, hustle is real, but so is the heart behind it.