A Dallas Drag Performer is Competing to Be The King of Drag

A new group of performers is changing the drag game. This summer, reality show King of Drag will showcase a group of drag kings in a first-of-its-kind competition.

Set to premiere this month, King of Drag will premiere new episodes weekly on Revry, a streaming platform devoted to LGBTQ+ programming. Dallas’ own Buck Wylde is among the kings competing.

You may have come across Wylde through performances at venues like Sue Ellen’s or at their monthly drag brunch, Sausage Party at Dot's Hop House in Deep Ellum. Over the years, Wylde, who uses he/they pronouns in drag, has become one of the city’s most prolific kings. Now, with King of Drag, they hope to shine a light on the nuances of drag and bring visibility to a diverse array of performers.

“This show couldn't come at a more important time,” Wylde tells us. “We're in the most tumultuous political landscape of our lifetimes, where the rights, civil liberties and frankly, the existence of people of color, queer and trans folks are being threatened.”

Wylde first began performing in 2011, as their drag alter ego was born during their time as part of Dallas’ Assassination City roller derby team. Their skating name was “Trigger Mortis,” which they used to perform in drag during a fundraiser with queer performance group Mustache Envy. Soon after, they performed as “Mortis Day” at the wedding of one of their skating teammates. By 2012, Buck Wylde was born.

“It was just so much fun that I just kept doing it,” says Wylde.

While Wylde’s journey as a performer spans nearly 14 years, they continue to find new heights in their performance career. Last year, Sausage Party won the Dallas Voice Readers' Choice Award for Best Drag Brunch, while the publication also named Buck the city’s Best Drag King. Recently, they became the back-to-back winner of the Best Drag King category at the Dallas Entertainment Awards.

“Buck is one of those kings that always try to think out of the box and bring creative ideas together for the community,” says Krista V. King, a fellow drag performer and LGBTQ+ organizer. “Buck has always made room to give back to the community, whether it’s donating time or showing up to an event — [they have] helped keep our kings in the forefront of drag as, well as many others.”

But as their star continues to rise in drag, their focus on community is still at the core of their mission.

“Buck has the most outstanding work ethic of any entertainer I’ve ever met,” says drag performer Fun.K, also known as FawnEx. “Buck works so hard and uplifts so many people in order to leave the drag king space in a better place than they found it. They are creating a legacy and setting an expectation of what it means to be a Dallas Drag King. How they pour into the community, how they treat people and how they continue to uplift safe spaces for Black and Latinx kings is a legacy that will last in the scene forever.”

Before Wylde was even tapped to take part in King of Drag, they had manifested bringing this form of drag to a larger platform. They recall speaking on the phone to their drag child, Amy H. Graves, to talk about creating a show with a similar premise.

“We were like, ‘We gotta do this,” says Wylde. “I don't know how, but we're going to we're going to put ourselves out there, and we're just going to manifest right now, and six months later.. she's Miss USofA Diva, and I'm on this TV show. I was like, ‘Man, that pep talk you gave me six months ago was huge.’”

When the opportunity arose, Wylde was ready to seize it.

“It's now or never,” says Wylde. “I'm almost 50 years old, and I'm not afraid to do this.”

The audition process for King of Drag was quite thorough. Wylde recalls sending in a two-minute video of themselves in drag, a resume, and video clips of past performances. Soon after, they received a callback, during which they learned that comedian Murray Hill of Somebody Somewhere fame would be the show’s host.

Wylde says the time between callbacks was a bit long, leading them to think they didn’t make the show.

“I was in my kitchen with my mom, and she goes, ‘Did you ever get an email from that show?’ And I was like, ‘No, I don't think I have yet, but let me check my email,’” they recall. “And I checked my email, and I started screaming. I’m like, ‘Oh my God, mom,’ and she got so excited, because she’s been there for my whole drag journey…she's been sick for quite a while, and I was like, ‘Oh God, I hope I can give her something to look forward to to be proud of,’ She's very excited about this show, and I can't wait for her to see it.”

In addition to Wylde, King of Drag will also feature Austin native Alexander the Great, Big D, Charles Galin King, Dick Von Dyke, Henlo Bullfrog, King Molasses, King Perka $exxx, Pressure K and Tuna Melt.

“I'm so excited, and nervous, and terrified and thrilled,” says Wylde. “We've been asking for a seat at the table for so long, and we just did our own show. And it was just more amazing than I can imagine.”

Over the course of the series’ six episodes, the kings will be joined by guest judges like Lisa Rinna, Bridesmaids director Paul Feig, Tony winner Cole Escola, musician Kathleen Hanna and more.

New episodes of King of Drag will stream weekly, beginning Sunday, June 22. During the season’s run, you may catch Wylde at weekly watch parties at Sue Ellen’s. They will also perform at PriDenton's Big Pride in Little D Dance Party on Saturday, June 28 at Rubber Gloves Studios in Denton. After that, they will be at The Rose Room at S4 for the Fourth of July Weekend.

But for now, they are focused on getting through the premiere and the attention they hope it will bring to the LGBTQ+ community.

“They're so busy just othering us, and this show uplifts and celebrates our diversity,” says Wylde. “I think it's going to be so inspiring for people to be able to look at the TV and say, ‘Hey, that's me.’ People will be able to see somebody on their screen that they can relate to, and know that not everyone is trying to get rid of us.”