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4 Popular Pakistani Drag Queens Defying Cultural Boundaries
In Pakistan's conservative society, drag is a taboo — not an art.
Although drag queens are often associated with homosexuality, men of all different backgrounds and sexualities like to play with a feminine alter ego.
Photo Credit: www.scoopnest.com
Here are four popular Pakistani drag queens who have made their mark and who continue to fight South Asian cultural stereotypes.
1. Asif Quraishi, AKA Asifa Lahore
Photo Credit: www.asiansunday.co.uk
A proud 32-year-old British-Pakistani drag queen, Asif was born to a conservative British Pakistani family. After coming out as gay at age 27, he adopted his alter ego, Asifa Lahore. Asifa is featured in the documentary Muslim Drag Queens.
2. Ali, AKA Shilpa Jan
Photo Credit: www.itsnicethat.com
After coming out as gay, Ali left the not-very-drag-friendly Pakistan and moved to Britain. Ali has assumed the role of Shipa Jan, performing in the United Kingdom’s gay nightclubs. His first performance was filmed in a short documentary.
3. Imran, AKA Zareena Khan
Photo Credit: www.huffingtonpost.co.uk
Imran is another British-Pakistani drag queen, and he goes by the drag name Zareena Khan. His story is featured in the documentary Muslim Drag Queens too. Zareena is on several dating and social media websites. He often gets responses from married men interested in sleeping with him because of the way he dresses.
4. Ali Saleem, AKA Begum Nawazish Ali
Photo Credit: www.defence.pk
Ali was born in Islamabad to an army colonel and a government official. She's openly bisexual and considers herself a “woman in a man’s body.” She shattered many cultural Pakistani norms and rose to fame as Begum Nawazish Ali on The Late Night Show. There she raised many taboo questions, and the government eventually banned the show in 2007.
Although Pakistani society tends to severely disapprove of homosexuality, bisexuality and cross-dressing, these drag queens continue to challenge cultural restrictions and enact positive change.
Main Image Photo Credit: sholeyevents.com, www.itsnicethat.com, www.thedailymail.co.uk, www.brandsynario.com
Farah Quraishi
Author
Farah Quraishi is a Journalism graduate from Sheridan College, she teaches story writing to young adults, has won a best documentary award at BEAC Awards, and enjoys fashion, nature, and Bollywood. She always had a passion for writing and decided to pursue that path.
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