From Heartbreak to Crown — Brigiding's Drag Race 'Slaysian Royale' Win is 13 Years in the Making

Thirteen years of hustle, heartbreak, and sickening performances — Filipina drag queen Brigiding has finally snatched the crown as the winner of the first-ever "Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale," the international all-Asian edition of the global franchise. And she's not just celebrating for herself — she's already thinking about the next generation.

Brigiding's journey to the top wasn't a straight line. She lost in season one of "Drag Race Philippines" back in 2022, and it stung. But instead of retreating, she found her people — the fans who saw themselves in her struggles, the ones who'd been knocked down by life but refused to quit. "Doon ko nakilala kung sino 'yung totoong sumusuporta, totoong naniniwala sa akin," Brigiding told Philstar.

Between seasons, she built the House of Ding — adopting drag daughters Zymba Ding and Bomba Ding and mentoring them into performers in their own right. When Zymba competed in Drag Race PH season 3 and reached fifth place, Brigiding felt a pride that went deeper than any crown. "Ibang level of payoff 'yung binigay sa akin nung moment na 'yun," she recalled.

The "Slaysian Royale" format brought together drag queens of Asian heritage from around the world, and Brigiding was confident the Filipino queens would represent. "Hindi naman talaga tayo nagpapatalo sa kahit anumang laban," she said. "Filipina queens are the best in the world — 'Slaysian Royale' is a platform to showcase that, not to prove it."

Now crowned as the inaugural Slaysian Superstar, Brigiding wants to pay it forward — nurturing new drag artists and keeping Filipino drag culture thriving. After 13 years of grinding, the crown was the cherry on top. But for Brigiding, the real win has always been bigger than a title.

Source: Philstar.com