with Elisha “Icy” Ang

It’s not every day you come across someone with charisma like no other. 

Oozing with talent, beauty, and confidence, Precious Paula Nicole, one of the 12 queens from the first season of Drag Race Philippines, took her queenship to the Queen City of the South for the first time ever. Fans of Drag Race flocked to From Here in Crossroads, Banilad, to watch her fabulous performances alongside our sickening local queens from Cebu Drag Artists Community.

To have seen this show up close was all sorts of exciting, but to top it all off, g.spot was extremely lucky to have a sit-down conversation with the gracious queen, discussing her life post-Drag Race premiere.

Since competing in Drag Race Philippines, have you noticed a change in people’s perception and appreciation for drag?

Sobrang laki. Sobrang laki ng changes kasi honestly, before Drag Race, we were struggling to sell tickets for prod shows. And then, yung change kasi ngayon, five minutes pa lang, nag so-sold out agad yung tickets ng mga prod shows namin.

So ‘dun pa lang, kitang-kita mo yung difference. Ibig sabihin, marami kaming na reach na tao na bago lang sila sa Drag Race. Sobrang saya! Katulad kanina!

How has your life changed since announcing your participation in Drag Race Philippines?

Sobrang laki ng changes sa life ko kasi dati, dami kong tulog. Ngayon, medyo konti nalang, alam mo yun? Booked and blessed talaga kasi maraming nagti-tiwala sa akin.

Actually, hindi lang man sa akin eh – sa 12 queens na nag-compete. Ang daming nag-bukas na pinto, ang dami-daming bars na napupuntahan, not like before kasi ang hirap dating kumuha ng mga shows, ang hirap mag-audition. Pero now, ang bilis na ng process. Hindi mo na kailangang mag-hanap ng shows, yung shows na ang maghahanap sa ‘yo.

Did the influx of shows start when the first episode aired?

Yung Meet the Queens pa lang. Kasi ang tagal namin tinatago yun eh, kumbaga parang every time may new shows in O Bar parang everyone’s like, “Oy, nakita namin na you’re in Drag Race!” Ako naman, “Hindi po ako kasali,” kasi bawal talaga. May NDA kami. Pero noong nag-start na nakita yung names namin, parang sabi ni Gigi Era — palung-palo!

What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from your experience in Drag Race Philippines?

I’m still learning pa rin naman until now to always trust your instincts. Kumbaga, always believe in your drag kasi wala namang magkaparehong drag queen ngayon. Kumbaga, what you do is unique and ‘wag kang magpe-pretend ng ibang character. I mean, mag stick ka nalang kung ano ang brand mo. And always, always learn kasi life is a never-ending learning process for me. Sabi nga nila, “Learning is the new winning.” For me, life is a never-ending learning process.

So yeah, ganun lang naman yun! Every day, may matutunan ka na pwede mong i-share, at kung na share mo na yun, doon sa tao na nakakuha sa shinare mo, isha-share din sa iba. So ganun lang yun. Always stay positive and always love your parents and your family!

Catch Precious Paula Nicole and 11 other gorgeous drag queens on Drag Race Philippines! New episodes air on Wednesdays, 7:00 PM only at WOW Presents Plus, Discovery+, and HBO Go.