Original subtitles

Coming up, baby, on "dragnificent!"...

-Surprise! -Surprise!

I need you to help me understand my son.

Adam has his first drag show coming up,

and I don't know how to support him.

What do I have to offer him?

A stack of 500 singles to throw as he's performing.

You love drag.

Oh, yes. My mom is just so important to me.

Her opinion means a lot, but I just don't know

if you really get why I would want to do it.

I don't know what's the next step?

We need you to experience what it means to be a queen.

Professor, will you please get up here?

Laura, there is no more hiding. We're gonna break you out.

Woman: Oh, my god!

You mentioned you were nervous

about your upcoming performance.

What are you wearing?

"oh, no." [ coughing ] "no!"

you look like the proud mom of a fabulous drag queen.

Laura: I am nervous on all levels.

♪ I get this feelin' ♪

♪ I turn it up ♪

♪ my inhibitions ♪

♪ straight outta luck ♪

♪ I'm full of me now ♪

♪ I get a rush ♪

♪ straight off the sofa ♪

♪ we tear it up ♪

♪ they got ya feelin' all fired up ♪

♪ you gotta feel the pressure ♪

♪ they got ya feelin' all fired up ♪

♪ they just want to make ya better, better ♪

♪ they got ya feelin' ♪

-- captions by vitac -- www.Vitac.Com

captions paid for by discovery communications

♪

♪ everything's gonna be alright ♪

bebe: Where are we?

It's, like, grass, cows, farms, and land.

Moo.

[ laughter ]

ladies, welcome to connecticut.

We're meeting our first college professor, laura.

My name is laura, and I'm a university professor.

I'm a typical academic.

I like my blazers, and I like my trousers.

I literally have been wearing the same makeup

since the late '80s.

I don't really like to stand out.

I like to blend in.

And here I have a son

that really wants to stand out and be different.

I knew adam was gay when he was about 3 years old.

He would sneak in the bathroom and put my makeup on

and come out and wait for me to react.

I was in shock. What do you do with that?

He's 19 now and dressing in drag,

and I'm a little fearful.

What does this mean for adam?

What does this mean for me?

It's created a distance

because I just don't know how to sort of accept it.

So adam has his first drag show coming up.

And I am nervous on all levels.

I just don't get it.

I need the help of the queens

to come to a better understanding

why people are drag kings, queens.

I want to support adam to the fullest.

We always bring the sparkle.

[ laughter ]

let's change and put on our couture.

Excellent idea.

Laura asked for our help,

but she has no idea that we're here to see her today.

She thinks that she's filming a casting video,

but, oh, baby, we have a big surprise for her.

We're coming for you, professor.

♪ look ♪

♪ look, don't touch ♪

♪ so glamorous ♪

[ bell ringing ]

♪ don't touch ♪

♪ 'cuz we are ♪

♪ so glamorous ♪

-surprise! -Surprise!

-Hello. -Hi!

I'm alexis.

Hi.

♪ I need a hug ♪

oh, my god, I'm so nervous.

Look at this hair.

They're larger than life.

I think I'm so in shock, but I'm beyond over the moon, excited.

Are we like your typical students?

-No. -No?

So laura, you called us.

Yes, I need the help of the queens.

I need you to help me understand my son.

He's been dressing in drag, sort of in his room,

working up to feeling comfortable.

So we're talking about a baby drag queen.

He's just been birthed.

So adam has his first drag show coming up.

His first performance?

Adam is having his first performance.

-Oh, wow. -Are you excited about this?

Nervous, nervous, nervous, nervous,

and I don't know what to expect

and I don't know how to support him.

What do I have to offer him?

A stack of 500 singles to throw as he's performing.

I'm gonna be honest, I don't understand it.

I would love to be able to understand

where he's coming from.

Is it that he feels pretty?

Is it that he feels more like himself?

Does he feel artsy?

I mean, if I have questions about this,

the queens are the people that will give me the answer.

I say, why don't we take a seat,

and you can ask us whatever wackadoo questions

you want to ask?

Oh, quiz time!

-Let's go, girls. -The quiz starts now.

This is a dream come true.

The queens could be mentors to help me understand drag.

