Fiq lives by this quote everyday, embracing this part of his personality that often rubs some the wrong way. Also known as the drag queen Diva Veronica (or Veron for short), Fiq is often described as sassy by her friends, earning her the moniker ‘Diva’. Typically, one of Veron’s get-ups includes dirty blonde curls, a golden necklace reminiscent of Mary J. Blige, and a black tutu, topped off with a pink mink coat, a style she describes as “soft glam Barbie doll meets rugged street style”.

“Drag really is an art form of its own. […] Through our makeup, outfits and performance routines, drag queens create art that represent our everyday struggles and emotions,” she says.

For Veron, it is only when she is in drag can she express her true self. Yet in National Service, Veron is Fiq, and has to shed his drag persona due to the alienation effeminate men sometimes face.

She adds, “Wearing women’s clothing is considered taboo, or haram as we call it (in the Malay-Muslim community).”

While Veron isn’t ignorant of the fact that there are still those who see her as a sinning crossdresser, being in drag remains cathartic as she often performs for a supportive audience that cheers her on. For her, ”I do drag to feel confident (and) personally believe that we should all help each other feel more accepted in society.”

Growing up, Veron was frequently on the receiving end of ‘bapok’, ‘pondan’ and ‘kedi’, all derogatory Malay terms that refer to men who dress up as or behave like women. Having been considered too effeminate in primary school, I share this experience with Veron.

For example, I never enjoyed playing soccer and often preferred using my recess time to chat with female schoolmates about the latest Disney TV shows. This was enough for me to be ostracised, having failed to subscribe to what most primary schoolers would consider “manly”.

These days, however, Veron and I are able to hurl these very insults at each other, comical proof that a system that once rejected us for being ourselves can no longer subjugate us.