*tongue pops*
High heels clacking, in a red outfit with makeup looking like it’s out of this world, she walks into a room full of strangers and familiar faces, she commences the meeting. M1ss Jade So, the esoteric bratzy of Drag Race Philippines Season 2, with a personality of her own—a world uniquely hers—her presence cannot be denied.
Let’s revisit the time when every meeting took place online. You could opt to wear proper top attire while disregarding the bottom, just to present yourself beautifully online. In the case of Miss Jade, she embodies a spirit of always uniquely presenting herself, whatever stands in her way, she’ll deliver and serve.
Yet, when the internet connection is out of reach, it blurs the line between her and the audience. In consequence, her message fails to reach its intended audience, and sometimes she loses visibility. During her meeting with Zeen, she tackled how the art of Drag has changed her life which prompted the discussion of the concept of Goddessafication she embodies.
The Objective of the Meeting
The Agenda is to navigate where she is at this point. After her triumphant success in the Drag Race franchise, her platform growing exponentially, and the remarkable references she left in the Drag scene industry locally and internationally, who could forget what she said in her season, “You didn’t just eliminate me. I eliminated myself… Because I am you. You are me. We are all one within… You know what I’m saying?”, how she views the world is inspiringly a culmination of her unique stories about to unfold.
With Drag Artists becoming increasingly visible in the entertainment industry, they have built up their welfare to reach their current status. M1ss Jade shares, “Na-experience ko rin ‘yung mababang talent fee. [But] right now, because of the whole drag community making a step, and also, having Drag Race Philippines, Drag Den PH, it’s really built us up to where we are now”. Being an artistic visionary, she shares narratives through her art, sharing with the universe stories she can tell.
However, despite all the remarkable feats she’s achieved in the industry, in the big year of 2024, where society has slowly embraced the presence of the LGBTQIA+ community, she still experiences the ironic beauty of being a trans woman who also happens to be a Drag Queen. This beauty resonates with a resounding cry for the confidence to express herself. Albeit, she is still often viewed through the lens of her assigned gender at birth, which confines her to predetermined roles. These perceptions, despite her limitless potential, confine her within societal norms shaped by heteronormativity and are often subjected to discriminatory remarks.
Meeting Participants
Gathered in the meeting are her collective traumas and colorful emotions, each representing her unique stories. It’s a journey down memory lane, a path many would prefer to avoid, yet she emphasizes the importance of sharing such stories rather than keeping them to herself.
In Zeen’s Pride Month Cover Issue, M1ss Jade, MRS TAN, and Ms. Eva Le Queen discussed the fact that the SOGIE Bill has not been passed after many years. M1ss Jade, who appears to experience discriminatory remarks, is among those frequently subjected to disgust and hatred. She shares with her voice cracking as if she’s recalling those instances that truly hurt her the most, a feeling nobody would want to experience, “In my every day, daily lives… I still experience discrimination by being called ‘Sir’. Just by hearing my voice, seeing my legal name”.
The drive to retell and reignite this narrative, traumas that thawed pieces of her heart, is her way of advocating for the queer community and SuSos— her supporters, primarily composed of Gen-Zs and the transgender community, who face similar challenges as she does. She mentions, “Example yung sakin sa prom. Ang dami nilang nagsusumbong sakin na hindi rin sila pinapasok… and also mga trans kids na pinapa-haircut yung long hair nila, mga ganyang issues”.
As a beacon of hope and representation, standing her ground, she fulfills her purpose of gathering these emotions in one meeting place, destined for greater purposes, not just for herself but for others as well. She shares, “may times na nagcocross siya ng line kasi sinasadya na. And dun ako nagtatake ng action kasi I need to… Kasi kung hindi ako magtatake ng action, sino? Sinong gagawa? And also sa mga taong nagsasabi na ang OA, ang entitled… till it happens to you girl”.
The Goddessafication Agenda
The meeting’s purpose is to offer a deeper understanding of the complexities of being part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It appears the Wi-Fi connection wasn’t just out of reach but intentionally entirely broken. Nevertheless, the meeting proceeded, as queers typically do, having the ability to compromise and make the most of what is available to them.
She then proceeded to mention what it’s like to reach for one’s higher self, a concept she embodies—the true essence of a safe and cosmic space: being authentically yourself and having the freedom to do so. “It’s for me and for us to reach our highest self. And by that, yung level ng maturity ng buong society, buong mundo actually, to reach that level”, she further explained.
The esoteric bratzy then asserts, “Artistry… I believe it’s limitless. It knows no bounds. You can create whenever whatever, and whoever you desire.”
Her Goddessafication agenda deeply resonated with the participants, who understood the depth of her message, reflecting the struggles she faced. Her story left a lasting impression on them, like a tattoo etched into their skin.
But, ultimately, the Godessafication agenda really boils to thinking for other people, a selfless act. “Minsan nakakawala ng gana. And, minsan napapaisap ako ng gusto ko ng umalis dito. Pero, yung mga taong katulad ko na mag-iisip na ayoko na dito sa Pilipinas, sino ang matitira to make a change? So, I’m still here para mag-contribute to the change that we want. And importante yun kasi even though kahit mag-isa lang akong tao, I have [the] platform. I have my voice to use, to use it wisely. And para sa ika babago ng pamumuhay natin as a Filipino”, she quips.
The Godessafication Agenda is an impassioned mission, born from a selfless desire to mend and nurture the welfare of others. It embodies a collective dream for society to ascend to unprecedented heights, where every soul reaps the rewards. To be a Goddessa is to exude unapologetic confidence, always eager to light up the spirits of others to perceive the world with boundless inspiration, even amidst the darkest of trials.
As the meeting approaches a recess, she leaves the first part with a voice that will resonate with many, “I want to be seen from everybody’s point of view because I want to see myself too, which is: I am you, you are me, and we are all one with it.” The meeting doesn’t conclude here and there’s more to come. Her Goddessafication agenda carries on, and the world has yet to witness its full impact.
To be more updated with Zeen and its Pride Cover Issue featuring Eva Le Queen, M1ss Jade So, and Mrs. Tan, follow our social media accounts @zeenmagazineph. You can also listen to The Zeen Zone on Spotify and YouTube for their interview.
Credits:
The Zeen Team
Creative Head and Editor-in-Chief | Mark Ghosn
Photography | Ennuh Tiu
Graphic Artist | Ricardow
Asst. Creative Director | Earl Taruc
Videography | ProdAxia, Zarah Majam
Digital Content Producer | Thea Salvador
Editorial Assistant | Earl Taruc, Ristichen
Sales Executive | Anne Magtoto
Social Media Manager | Mhan Gabriel Ramos
Wardrobe and Styling
M1ss Jade So
Headdress & Outfit Designer | Job Dacon
Hair | Gabriel Villegas & Margaux
Assisted by Dina Abadia & Ace Tumambing
Handler | Kris Nuevo
Location | Studio Simula
IN SUPPORT OF LOVEYOURSELFPH – a community of volunteers that aim to reach out to others to propagate ideas, attitudes, and practices that encourage loving oneself — to DARE to be oneself, to CARE for oneself, and to SHARE oneself as a way to multiply joy.
