Queen of the Palace Wales
A new opportunity for the Welsh drag scene is being launched as part of Cardiff Fashion Week giving queens in Wales the chance to compete alongside the best in Europe for a prize of 10,000 Euros.
The competition, Queen of the Palace Wales, will be the Welsh qualifier to Europe’s largest drag festival: Queen of the Palace.
Wales’s representative will take part in the four day drag extravaganza in Benidorm in November and perform in fabulous show bars, intimate drag clubs and on the poolside stage. She’ll make an appearance on a Benidorm carnival float and will be photographed on the beachside catwalk as part of the experience before taking part in the finale at the iconic Benidorm Palace.
The Welsh qualifier - Queen of the Palace Wales - will be hosted at Main Stage on St Mary Street, Cardiff, on Wednesday 24 April as part of Cardiff Fashion Week 2024 – with some of Wales most recognised drag artists, including Miss Kitty, Etta Buffet and Gigi Spot supporting the show.
Event organisers Paula Abbandonato and Natalie Collins are keen to celebrate diversity as part of Cardiff Fashion Week.
Paula said: “Fashion comes in many forms and who doesn’t love the bold looks of the British drag scene? There’s huge talent behind those creations and we want to celebrate that as part of our week at the same time as giving someone the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Natalie added: “We’re looking for bright new bold talent to show that Wales can compete alongside the best in Benidorm later this year. Anyone interested in getting involved should get in touch with us through the Cardiff Fashion Week website.”
As part of the event organisers’ commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, Queen of the Palace Wales will rase funds for Cardiff Samaritans where event organiser, Paula, is a listening volunteer in her spare time.
She said: “The sad reality is that people who are marginalised because of aspects of who they are, including gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership status, sex or sexual orientation; are more likely to face exclusion from society. This can make them more vulnerable and at risk to adversity - which we know are real factors leading to suicide and self-harm.
“Through Queen of the Palace Wales, we want to not only raise money for Cardiff Samaritans but also awareness amongst the community of the support the charity gives for people when they are at their lowest.”
Interested queens can also request an application form by sending an email to info@visitCFW.co.uk
To find out more about Queen of the Palace final in Benidorm in November, visit: https://queenofthepalace.eu
