D.C. drag queen Desiree Dik takes on ‘The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula’

Local drag queen Desiree Dik is among the 12 contestants on the sixth season of the drag competition “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula.” 

Dik, who calls herself “the spookiest ghoul of D.C.,” will compete for the title of “The World’s Next Drag Supermonster” in the horror-themed series. 

“From being a local girl to going into playing on a TV show is something I can’t explain,” Dik said, reflecting on her experience filming the show in Los Angeles. She teased “spicy drama” between the contestants, but added “the Boulets, the whole cast and production, were so nice. They just made us feel so welcomed, even though they’re trying to torture us.”

In each episode of the show, the Boulet Brothers — a drag artist duo — challenge contestants with creating and performing looks inspired by different themes, from zombies to killer clowns to science fiction. Contestants work on their costumes and makeup alongside each other before performing in front of judges. Those who end up at the bottom must complete “extermination challenges,” such as navigating a laser maze or being buried alive, all while in drag.

This season will feature big-name judges, including drag queen Violet Chachki and actor David Dastmalchian. Dik also revealed that the producers of the horror video game “Dead By Daylight” collaborated with the show. 

Dik, whose alternative drag performances include “eating hearts and crawling out from under the tables” while dressed as a witch, immediately felt drawn to the show when it first aired in 2016. 

“I fell in love with the show because I always felt like my drag was weird. Seeing the show made me feel like, ‘Oh there’s other people who like horror drag and do weird drag,’” she said. 

She unsuccessfully auditioned for three seasons until landing a spot as a contestant on her fourth attempt. In D.C., she has been working as the show producer and host at Red Bear Brewery Co, where she produces drag shows that blend games, punk, grunge, comedy, and horror. She also makes it a point to support the next generation of drag performers, giving opportunities on her shows to newcomers.

“I would have liked someone to do that for me,” she said. 

Dik, who is Peruvian American, discovered her love for drag as a teenager, when she received as a gift a ticket to a drag show at Freddie’s Beach Bar from her friend’s uncles, who had taken her under their wing after she was kicked out of her home for coming out as gay. 

Her first performance was at the now-closed Town Danceboutique.

“I think drag was something I enjoyed when I felt like I had nothing and now it’s taken over my whole entire house and life,” she said. 

Having performed as a drag queen in D.C. full time since 2014, Dik highlighted the resilience of the city’s drag scene in the face of bar closures and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The fun thing about drag performers is we’re kind of like little roaches, right? Like, you can’t kill us. We’ll walk around, we’ll go somewhere else.”

She brings the same attitude to the efforts to ban drag. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, state legislatures this year have considered 27 bills seeking to ban drag, although most of them failed. 

“I think it’s dumb … drag has brought so many people finding themselves,” she said. “We’re not going anywhere, drag is going to keep on going, even if it’s pretty drag, spooky drag, because we’re gonna be pushing the LGBT funness and stupidity and unitedness, and you can’t stop us.”

In the future, Dik envisions touring the country with her own show, using her skill in hosting and producing to feature drag queens from other cities. Winning “The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula,” with its $100,000 cash prize, could help her make that dream a reality. But like everyone else, she will need to wait for the show to air to find out who the winner is.

“The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula” premieres on Shudder and AMC+ on Oct. 1.