Home » Style Issue » Man, I Feel Like a Woman

Man, I Feel Like a Woman

March 18, 2011
By Cameron Parkes

Are you a guy that’s always wanted to dress as a woman but don’t know how to go about it? We enlisted the help of local drag queen Gabriel Fillion to help walk us through the transformation from man to diva.

Step 1: Shave

The transformation begins in the bathroom, and if you have roommates, you might want to let them go in first. Fillion explained the first stage of transformation could lay claim to the shower for quite a while.

“I spend two hours in the shower. I’m not doing what someone would normally do in the shower,” he laughed. “But rather, I shave my entire body.”

You’ve probably never really thought about it before, but men have a lot to shave. Fillion has to take a razor to his beard, neck, upper chest, armpits, arms, hands, shoulders, thighs, calves, feet, and even his toes.

Step 2: Cinch

The next step is to turn that bulky male body into a womanly thing of beauty. This is called binding and involves a corset and duct tape. The corset is to squeeze the waist together, reducing it by up to four inches. The duct-tape is used to form the foundations for the breasts; after pushing the pectoral muscles together, they’re taped in place.

The duct-tape can also serve another purpose, according to Fillion: “Some drag queens ‘tuck’ — this means you would put duct-tape on your ‘precious part’ and pull it back towards your butt, through your legs.” So now if you see a drag queen walking funnily, you’ll know why.

Step 3: Paint

For many women, makeup is part of a daily routine, and as such, doesn’t take much thought. For a drag queen, however, different steps have to be taken to achieve those feminine facial features.

Moisturizing your entire face, as well as your neck, makes the skin soft and ladylike. Applying blush makes the cheekbones stand out. Lip liner and gloss ensure those kissy-faces sparkle, and long, fake eyelashes complete the ensemble. But the real key to looking like a woman, according to Fillion, is getting your eyebrows right: “I reshape [them] with makeup, accentuating the arches and making them look thinner than they really are.”

Step 4: Primp

With most of your transformation complete, it’s now time to finish getting dressed. Luscious locks are a must-have for any aspiring drag queen — Fillion informed us there are several good wig shops in London, so you’re covered on that front. The first step is to tuck your hair into a cap, and strap it down with bobby pins. The wig comes next, and although some wigs have elastic bands to keep them in place, Fillion recommends pinning them down as well to ensure that they don’t fly off.

Step 5: Dress

With your hair tightly strapped on, all that’s left to do is put your outfit on. Fillion recommended multiple pairs of tights, in case one breaks. Lady’s underwear is a must because it “hides my manhood and lifts my butt,” according to Fillion. Oh, and we won’t tell if you stuff that bra just a little bit.

 

Follow the Gazette on Facebook and Twitter.