And perfect.

So tell me the emotional part. What is being a drag queen?

Oh, me!

Alexis.

[ sighs ]

it's expression. Letting something inside out.

Always. I always felt that way.

I was a really creative kid, a lot of energy,

and I like to use my body to really express myself.

It feels like I'm most myself when I'm like, "yeah!"

bebe, go ahead.

As a young boy... [ coughing ]

you're a boy?

[ laughter ]

no, but, I was into music. I was into fashion.

Remember I'm in cameroon.

We don't have pop culture like america,

but I do remember being a child going into the mirror

and just lip-syncing music,

building this fantasy, building this persona.

It was inside of you? It was inside of me.

-Absolutely. -We're just our truest selves.

How does it make you feel?

Fantastic. Beautiful.

I think that feminine things are really strong.

I think there were signs along the way

that I just didn't pick up on.

I can remember a department store

that had pink stilettos and adam wanted them.

And I didn't know what to do.

And so I said, "adam, they're not gonna fit you."

he must've asked on three different occasions.

And so I think one of my biggest regrets

is not knowing what's accepted. What should I do?

I wish I got him those pink stilettos.

I want to make laura understand what we do

and how empowering yourself with a little fairy dust

can go a long way.

And I think she'll understand adam better that way, too.

Just because you might worry about how the world

will treat him

that doesn't mean you're treating him badly

or that you don't support him.

In fact, I think it really means you do.

On another note, he might be the one bringing you

the millions into the family.

[ laughter ]

wait, all this talk about adam, I want to meet him.

Can we meet him?

Yeah! Okay. Perfect.

I'm so excited and actually humbled

that laura has reached out to ask for our help.

Oh, I love surprises.

We need to take care of laura.

When you take care of the mothers,

the mothers will take care of the children.

♪

alexis: Alright, ladies. We're on our way.

Bebe: Laura, so you don't follow fashion?

You're not into fashion?

I just like to look presentable.

Laura, would you describe yourself

as maybe stuck in a time --

yeah, stuck in the '80s.

Stuck in the '80s?

I don't like to stand out.

I was never the flashy one and adam is flashy,

so that's a challenge for me.

It's in there somewhere. Somewhere.

You got to bring it out. So he doesn't know we're coming.

No. Are we gonna arrive

and he's gonna be in full fantasy drag?

Oh, my god. I don't know.

Adam, here we come. Here we come.

-Hello. -Hello.

How was your day today?

-Surprise! -Aah!

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god! Give me a hug.

Adam: These queens are my idols.

It's really crazy to see them all in their glory in person.

Adam is adorable. He could be my drag daughter.

Surprise. We're moving in.

How exciting to see him and how excited he is to see us.

It's beautiful.

We've been really moved to meet your mom

and hear her talk about you.

The eagerness that she has to support you is so strong

and so moving to all of us.

Adam: My mom is just so important to me.

You know, her opinion means a lot to me.

And I think you see drag as valid,

but I just don't know if you really get

maybe why I would want to do it.

And even when I was a kid and I wanted those barbie shoes,

you were just like, "why does he want pink shoes?"

some things we didn't talk about in our family.

And I think that's kind of the disconnect.

I agree. I don't understand it.

I'm just at a loss.

I don't -- I don't know what to do.

You love drag? Oh, yes.

What is it about drag that you love?

It's, like, unreal. It's like a dream.

Aww.

Well, I've been drawing for a long time,

and I've been doing makeup for years, so makeup --

an artist!

Yes, an artist, but I can express myself visually.

And it's different than just drawing

because all the visions I see in my head

that I can't put down on paper,

I can make them true on my body and face.

So if you're an artist and drag is your medium...

It's about creation for you.

Alexis: I feel so many parallels between

adam and laura and me and my mom.

I've always felt very loved and supported by my mom,

just as I can tell laura loves and supports adam.

But they're a little stuck at the moment.

Did you go to mom's closet to try to find a look

to turn the party and you were like, "oops"?

I would say that her fashion style

is maybe a little bit more vintage, I'd say.

Vintage is a kind way to put it.

Yeah, yeah.

I think that you could update it a little bit.

