King of Drags Buck Wylde reveals their master plan for kings to reign over the scene
King of Drag star Buck Wylde almost had a very different drag name: Edward James Almost. It was an homage to an actor, Edward James Olmos, who she says single-handedly served as the Mexican representation they saw growing up. Today Buck is ready, alongside their primos and fellow kings Tuna Melt and Charles Galin King, to represent for a whole new generation of queer Latines. I'm thinking [about the] kids at home that are watching this especially some queer Latine kids, that maybe feel kind of alone all this. And if they see us, and see the three of us dancing together, yelling, Primos, primos, primos, they won't feel so alone, Buck tells PRIDE. For Buck, being a part of King of Drag was always bigger than winning a crown, which is why being eliminated was ultimately more sweet than bitter. Im so excited about this show. I have such high hopes for it, Buck gushes, adding that watching it has been affirming beyond what they expected. From the moment the intro came on and Murray Hill started speaking, I felt so held. I felt like we were treated with respect and the acknowledgement that I think drag kings deserve.That moment was a long time coming for the Dallas-based king, who has made not only a name for himself in the Texas drag scene during the 14 years hes been performing, but also for his brothers in drag by creating Mustache Envy, the state's longest-running drag king-centric troop. But that's not all hes created. Theres also Buck Wylde's Sausage Party, which is Dallas first and only all drag king brunch. He also has a show called Neon Nites, which features drag kings, queens, and things at Dallas Meow Wolf exhibition.King of Drag was a natural extension of his mission to uplift and platform drag kings and he feels it's working. Without this platform, it's felt like there has been no outside visibility from the rest of the world to see what drag king culture is, he saysAnd theyre just getting started. We're all spread out all over the world, all over the country, and we live in silos. So this show, bringing these 10 kings together, bridged this gap that was there, and really almost brought the whole king world together in monumental ways, he says. Buck adds that this will be essential in creating the kind of national network of kings that will continue to create opportunities for them to grow as performers and grow their audiences. We call ourselves the first 10, and we're the blueprint of what is to come. So there was no road map for what we're doing now. We're making it right now, they explain. This kind of brotherly love is the cornerstone of drag king culture. We do something that we call king shit, he says, We act with a level of dignity and respect for each other and humility, and honorability.This culture is not only apparent in the way that the kings interact on the show, but it is also part of King of Drags DNA. From what I've seen on other shows that exist right now, I've seen a lot of tearing down and pettiness and things like that, but I don't think that really happens in the king communities, Buck observes.Asked if the cast were ever pushed to create more drama for the sake of making a moment, Buck says, Not once. That kind of entertainment, which other drag competition shows feature, was never the intent of this show, he reveals. In fact, the producers were looking to channel the spirit of a very different reality competition series. Beforehand, they told us, 'We're not doing that format that you're used to seeing. We are doing something different.' It was more like the Great British Bake Off... but with drag kings.Only two episodes in, and King of Drag is quickly becoming the feel-good watch of the year. Between the punk DIY spirit of the kings and their craft, to the many sweet and supportive interactions, theres something so soothing, so refreshing, and so cozy about watching queer folks just being kind to one another. That attitude, Buck says, is genuine and reflective of how kings treat one another on and off camera. We grab each other and hug each other and say, You make me want to be a better king, or just remember you're respected in your industry, he says with a laugh. We bump chests and we build each other up before we go out on stage.That was embodied in this episode in the way the kings all sat down and opened up about their identities and, in Buck's case, that included sharing that they are married to a cis man. On another show, that could quickly have become an opportunity for gatekeeping or at least some shade. Not here. Buck credits that to the incredibly inclusive casting. Listen, there was no token, anybody in this group. This group was so well curated and represented that we were all very accepting of each other, says Buck. I was sure that I was gonna be the token person with a cis man husband, or I was gonna be the token Hispanic, or I was gonna be the token almost 50-year-old, and none of that. I was not the only one of anything.And don't get me wrong, I'm queer, she adds. I may be in a cis-presenting relationship, but that does not make me any less queer.That kind of solidarity is essential, particularly since kings are still fighting for respect and visibility even in queer spaces. As Buck explains, the drag scene is still mostly controlled by queens, and while theyre fortunate that some of those queens in the Dallas area are inclusive to kings, many are not. It's been like the patriarchy in heels, he says, quickly crediting that quote to his fellow castmate, Dick Van Dyke (because, ya know, king shit). Whatever we're dealing with inside the drag king community is what we've always battled outside of drag, in our regular, everyday lives.In a nutshell, it's the patriarchy that's why we haven't been seen, explains Buck, while also pointing out the hypocrisy that is unfortunately common in the drag community: You can't celebrate the beauty of women or femininity, but also squash it too.Theres a simple answer to this perpetual problem: Book drag kings. Or more specifically, contact your local drag venues and suggest, request, or demand they book drag kings. With the growing fan base brought in by King of Drag, theres plenty of hope on that front. After all, these kings, including Buck, showed off their big D.I.C.K (daring, innovation, creativity, and karisma with a K) once again this week, first in an improv challenge and then in the programs inaugural Dong Show which saw the kings doing both celebrity impressions and showing off their talent. This challenge saw Buck channeling Satan himself as a zoot-suited Devil. Their talent: making salsa while salsa dancing. That devil outfit is really important to me, it's a takuache, and it's a very big representation of my heritage, says Buck. Its always been a protest outfit for Mexican culture. So I thought it would be, you know, very poignant to bring in the Zoot Suit. Despite a clever concept and a killer suit, Buck found himself in a surprising position, struggling to connect with his drag alter ego. When Murray asked what I bring to the table, all of a sudden, I kind of was like, What do I bring to the table? I know myself and I know what I do. But the thing is, Buck is sort of my armor, he recalls. As for what happened next, Buck says he got in his head about it all. I've never been on a TV show before. I've never been in front of celebrity judges. There was a whole lot going on, and so the pressure was really high. Knowing that it was such a critical moment [and] I was carrying a lot of expectations on me with having been performing for so long, and then my whole community behind me, he recalls. I was reaching for Buck, and Buck wasn't showing up for some reason. I was like, Alright, he's gonna kick in anytime, and he's gonna kick in any second.I don't know, I just kind of choked, he admits. Adding to the stress was falling short of his expectations in front of judges he respects, including Tenderoni and Somebody Somewhere star Jeff Hiller but it also led to Buck having incredible moments with both of them afterward. Tenderoni made a point to pull Buck aside after the vote didn't go their way and expressed to them how much they appreciated their drag and encouraged them to keep going. Buck was especially touched and surprised when, later, they got a message from Hiller on Instagram. He said, You're a fantastic performer, keep doing what you're doing, and just remember that you're not a game show contestant. You're an artist. Don't forget that, Buck shares.Thankfully, Buck has no plans of slowing down anytime soon. Not only are the kings cooking up plans for the tour unless an official one were to come together first but they also recognize how stepping on any stage, particularly right now, is an important act of resistance. Especially in their home state. Its the most tumultuous political climate in my entire lifetime, and I've been alive for almost half a century now! says Buck. The civil liberties and frankly, the lives of queer and BIPOC folk are under the gun, being squashed, being erased, its more important now than ever for this show to be happening and for drag to be at the forefront, in part because drag is such a rebellion in itself, says Buck. And in Texas? "There's eyes on us all the time, so there's definite danger in what we do. But the second we say, 'Oh, it's too dangerous. We're not going to do that anymore.' That's when they win."'King of Drag' is now streaming on Revry, with new episodes dropping every Friday.
