When I was a kid, all I wanted was girl toys.My dad was super against it and always made me get boy ones instead, but, one year, I somehow convinced my mum to buy me a My Little Pony stable playset.Unfortunately, when my dad found out, he took it back to Toys "R" Us and swapped it for a Stretch Armstrong. Not even the slightly-more-queer-friendly Fetch Armstrong. The big, butch, boring muscle man, Stretch.
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I got around this system by playing with the girliest boy toys I could trick my parents into getting for me. Like Janine from Ghostbusters and Castaspella and any video game with a lady character.One time, my school had a charity thing where you could get sponsored to go to classes in costume. I, along with two friends, decided to dress as Eternal, a three-piece girl group I was really into. I borrowed some of my sister's clothes, and spent a whole weekend making a wig out of a hat and some yarn.When I got to school, it turned out to have been a prank. The other two boys didn't dress up, and I had to spend the entire day in a denim mini skirt and platforms, alone. Luckily, I was able to use the homemade wig to hide the fact I was crying.Anyway. None of that kind of behavior was on display at last weekendās RuPaulās DragCon, an annual drag convention with events in New York and Los Angeles. For its second year, the convention had free entrance for children under ten, and a kids zone with a bounce house, arts and crafts, and a slate of kid-friendly activities.I went along to the LA event and spoke to some of the kids I saw walking around the convention hall.
Bracken, 11 years old
Bracken: It was actually a Christmas present from my parents. Iāve always been in love with drag.Whoāre some of your favorite queens?
Local or RuPaulās Drag Race?Gimme both.
For RuPaulās Drag Race, my favorite queen is probably Alaska, but I like all of them really. And then local, the Bratpack group I really like. Iām close with one of them, Kendall Gender.
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Thatās a really good name.
Right?What do you like about drag?
Well, I started watching RuPaulās Drag Race, and that was the real push to get me into drag, but my mom used to be on the floats for the Vancouver Pride parade, so I would always look at the queens up on the floats and admire them and their style. But I started doing drag when I was nine years old and that was when it really took off for me, I started learning all about the culture.How did you develop your drag persona?
Well, I donāt actually fully have a drag persona. I donāt even have a drag name yet, because normally you get your drag name from your drag mother, and thatās like a super organic thing. Like, itās a queen that nurtures you, and that you learn a lot from. I donāt have a drag mother yet so I donāt really have a drag persona really. When Iām in drag itās just an overconfident me, really.Is this the first time youāve been out in public in drag?
No, no. Iām quite often going out to whatever all ages events I can get into. Iāve been on public transit a lot, and Iāve just been kinda of going around the city in drag whenever is necessary. Iām quite active in the city in my drag.
Right?What do you like about drag?
Well, I started watching RuPaulās Drag Race, and that was the real push to get me into drag, but my mom used to be on the floats for the Vancouver Pride parade, so I would always look at the queens up on the floats and admire them and their style. But I started doing drag when I was nine years old and that was when it really took off for me, I started learning all about the culture.How did you develop your drag persona?
Well, I donāt actually fully have a drag persona. I donāt even have a drag name yet, because normally you get your drag name from your drag mother, and thatās like a super organic thing. Like, itās a queen that nurtures you, and that you learn a lot from. I donāt have a drag mother yet so I donāt really have a drag persona really. When Iām in drag itās just an overconfident me, really.Is this the first time youāve been out in public in drag?
No, no. Iām quite often going out to whatever all ages events I can get into. Iāve been on public transit a lot, and Iāve just been kinda of going around the city in drag whenever is necessary. Iām quite active in the city in my drag.
Brody, nine years old
Brody: My brother wanted to come, and I wanted to see what it is and what itās about. And my favorite drag queen is Peppermint.What do you like about Peppermint?
I like her dresses and stuff that she makes.
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Who did your makeup today?
My brother. He puts it on. I donāt know how to put on makeup.What do you like about makeup?
The eyeliner and stuff.What do you like about drag ?
I donāt know.
Brody's brother: Heās done it a couple of times.Youāve worn drag before?
Brody's brother: At home.What was your drag look when you wore it?
Brother: Say dramatic.
Brody: Dramatic, yeah.
My brother. He puts it on. I donāt know how to put on makeup.What do you like about makeup?
The eyeliner and stuff.What do you like about drag ?
I donāt know.
Brody's brother: Heās done it a couple of times.Youāve worn drag before?
Brody's brother: At home.What was your drag look when you wore it?