Real talk. When you look at yourself in the mirror,

do you say, "I am fabulous"?

I've never said, "I'm fabulous."

you will.

Jujubee: Here's another important question.

Did you dress that couch to match you?

[ laughter ]

or did you dress you to match the couch?

Where did she go?

I love the queens, they are comfortable and confident

in who they are inside and out,

and anyone could benefit from that.

I want to take a look at this closet.

Yes. Adam, why don't you go to your mom's closet,

try on some clothing, and do a fashion show for us?

-Yes. -Absolutely.

Alright, get out of here and go.

-I'll be right back. -Yay.

Hurry back, darling!

Bye.

Jujubee: Now he's gonna help us show laura

that it's time for a change.

Laura, there is no more hiding. We're gonna break you out.

Laura: I'm very nervous.

Fashion makes me feel a little uncomfortable.

I haven't been brave enough to go out into the 21st century.

Okay, adam, are you ready?

Come on out! Oh, no.

-Wait a minute, is this... -Go together?

♪ ...Coming ♪

♪ can't keep a secret that I'm coming ♪

it's a sensible, sexy ankle.

-You cannot call that sexy. -A men's top.

The skirt is a teaching skirt.

What kind of lesson are you teaching?

Are you teaching people what not to wear?

Bebe: Here she comes.

Oh.

Okay, alright.

When you're wearing two of the same color,

they either want to be exactly the same

or be further apart.

[ gasps ]

-oh! -Oh!

Laura: This is my most dressy outfit.

Oh.

Mom, if we are going to this drag debut of adam,

are we really taking this?

This feels a little professional for a drag show.

Okay. How do you feel if my sister juju

and I take you shopping?

Ooh.

We're gonna give laura the most updated, modern,

sophisticated, and sexy version of the '80s.

More color, structure, glamorous.

That's what we're here for.

Can we take you to new york city?

Yes, nervous and excited.

You have to commit to this, miss laura.

I'm committing.

Miss bebe is going to help

miss laura find the perfect threads.

Come on, girls.

So that when she goes to adam's drag show,

everybody around there will be, "who's the queen?"

-bye, darling. -Bye.

When was the last time you went shopping?

It has to be at least 10 good years.

[ gasps ]

♪ time will tell ♪

♪ time will tell ♪

♪ what goes up must come down ♪

jujubee: We are in one of new york city's

best fashion boutiques,

where we're waiting for laura.

Are we thinking? We're knowing.

Bebe: We are going to update her wardrobe,

from the '80s to the roaring '20s.

Aah!

Laura: I'm gonna be honest, I'm a little intimidated

being in manhattan,

getting ready to go into a boutique.

These are the places that I just sort of walk by

and look in the window and keep walking.

Hello, laura!

Hey, bebe, how are you? Good.

Hey, juju, how are you?

Good, how are you? Good.

When was the last time you went shopping?

Well, I thought about it when you asked me that last night,

and it has to be at least 10 good years.

[ gasps ]

laura has not been shopping in 10 years,

but this is the problem.

I personally would like to see what you would choose

for yourself from this store. There's animal print.

And there is sparkle, too. There's floral.

Diamonds.

See, I am drawn to black.

Is the safe zone. Yes.

And color makes you stand out.

So nervous about that.

I think women like laura are always working so hard.

They're so busy, and life gets in the way.

They don't go shopping, they don't treat themselves,

and they get stuck in a rut.

But today, she needs an open mind-set

because the closet is kingdom.

The animal print is beautiful.

Is it in style colors or is this is still '80s?

It's an updated '80s.

You ladies have some animal print.

[ laughter ]

I'm an animal.

Let's go try some stuff on.

Okay.

Bebe: Miss laura and I have something in common.

She loves leopard, I love leopard.

I guess there can be two queens in a jungle.

Jujubee: Come out, miss laura.

-Ooh. -I like it.

It's fitted, but it's still flowy.

Instead of being very boxy.

Yeah, the print is beautiful with the color.

And you think it goes okay with the color?

Oh, it does.

I love seeing this red and this snakeskin on laura.

It is something that's completely

out of her comfort zone.

