The time is August 2013. It was seemingly a normal Monday night for the drag queens about to perform at Micky’s in Hollywood., but little did they know they were about to be the stars of a Lady Gaga music video. That night, Gaga strolled into the nightclub decked out in her “ARTPOP” colorful makeup and shot her “Applause” lyric video. For most of the video, Gaga is a mere spectator of the drag show, which featured many former “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestants. Fans will surely recognize Season 2’s Raven, Shangela, and Morgan McMichaels, Season 1’s Shannel, and Season 5’s Detox.
For the drag queens, Lady Gaga’s impromptu visit was a complete surprise. Shannel, one of the performances, told MTV News of Gaga’s appearance, “It was very last minute, spur of the moment. We knew nothing about it..” Shannel added that the crowd was psyched to have Lady Gaga in attendance, but the drag queens still had a job to do. “Madness! It was lots and lots of energy,” she said. “We’re, as entertainers, we’re on stage and were having to be professional and we’re doing our numbers whether Lady Gaga is there or not.”
With her “Applause” lyric video as proof, it’s clear that drag has made a lasting impression on Gaga. But as it would turn out, Gaga has also made a lasting impression on drag in the form of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”