'RuPaul's Drag Race' Star Kim Chi Brings Her Anime-inspired Drag to the Heat


Although RuPaul’s Drag Race is praised for bringing drag to the masses, it is not without critics who say the show often rewards the use of racial stereotypes among its contestants. Refusing to give into such antics, season eight’s Kim Chi described herself as a “7-foot-tall, live action anime character,” preferring to draw from contemporary Asian culture instead. Along with her elaborate makeup and high-fashion looks, her embrace of the terms “fat, fem, and Asian” endeared her to audiences around the world and earned her a spot in the top three. While her message of self-love resonated with viewers, she still raised more than a few eyebrows when she confessed to being a virgin and that her mother doesn’t know she’s gay. $10-$25, 10:30pm & midnight Wed-Thu, Heat Nightclub, 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 227-2600, reylopezentertainment.com.