She's being challenged, and she's going for it.

-Come out. -Come out.

[ bebe gasps ]

I love you in color so much.

And I would never pick this color out.

You look rich, you look expensive.

You own 100% of that company, honey,

and nobody can take that away from you.

[ laughs ]

for a woman who hasn't shopped in over 10 years,

laura's doing an incredible job right now.

But I don't think I would wear this to the drag bar

for adam's moment.

Are you ready to take just a small leap?

Yes.

You trust us? Yes.

Bebe: You got to take baby steps with miss laura.

So, sparkle, darling.

Let's dive right in.

-[ gasps ] ooh. -Okay.

I love this. I love this.

This is the right black,

because it has sparkle, it has texture.

Mm-hmm.

Um...

I feel like it's not me.

This is very fancy.

It's okay to be elegant. It's okay to be beautiful,

to feel it, to live it, to love it.

It's okay.

And I think you owe it to yourself to do these things,

because it's you growing,

it's you changing, as well as adam.

It's like a metamorphosis.

Real tall. I love your legs.

Not everybody has it.

When you got that, show it.

Laura: I'm very comfortable with the queens.

They make me feel like fashion and being colorful and loud

could be your friend, as opposed to something to stay away from.

I think if I was on my own, I would not pick it,

but because I'm trying to fit in

for a sparkly night with adam,

I'm ready for the challenge.

I think that's really beautiful.

So I like the sparkle. You do?

I'd love this to be the dress.

You look gorgeous, miss laura.

We found the dress, we found the sparkle.

We have more surprises for you, miss laura.

Alexis is downtown waiting for you.

She is one step closer

to being ready for adam and his drag show.

♪ right here, right now ♪

♪ we got it going tonight ♪

laura is about to arrive at my apartment.

You recognize me?

Yes, I do.

And have a very special heart to heart

with a very special guest.

Because I had such a nice time talking with you and adam,

I thought it might be nice

for you to meet my mom, so she's here.

Ohh.

-Hello. -This is my mom, vera.

Alexis: When we were talking with laura and adam yesterday,

I see where they are, and I was there.

I've always had a very close relationship with my mom.

-Mom to mom. -Yes.

Alexis: But we've had a whole journey together,

and I want to show laura where I think they could be.

So, I understand that you're going through something now

that I've been through already.

Yes. Adam's 19,

dreams of being a drag queen,

and I think it wasn't until probably this past year

that it really... I slowed down, and I said,

"this isn't just a fad, this is adam."

and I have no background in it whatsoever.

Who does?

It sort of hit me.

I've been picking and choosing.

I'll get the pink power ranger,

but I didn't get the pink slippers.

And so, you started to go over all those little things

that maybe were hurtful to adam.

And then you say, "there has to be a point

when you don't want him to hurt anymore,

and you want to accept him for who he is.

[voice breaking] and we really need to embrace

him as a whole person."

alex wanted ballet lessons

when he was very, very young.

I said, "boys don't do that."

and then, he did take ballet,

and he was very, very good at it.

I was not very, very good at it.

You might've been better if I let you take it

when you first wanted to take it.

That is true, and I wish that we had.

Tell me how you found out.

Not really till college

that I saw him perform in drag,

and I thought,

"I don't like this. This is not much of a career."

I was just getting used to having a gay son.

That was several years after I came out already.

Yeah, you think it goes so quickly?

No, it takes a long time. Takes time, right?

Takes a long time.

Maybe a bigger revolution for you than even for him,

because he already knows who he is.

What helped you get through in coming to terms with it?

There was his coming out,

and then there was my coming out.

And it was really quite slow.

Until, I did see him

in this particular competition,

and he had a chorus behind him,

and my heart was just throbbing.

It was amazing. He had an incredible stage presence,

and I saw that this was

an actual, legitimate performance.

And all of that theater training,

all of the voice lessons,

everything just fell into place.

How long did that whole coming-out process take?

A long time. It did?

A long time. But it doesn't have to take you as long.

A lot of it will depend on you,

and you getting comfortable with it.

You're definitely coming out.

Laura: Alex's mom really made me

see that going on this adventure with the queens,

with adam, is my way of coming out.

