DIY Diva Drag

Abstract

Abstract This chapter explores TikTok’s “do it yourself” (DIY) drag culture as it intersects with the mega musical Wicked. Although Wicked TikTok content runs the gamut, there is a noticeable trend of queer men performing Elphaba drag to the musical’s rousing act one finale, “Defying Gravity.” These TikTokers engage in what I call “DIY Drag,” or TikTokian drag performances that make use of quotidian objects to achieve a fully fledged drag performance. In the case of Elphaba drag, a towel, bed sheet, and a Swiffer WetJet achieve the same result as an extensive drag costume and makeup routine. As this chapter conveys, drag is native to TikTok, having been a core aesthetic of the app since its debut in the United States. TikTok normalizes drag culture, thus forging spaces in which queer men can engage in drag performances as part of the mainstream, normalized, and expected culture.