In Salt Lake City, there's an active drag community. For local queens, watch parties for the cult classic television show "RuPaul's Drag Race" can be a first chance to perform — a sort of drag open mic night. For Salt Lake City queens Kay Bye and The Whore of '94, drag is self expression, defiance, and performance art, all wrapped up together in a pair of high heels and a wig. UPR's Katherine Taylor interviewed them as they put on their makeup before their performance that night.
Drag In Utah: A Portrait of Salt Lake City Drag Queens
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Utah drag queen Kay Bye applies her makeup at her vanity.
Katherine Taylor
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Kay Bye's tattoo reads, "only Judy can judge me."
Katherine Taylor
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Makeup brushes and lipsticks sit on the vanity table in Kay Bye's Salt Lake apartment.
Katherine Taylor
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Kay Bye and The Whore of '94 sit together as they apply their makeup.
Katherine Taylor
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Kay Bye and The Whore of '94 do their makeup in preparation for a performance.
Katherine Taylor
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Utah Drag Queen Kay Bye smokes a cigarette at Club Jam in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 6, 2017.
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Drag queens sit together as they watch RuPaul's drag race at a Salt Lake City club.
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Drag queens sit together as they watch RuPaul's drag race at a Salt Lake City club.
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Kay Bye performs at club jam.
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Club Jam is a venue in Salt Lake City.
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Club Jam is decorated for Pride 2017.
Katherine Taylor