This is just beyond my wild--

this is better than diamond ring, it really is.

I'm so glad.

If there's anything I want laura

to take away from tonight in meeting my mom,

it's honestly to see that she's on her way,

that her willingness,

and her earnest curiosity about adam and his process,

is really the best thing a mother can do.

Bebe: It's the first time the world gets to see

what are you wearing.

Miss bebe want to see everything.

Here you go.

Very October 31st, honey.

October 31st.

♪ I don't need you to show me love right now ♪

jujubee: Laura really wants to understand her son, adam,

and in order for her to feel that,

bebe and I are expanding her knowledge of drag.

♪ 'cause I'm ready to love myself ♪

♪ right now ♪

♪ to show me love ♪ -hello.

-Hi. -Oh, hi.

Listen, we have some great things planned today.

So, here's the thing.

We know that you love adam so much,

and you just want to understand.

You want to know what it feels like for adam to do drag.

What better way to do that but to put you in drag.

Oh, yes.

Oh.

We really need you

to experience what it means to be a queen.

It's hard to digest.

I'm overwhelmed and nervous at the same time.

You have a show coming up pretty fast.

Yes, I've never done a drag show.

I've been to many drag shows,

but I don't know how it all comes together.

You need to be epic. Let's have a chat.

Of course.

Let's see how ready you are.

Bebe: While I love miss laura,

and she's the goddess of all goddesses,

we still also have to check adam.

We need to make sure that he got it together.

-See you, ladies. -Bye.

Are you ready to become a drag queen?

Yes. And I have one request.

What's that?

Eyelids like you.

Oh, my gosh.

I am an expert on sparkly eyes.

I've always liked them.

Jujubee: You know what I love about laura?

She's not saying no to anything. She's a yes woman.

She's an open book.

And I think that's beautiful.

Jujubee: Adam is gonna flip out.

He's gonna be so jealous of your face beat.

You know what that is, right?

No. Like beating your face?

Drag queens will say like, "I'm gonna beat my face,"

when we're gonna paint our face.

I think it's from when you powder your face,

you're beating it into the foundation.

Drag-queen slang. Yeah.

Real talk.

You mentioned that you were nervous

about your upcoming performance.

I don't want to raise the stakes too high,

but it's really important.

It's the first time you get to be this beautiful queen.

Yes.

So, what are you doing? How are you prepared?

What are you wearing?

Miss bebe want to see everything.

I do have a picture on my phone,

but I'm not gonna lie.

I don't think that this is really

like the best that I can represent myself.

[ coughs ]

♪

well...

Bebe: I'm looking at this picture right now,

and I'm like...

"oh, no."

[ coughing ]

"no."

adam.

I mean, I'm gonna be your drag mother.

I'm gonna give you the hard truth.

I wouldn't want it any other way.

You look like a horror movie.

Like, "boo!"

[ laughs ]

[ stammers ]

very October 31st, honey.

October 31st.

It's the first time the world gets to see you.

You have to look fabulous.

As a baby drag queen, you are not expected to have

all of this in your closet. Do you trust me?

Oh, of course I trust you, mother.

You better trust me.

I don't know if you understand it.

It's very...Boo!

I've got work to do.

♪

you know what I think is beautiful about drag

is that makeup is such a huge part of it,

and there's this power

that comes with putting on all this makeup,

because you're kind of becoming somebody

that you're not normally.

It gives you way to do whatever you want.

So you're in disguise.

You're in disguise,

but maybe this isn't even a disguise.

Oh, my god.

Oh, my god. Hi, mom.

Hi, adam. How are you?

Oh, my god, the lashes. I love them.

Isn't she gorg?

Bebe: You look so stunning.

My mom looks gorgeous, drop-dead gorgeous,

and I was just so proud. I was just so proud of her

to step out of her comfort zone and be happy with it.

Before we get you dressed up, every drag queen

must have a name to go

with the look and the persona.

I don't have a name.

Drag is about celebration.

[ humming ]

I'm thinking.

And her drag name is...

Adam, now we need to finish the zhush.

So you're gonna wait out here

while we get professor together.

Okay.

Come on, professor. Say goodbye to professor.

