Beauty Blenda Osaka

Watch out, there’s a new event in town! She’s sweet, she’s sexy, but most of all she’s sassy! She’ll blow your mind with some of the wildest and funniest performances you’ve ever witnessed. Part comedy show and all drag, behold the absurdity and delight of Beauty Blenda—the monthly, bilingual drag show at Bar Theatre Ludo in Shinsaibashi, Osaka.

Shante, you stay

Beauty Blenda got its start in August of 2018. However, the group now known as Haus of Gaishoku, which hosts the vivacious show, began putting on drag shows earlier the same year.

Photo by: Brooke Larsen A fairly new addition to the scene, this monthly drag show popped up in 2018.

It all started with viewing parties of the hit American reality TV show competition RuPaul’s Drag Race. These “RuPa ViewPa” events, which will resume when the next season starts, included live drag performances after the screenings. They were so popular that after the season ended, Beauty Blenda was concocted to keep the momentum alive.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines

What’s a night at Beauty Blenda like? Expect exaggerated makeup, flashy costumes, skilled dance moves, and ridiculous props. It’s an insanely fun evening featuring five or more lovely drag queens lip-syncing for their lives. Don’t forget to sing and dance along.

Like what you see? YAS Yen, which is sold at the door, allows audience members to show the dancers some extra love. The tipping system is pretty relaxed— tip a queen any amount of YAS Yen. No need to be shy here!

Photo by: Brooke Larsen High-energy fun where you can spend your YAS Yen.

Further audience participation opportunities arise during the improv portion of the show. Two of the masterminds behind the event, Bill Reilly and Chris Roaf, were long-time members of a local improv troupe called Pirates of the Dotombori. The event incorporates improv through short games that occur between performances. For instance, the queens might act as contestants on a Dating Game-style show and invite audience members onstage to “interview” as potential suitors.

There is also a DJ spinning at every event. That’s right, bitch, get up and dance!

Know before you go

Want to get even more involved? Anyone can perform onstage at Beauty Blenda. Like the event itself, many of the performers are new to the scene. The performers vary in ethnicity, experience and even gender.

Beauty Blenda is an entertaining event anyone can enjoy as a viewer or performer! So put on your fanciest—or tackiest—outfit and sashay away to their next event. The bi-lingual event happens about one weekend a month, on a Friday and Saturday. You can check out the next event on the Haus of Gaishoku Facebook page. Entry is ¥2,000 and may include extras such as YAS Yen.