Main photo Art Araya (in red) and Pangina Heals (in blue) led Drag Race Thailand contestants in a debut performance at the Best of Kantana event earlier this month. Melalin Mahavongtrakul

And other happenings of note

HERE TO STAY, OR SASHAY AWAY?

Nine years after its conception, RuPaul's Drag Race is now coming to Thailand. Can we get an amen up in here?

Known as Drag Race Thailand, this adaptation of the American TV series that searches for the country's next drag superstar is helmed by the Kantana Group. The hosts and contestants were unveiled earlier this month at the annual Best of Kantana event to showcase upcoming programmes the studio will be offering its audiences this year.

One of the contestants in Drag Race Thailand. Photos: Melalin Mahavongtrakul

Piyarat Kaljareuk, executive producer of the show who has previously brought the Thai adaptation of the modelling-themed reality series The Face -- titling it The Face Thailand -- to fame, said that Drag Race Thailand while maintaining the original concept of searching for -- Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve and Talent -- and their ability to give an entertaining performance, their fashion sense (which includes everything from creative costume-making to flawless make-up), even performing a killer lip sync. The format of the show will largely be the same -- with mini, main and runway challenges, as well as the famed Lip Sync For Your Life (a weekly performance the bottom two contestants give to save themselves from elimination), all getting a Thai reincarnation.

RuPaul's Drag Race also has been known to thrive on drama, from the contestant's conflict to their personal "herstory": bullying, family relations, ongoing battles with HIV and more. This highlights what some members of the LGBTI and drag community have to go through, reflecting both the intolerance and support they receive from those surrounding them.

While these elements will most likely survive, at the same time, the producer revealed that the Thai version of this fabulous hit will also be getting its own spin to better suit Asian culture, adding some of the Thai team's originality.

"In making our own version of something, we don't want to just be a follower. We also want to start our own trend. We want to show that Thais also have the ability to present this sort of diversity," said Piyarat. "And who knows? In the future, we may have other countries following our path and making their own versions to give people chances for equality in gender, career and expression."

The first spin of the Thai adaptation comes in the form of its host. Instead of having one main host, Drag Race Thailand will feature Araya "Art" Indra, a Thai designer and stylist with 30 years' experience as host, and drag queen Pangina Heals serving as a co-host.

"We have two hosts because I would rather not copy RuPaul. There is no one who could take RuPaul's place," the producer said.

Following news that Thailand will be the first Asian country to give a Drag Race adaptation a go, Piyarat said feedback from fans around the globe has been both overwhelming and unexpected. The producer admitted he feels pressured to successfully deliver this adaptation, as well as to rightly tell the story of who drag queens really are.

"To me, drag queens are not just entertainers. They are artists. They are very creative people, with distinct personalities and identities. But I also want to show that they are not clowns, someone to laugh at. They are, rather, humans with creativity. I want to show that drag can become your career, that these drag queens can make people happy. This show is something that everyone can fall in love with -- from every age group, gender and country," he said.

The Miss International Queen beauty pageant is set to return in March. Photo: Thiti Wannamontha

The 10 contestants for Drag Race Thailand's debut season were handpicked for the show. But for its second season -- which Piyarat has since confirmed -- the show will be open for public auditions, with the process starting early next month.

It may be too soon to say how general Thai audiences will react to an LGBTI-themed show that features profanity, slight nudity and more (though it's unclear to what degree these will be presented in the Thai format before we hear from our archaic Ministry of Culture). Still, Piyarat is hoping for the best. He is aiming for this inaugural season to give people a better idea of drag culture, and that eventually they will understand what the show is all about.

Drag Race Thailand will premiere on Line TV on Feb 15 at 8pm. Airing weekly, each episode will be 45 minutes long, with eight episodes in total. To better reach international fans, Piyarat said, adding subtitles and organising for international airings are both on his agenda.

It will be interesting to see how Drag Race Thailand eventually fares. We do wish Kantana the best. And we would say it as RuPaul says it best: "Good luck, and don't f**k it up."

Sunsilk online ad featuring Miss Tiffany's Universe alum Kwanlada 'Rock' Rungrojumpa. www.facebook.com/SunsilkThailand

AS FREE AS MY HAIR

The latest online ad from Sunsilk got everyone talking (and crying) this month. It features Miss Tiffany's Universe 2017 runner-up Kwanlada "Rock" Rungrojumpa. The four-minute short tells the story of a transgender woman's life, from a child to blossoming beauty queen. In the beginning, we see an effeminate boy who likes to play with a Barbie doll and is teased and bullied. He longs to grow out his hair, and is reprimanded by his father to "act like a man". As he grows up, the boy leads a double life -- a feminine self at school with his friends, and a regular boy at home as his father wishes. He then begins dressing up in female clothes and later joins a transgender beauty pageant. From a boy with short hair and a dream to realise his true identity, he transcends and fully transitions into a woman. The family is seen in a loving embrace together at the end.

The Facebook ad has garnered over 6.6 million views since its release on Jan 12.

The revival of the makeover reality series Queer Eye premieres on Netflix on Feb 7. The show now follows a new generation of Fab Five — the experts in fashion, grooming, design and more — who go about changing people's lives, one makeover at a time.

Piyarat Kaljareuk, executive producer at Kantana Group. Photo: Melalin Mahavongtrakul

Malila: The Farewell Flower by Anucha Boonyawatana arrives in Thai cinemas on Feb 15. The film follows the romantic relationship and spiritual journey of two men, starring Sukollawat Kanarot and Anuchyd Sapanphong.

The Academy Awards will be broadcast live on Mar 4. The list of nominations was announced last week, and Luca Guadagnino's Call Me By Your Name is up for four nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Timothée Chalamet in the role of Elio), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Song (Mystery Of Love by Sufjan Stevens).

The famed transgender beauty pageant Miss International Queen 2018 returns on Mar 9. We will see if the current Miss Tiffany's Universe — Rinrada "Yoshi" Thurapan — will be able to keep the crown under the Thai banner for another year after Jiratchaya "Mo" Sirimongkolnawin won the title in 2017.

Museum Siam will be holding an LGBTI-themed exhibition in May. It now welcomes the public to be part of the exhibition by sharing a story of their own self-discovery, journey and fight for acceptance through items. Interested applicants can send in photos of their items along with captions explaining how or why these matter to them. These objects can be related to past experience, inspiration or a reminder of good or bad moments in their lives. Applications are open until March 10. Contact queerexhibit@gmail.com or www.museumsiam.org for more information.

The gender advocacy group Togetherness for Equality and Action (TEA) — known in Thai as Rong Namcha, or the Tea House — is holding a drawing competition for youths as part of their Out of the Box project, which also serves as a data collection for the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and provides research on safe spaces for children. The theme of the competition is "gender diversity and equality in my point of view". It welcomes youths from two age groups — 10-15 and 16-18 years old — from any nationality and gender, so long as they live within Thailand. Stateless children are also welcomed. The size of an artwork must not exceed A3 paper, and any technique can be used. Applicants can submit their work until Feb 20 at outofbox@gmail.com. Winners from both age groups will receive 10,000 baht. Visit www.facebook.com/TEAgroupThailand.