Goodbye, professor.

Come on, honey.

Adam: I'm so excited to see my mom in drag.

I don't even know how to put it into words.

I think that it's so cool

that my mom stepped out of her comfort zone.

She's never done that before.

Bebe: You can do it. Pull it.

[ all grunting ]

it's going to be epic.

The one, the only,

the gorgeous professor tiffany bluebank.

Oh, my god!

Oh, my god!

Adam: She looks elegant.

She looks amazing. She looks like royalty.

She hasn't seen it yet.

You haven't seen it at all? She hasn't seen it yet.

You're gonna turn mom around.

Okay. Here we go.

[ laughing ] oh, my god.

How do you feel?

Oh, look at that.

Bebe: Oh, she's feeling it.

How does it feel?

Good.

I'm looking at me, and it's not me.

No, but it is you, but just heightened.

-I feel transformed. -In a good way?

Do you feel like you could do whatever you want

and get away with it? -Absolutely.

Thank you.

And these colors.

To think back to that couch she was sitting on.

My goodness.

Darling, these are gay neutrals.

Going through this transformation,

I understand adam a little bit more.

You don't look like anything you thought you would,

and you could do this over and over.

It's fun.

Drag is not just about costumes and wigs.

Drag is about channeling who you really are inside.

It's a true transformation,

because everyone deserves to feel fabulous.

I mean, you didn't just get dressed up to do nothing.

Nobody does.

Where are we going?

We are taking you to a drag show.

Ooh. You owe me.

[ adam laughs ]

I have no idea what they have in store for me,

but I'm sure it's gonna be wild.

Your royal highness, may I escort you?

I am bringing laura and adam to a drag show.

We're gonna get her on stage to see how it really feels

to be a true drag queen.

♪

we want to show the world miss tiffany bluebanks.

Are you ready? Because I'm ready.

I am so ready. I was born ready.

And you know when you're ready, you don't have to get ready.

Open the door for the queen. There you go.

Are you ready?

♪ we are, we are, we are ♪

♪ on top of the world ♪

♪

♪ we are, we are, we are ♪

isn't this show fantastic?

Yeah?

I put on so much lip gloss tonight,

because I'm single and emotionally unavailable.

Yeah. If you guys take a picture of me tonight,

promise me you're gonna filter it, like, three times

and then hashtag no filter.

And everybody, I got to tell you,

I've spent the past few days with this family.

Laura wanted to understand why her son did drag.

Professor, will you please get up here?

And this is her drag debut,

and her drag name is professor tiffany bluebank.

Laura: I'm very nervous. I want to do very well,

and I want to really appreciate it,

but I am nervous on all levels.

Jujubee: Right down this runway, darling.

♪ let's make it happen ♪

darling professor tiffany bluebank

is walking down the runway, serving body, face, grace,

and everything under the moon.

[ purrs ]

laura: I feel exhilarated.

It's a feeling I never thought I'd feel before,

and it's hard to describe.

Walking as another person, and everyone's cheering for you.

It was really surreal.

Adam: I'm so proud of my mom.

She completely stepped out of her comfort zone tonight,

and I really saw her enjoying herself

and living for the queens as much as I did.

Is this everything you ever imagined feeling like?

This is a lot of work.

It is.

This is a lot of work.

Is it worth it? Yes.

It's more than I thought it would be.

You just feel like a movie star.

Don't quote me on this,

but drag is the best way to bring a family together.

It's true.

[ gasps ] she looks so good.

Alexis: Now she needs to channel this courage and confidence

for his son's drag debut.

Essentially, that's what being a drag queen

is all about is confidence,

so I hope we can give that to her.

I think it's time to pull some attention back to you.

Are you ready?

Laura: I think I'm ready. Yeah?

Yes. Okay.

Laura: This is a big step.

This is probably bigger than dressing as a drag queen.

3, 2, 1.

♪ you know life, when it rains, it pours ♪

alexis: This morning, we're here at roman kay salon

in new york city,

and I'm hanging with my girlfriend dana,

getting ready for laura to arrive,

so we can give her the celeb treatment.

Hi, laura, welcome.