Brother: Say dramatic.
Brody: Dramatic, yeah.
Desmond Is Amazing, ten years old
Desmond: Iāve been doing drag ever since I was two. What I would do is I would take my momās towels and bed sheets and anything I could get my hands on and turn them into savage outfits, yaas.How would you describe your drag look?
I would describe my drag as artistic, amazing, fierce, and inspirational.Who are you most excited to see here?
RuPaul!Have you met RuPaul before?
Yes. I actually got to cut the ribbon at New York City DragCon with him. It was fun.What do you like about drag?
Itās a way of expressing yourself. Of expressing your inner you.Youāve done interviews and stuff before, right? What has the reaction been like?
A lot of people love me. But thereās some hate. And I just pay them no mind, because theyāre not as fierce as me and my motto is, "Be yourself always no matter what anyone says and pay haters no mind because theyāre not as fierce as you, yaas!"
Lucien, three, and Garren, one, with parents Jeff and Cassie
Jeff: You can try! I donāt know if youāll get much.What brings you to DragCon?
Jeff: Just big fans of Drag Race.
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Are the kids fans, too?
Jeff: When itās on, other than the flashy colors, I donāt know if they pay attention to anything else.Was the skirt your idea?
Jeff: He picked it out.
Cassie: I actually made it for him. He asked for a skirt, so I let him pick out the fabric and I made it.Is it just a look for DragCon?
Jeff: Heās had the skirt for a while. He actually just said he wanted the skirt, so she made it for him.
Cassie: Probably at least six months. And heās worn it before to the playground.Whatās the reaction been like?
Cassie: Mostly itās fine. Iāve had a few people give me funny looks, but mostly itās just been like, Alright heās playing.
Jeff: Iāve had no issue at the grocery store with him in it.
Jeff: When itās on, other than the flashy colors, I donāt know if they pay attention to anything else.Was the skirt your idea?
Jeff: He picked it out.
Cassie: I actually made it for him. He asked for a skirt, so I let him pick out the fabric and I made it.Is it just a look for DragCon?
Jeff: Heās had the skirt for a while. He actually just said he wanted the skirt, so she made it for him.
Cassie: Probably at least six months. And heās worn it before to the playground.Whatās the reaction been like?
Cassie: Mostly itās fine. Iāve had a few people give me funny looks, but mostly itās just been like, Alright heās playing.
Jeff: Iāve had no issue at the grocery store with him in it.
Naomi, nine years old
Naomi's friend, Nora: Weāre from Tiny Bangs. Weāre an alternative kids clothing line. Itās run by Naomi, her little sister, and their mom Kirsten.Do you design the clothes, Naomi?
Naomi: Me and my mom do.Did you have a hand in designing [your outfit]?
Naomi: My mom made this. Everything Iām wearing except the boots and [the ponytail]. Iām a toxic slime queen.Is toxic slime always your look? Or do you mix it up?
Naomi: I mix it up.What are some other looks youāve had?
Naomi: Iāve had angel, Iāve had a rainbow one.
Nora: Whatāre you doing the rest of this weekend?
Naomi: Cher. And then for the last one, on Sunday, Iām doing a Lisa Frank look.
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Have you been to DragCon before?
Naomi: This is actually my first time.Do you like any of the queens that are here?
Naomi: I wanna meet Katya and RuPaul.What do you like about Katya and RuPaul?
Naomi: I love when [Katya] did the lip sync about all her names, and I really liked those really cool pink pigtails she did.
Naomi: This is actually my first time.Do you like any of the queens that are here?
Naomi: I wanna meet Katya and RuPaul.What do you like about Katya and RuPaul?
Naomi: I love when [Katya] did the lip sync about all her names, and I really liked those really cool pink pigtails she did.
Alia, nine, and Quentin, two, with parents Austin and Chelsey
Austin: [Alia] actually made hers.You made that? Thatās amazing.
Austin: Itās an Alaska outfit.
Chelsea: [Quentin is] a skirt boy.
Austin: Thatās an Adore Delano classic right here. Little Adore Delano.Is Alaska your favorite queen?
Alia: Yeah.What do you like about Alaska?
Alia: Everything.
Austin: Alaska is all of our favorite, honestly.Does [Quentin] like Drag Race?
Austin: Yeah.
Alia: He likes wearing my dresses and running around.Follow Jamie Lee Curtis Taete on Instagram.Sign up for our newsletter to get the best of VICE delivered to your inbox daily.