5 Life Lessons Ivy Leaguee Learned At London Pride
Here’s to celebrating what makes you you.
We don’t care who you ask, nobody knows their way around a Pride event like a seasoned drag queen.
At this year’s Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, local legend and drag superstar Ivy Leaguee glammed herself up in her flyest cat-inspired drag and was crowned the winner of Jaguar’s Queen Catwalk Competition, sashaying away with a trip to 2019’s London Pride.
Following her action-packed and glitter-filled week in the UK, we chatted with Ivy to spill all the tea on this year’s event.
Sis, strap yourself in and glue down your lace-front – these are the five life lessons Ivy Leaguee learned at London Pride.
#1 You Haven’t Experienced Pride Until You’ve Done It In London
Image: Ivy Leaguee
First and foremost, London Pride is wild.
“The festivities are totally different to what we have Down Under,” Ivy told Junkee. “Wild, but in a different sense – it’s a lot tamer, there’s no nudity or people walking around in super provocative outfits. It’s more families and friends coming together to support the gay community.”
London Pride is a family affair, more focussed on celebrating and acknowledging the LGBTIQ. Here, it isn’t uncommon to find allies flying the rainbow flag on the street, cheering on their neighbour’s queer sons and daughters.
“You know how, in Australia, everyone is kitted out in their fetish gear? Like, you can’t go two steps without seeing a jockstrap or harness? I didn’t see much of that on the day of pride.”
What you will find, however, is a straight-up extravaganza of incredible talent in Trafalgar Square, which is totally free to enjoy.
“I got the pleasure of seeing Billy Porter perform live,” said Ivy. “Something I never thought I’d get to see.”
“Sir Ian McKellen spoke on what he’d seen throughout the years as a gay man. Oh, and the soft-spoken, beautiful princess that is Renée Zellweger gave an incredible speech.”
You’re probably thinking, what’s Pride without some sickening drag queens? Willam, Scarlet Envy and Soju of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame were on site to party, as well as a star-studded line up of local and international queens – trust and believe.
#2 It Always Pays To Be Glammed Up In Full Drag
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Ever dreamt of receiving the superstar treatment in a crowd of hundreds of people? Get your finest drag get-up on, hun!
“The lines are insane and stretch all the way around the block,” said Ivy. “But, somehow, we managed to weasel our way to the front of the line and people were just so happy to let us in.”
Somehow (read: looking like a straight-up, beautiful glamazon).
“’Where are you from?’ people would ask. Letting them know I’m from Sydney was met with excited screams and almost always resulted in me cutting the line,” said Ivy.
“Seriously, everyone was so lovely and let me push in front of them to get to the bathrooms so I could fix my padding and go pee.”
#3 No Matter Where You Are In The World, An Aussie Mate Is Never Hard To Find
It’s no secret we Aussies tend to seek each other out, regardless of where we are on the planet. London Pride is no exception, so you can bet a friend will never be too far away.
“It was incredibly easy to find other Australians among the masses,” said Ivy. “Everyone was wearing their colours or you’d hear [our] twang from a mile away.”
#4 You’ll Catch The Pride Bug, Hard
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Think London Pride will quench your thirst for all things glittery and fabulous? Think again boys, girls, and everyone in between.
“If there’s one thing I took away from the entire experience, it’s the Pride bug,” said Ivy.
“I desperately want to see it again in another country. I’m not entirely sure where, but I can’t even tell you how bad I want to see how other places around the world celebrate Pride.”
#5 Everyone Should Take A Page Out Of A Drag Queen’s Handbook
Image: Ivy Leaguee
Ivy says if there’s one thing you should do before heading to London Pride, it’s to take a page out of a drag queen’s handbook.
“Have fun and don’t be so serious,” said Ivy. “Be serious in yourself and your morals, but know that nobody is really worrying about the things you’re worried about.
“Go out there, have fun, and wear that outfit that you never thought you could wear because life’s too short.”
Some of the greatest drag queens in the industry may not have the bodies we’re told most people are searching for, but they’re still the most celebrated.
“As Trixie Mattel says, everyone in any moment of their life are doing what they think is right to do in that time. So just go out there, don’t be afraid to make mistakes, experience life and think about the consequences later.”
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(Lead image: Allie Smith / Unsplash)
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