Adam clearly already has a lot more fun

with makeup than laura does.

My goal for today

is a willingness to be inspired by him to say,

"you know what? I can play with it, too.

It's not just fun for him. It can be fun for me."

how do you feel?

Nervous and excited. Yeah.

And it's really hitting me that I'm just not

comfortable with changing.

Laura: This is a big step.

This is probably bigger than dressing as a drag queen for me,

because this has been my persona for 30 years.

I'm not in the business

of, like, a change for the sake of change.

I just know you're going to be ready to cheer adam on

with all the enthusiasm and excitement in the world

when you feel like a million bucks, too.

That's important, and you deserve it.

And feel as good as he does.

Absolutely. I'm gonna go get the makeup set up.

You two are going to get started,

and I will see you in a little bit, alright?

-Thank you. Alright. -You ready?

Let's do it.

♪ the last thing I see when I close my eyes ♪

♪ oh, it's a funny game ♪

♪ you play ♪

♪

oh, my gosh. Laura, you look beautiful.

Dana, amazing work.

I didn't see it yet.

It's so transformative.

Moving your part over from the center to the side,

and this gorgeous, sleek texture.

She looks amazing.

Thank you so much.

Oh, I cannot wait for you to see this.

We're gonna dive into makeup. Okay.

How would you describe your makeup routine?

Minimal. Minimal?

I've just fallen into a pattern and maybe a rut.

So you've been buying the same kind of makeup

for how long?

At least 20 years. Wow.

I have one shade of eyeshadow,

one shade of blush, one shade of lipstick.

I do not have anything

but one shade in each item I use.

That's a relatable thing. I get it.

I've become attached to colors.

It's easy.

It doesn't require much time to think about,

and when you put yourself last,

you don't have much time to think about it.

So you go to the same old, same old.

But I think it's a bigger thing to look at here.

You sort of locked into something that worked

or you thought worked, and you've stayed with it.

And I think that there's a little bit

of complacency in that.

Absolutely.

And what I'd like to encourage you to do

is to feel free to mix it up sometimes

and to try something new.

I think it's time to call some attention back to you.

But that's also scary. So who is laura?

And I think I have to answer those questions.

Who is laura?

You're helping me shape it, but I'm still unsure.

She looks amazing.

Are you ready to get started?

I am ready.

But we're not finished yet.

So I want to start with a tinted moisturizer.

I have never heard of tinted moisturizer.

Really? The beauty of tinted moisturizer

is it provides just a little bit of color,

because you don't need full coverage makeup.

In middle-age, I'm having to color my eyebrows.

So when do you do that exactly?

Before the powder? After the powder?

I think in your case, because we're really doing

a fairly light face,

we're not getting into really heavy eye makeup,

I think that doing your complexion first

and then the eyebrows is a good way to go.

Okay.

♪ lights, lights, lights in my eyes ♪

♪ lights in my eyes ♪

♪ lights in my eyes ♪

♪

laura, you look stunning.

Would you like to see?

I think I'm ready.

Yeah? Yes.

Okay.

3, 2, 1.

Oh, my god.

[ both laugh ]

it looks like me and it doesn't look like me.

I love it.

I feel younger, actually,

and prettier.

You look beautiful.

I kind of don't recognize myself.

Laura: I feel completely different

than I thought I would have felt.

I am over the moon.

You look like the proud mom of a fabulous drag queen.

A first-time drag queen.

You look like the proud mom of a first-time,

fabulous drag queen.

The queens have taught me how to feel pretty,

how to look prettier,

how to put myself first for adam and myself.

Alright, I'm gonna spin you.

Go get changed and we have a show to get to.

Okay.

♪ oh, you ♪

♪ can't get enough of this sensation, baby ♪

bebe: Oh, my gosh.

We are here at adam's drag debut and we're so excited.

Jujubee: I chatted with bebe,

and I hear that adam's look is not together.

That means that we have to come to the rescue.

Hi.

So bebe and I show up early in boy to put adam in our drag.

How are you?

I'm doing good,

but I'm also very nervous.

I'm very nervous about this whole entire thing.

My very first drag show was very nerve-racking.

Good or bad, you go out there, you're being judged.

You know, I haven't been, like,

really in a full realized look in drag yet.

So I guess we'll see what happens.

Jujubee: But, like, there's a magic to drag.

It makes you feel like a stronger person

than maybe you are.

I remember my first show in drag, and how great that felt.

And I want tonight to be exactly that for adam.

You know, we saw your drag and it was not the best.

Usually when you start, you don't have

all the resources that you need.

Juju, alexis, thorggy, we said, "you know what?

We're going to pull out things from our closet."

we're gonna bring a couple of really beautiful things,

and we'll make sure that adam has the best look

to be able to make her debut.

Adam reminds me of young bebe me.

When you start, you don't have everything,

but you still want to look your very best.

Okay, so you know what? Let's get you dressed.

Let's get you dressed, girl.

Yes. I'm so excited.

♪ are you ready to go ♪

♪ oh, ho, ho ♪

adams first drag show is about to start.

Well, this is the spot. Here we are.

Alexis: Listen, I want adam to kill it out there tonight.

But the fact that he and his mother

have come together in the past few days,

that's what this is all about.

Laura just wanted to show up for adam and she is doing that.

I peek out from the back curtain and I see laura sitting there,

stunning, done, modern, gorgeous, like, woman.

She looks 10 years younger.

-Hello! -Hello!

[ cheers and applause ]

faster!

Alexis: Oh, my god.

I'm excited and nervous and the queens said

they're helping him and so the anticipation is killing me.

Does anybody in this house like drag?

[ cheers and applause ]

who wants to see a show?

Listen, every queen when they first get started,

is a little nervous and it's always good

to have a team of sisters

that are supporting you and a great crowd

is a must-have at any drag show.

♪ anticipation comes to me ♪

♪ no hesitation ♪

laura: I am so excited to see what adam looks like in drag.

I wonder if I'll recognize him.

♪

♪

[ cheers and applause ]

yes!

And welcome to the stage for the first time ever...

Oh, my gosh, adam is about to go on stage.

[ exhales ]

nervous.

♪

♪

oh! She is turning the party.

Laura: Watching veronica perform

is almost an out-of-body experience.

I knew it was adam, but on the other hand,

it was veronica.

I'm proud of him.

♪

jujubee: I remember my first time doing drag,

I looked like garbage.

Oh, my gosh.

And this woman comes out looking like madonna.

Veronica fatale was one of the most sickening drag debuts

I've ever witnessed in my life.

It was so fierce.

Adam is like turning it. He's doing incredible.

What a queen. What a queen on the scene.

[ cheers and applause ]

laura: Watching veronica perform was incredible.

It was a coming out for adam.

I just think that he was able to be himself

for the first time.

It was fun.

It was a lot of fun and he did so well.

I'm so proud of him.

Hello, mother.

Hello, veronica.

Oh, I'm gonna need to sit down.

So it was a spectacular first show.

I was so nervous. So was I.

I was breathing. I was like [breathing deeply]

you killed it.

Yeah. Oh, my god.

Very proud of you.

I don't think a lot of parents

would come to their kid's first drag show.

I wouldn't miss it.

When you were growing up, you wanted the pink shoes.

Yeah.

And I just couldn't bring myself to buy you them.

Yeah.

Well...

[ gasps ]

I'm finally ready to give you that pair of pink shoes.

Oh, my god.

♪ hand in hand ♪

oh, my god.

Thank you, mom. Thank you so much.

You're welcome.

I feel pretty confident now as a drag mom.

I don't feel the worry and the dread that I have for so long.

I don't know. It just means the world to me.

I will always be here for you.

I'm just so happy right now.

I'm just so happy that I finally have the support from her.

Love you, mom. I love you.

Helping laura reconnect with her son

has been such a great experience.

Finally, laura gets to understand adam

for who he is and adam also gets to understand

laura for who she is.

That's beautiful.

Yep. I'm ready to go take on new york.

Laura: The queens helped me understand adam.

You know, adam is a whole human being.

Whether he is gay, whether he is not gay,

whether he's a drag queen, whether he's not a drag queen.

I'm just excited that I was able to feel comfortable

with adam being adam.