PWINCESS PWOFILE: Meet ILM drag queen Pwincess Malaysia Kay

You know her for her fierce looks—slick back ponies, sharp eyeliner and death drops of the runway—but I know her as the princess of drag from the heart of Leland, North Carolina—Pwincess Malaysia Kay. From hosting karaoke at Ibiza Night Club to spending hours in her sewing room, creating breathtaking and gagging looks, she is one of the few icons here in the Port City that represents Wilmington’s diverse culture.

My first drag show and encounter with Pwincess Malaysia Kay was the Galentine’s Brunch at Eagles Dare, located on 420 3rd Street. She came out strutting to WHERE IS MY HUSBAND by Raye paired with cartwheels and deathdrops, in what I would assume are 6-inch heels. Kay knew what she was doing—in both appearance and style.

Born and raised in Leland, North Carolina, Kay shared her journey from starting in color guard at Brunswick high school. After moving from place to place and settling down in Atlanta, GA, COVID-19 hit. This is the birth of pwincess. With her passion for dancing and love for costume design, Kay decided to get creative. Before drag, Kay participated in dance knowing that this is where her passion lies. Kay reminisces on a fond memory of being a backup for Latrice Royale, who had her appearance on season 4 of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2012.

“I remember how fun that was and I’d always thought about doing drag. I was like, ‘Oh no, you know, I couldn’t do that.’ I remember even not being in drag, I met a lot of really cool people. I met Lady Bunny, Manila Luzon and Sugar Cane. I met all of them backstage and you realize those people are just people,” said Kay. Performing and having drag being involved was the calling for Kay, leading her to where she is now.

Pwincess, pronounced as princess, originated from the Haus of St. James. “I had a family before I started, so I come from a line of St. James, and my grandmother’s name is Dynisty St. James. My mom’s name is Qween Farrazzz. She spells it F-A-R with a bunch of Zs and Queen, she spells it with a Q. Next in line was obviously the princess, so I decided to have my own name with those little sprinkles in there,” said Kay.

Kay’s looks range from sleek outfits with shimmer and feathers to bold prints with tassels.  Being a self-taught seamstress, Kay learned how to customize her own costume looks, only starting with a straight stitch to the bright and elaborate costumes that you can find her in today. “Now, I start a process here recently where I usually sit down and do it. I’m like, ‘Well, I’ll try this’. I really like bright floral and animal prints. You know, somebody said something not too long ago, and I’m a big fan of WWE, somebody said your drag costumes look like they're drag costumes, but if they were made by a WWE wrestler.”

When Kay returned from Atlanta to Wilmington, she was scared of the unknown but was surprised by the overwhelming support from the community. She recalls a time when she attended Hi-Wire Pride and saw the masses of supporters who showed up. “I just love the community here,” says Kay. “I really enjoy watching each year as pride rolls around and the things that everybody’s trying to do. I think it is really amazing.”

“I'm on year number six now, so it was rough in the beginning, but now I'm just your downtown home country girl, and I love to have a good time. I like when the audience has a good time,” said Kay.  During Pride Month, Kay has a month filled back-to-back with events—from hosting karaoke to hosting drag brunches—where she encourages everyone to come out to support and have a good time with the local LGBTQ community.

Photos by Austin Birch/@ATBphotography

“I think we need to just come together and be together in the same spaces, and just love one another,” said Kay. “That’s really my favorite part of Pride is seeing everyone out and even people I’ve never seen before. I just love having a good time with everybody and I love watching people have a good time.” Kay speaks about her experience of performing during Pride month.

Kay started the first drag show in Brunswick county, right across from where she grew up. While she speaks about the struggles of being a host of a show—stressing whether or not people are entertained—she highlights how it is rewarding for her to hear the positive feedback from the audience.

“I think you get to learn people a little bit deeper because they look up to you in a way,” said Kay. “Everybody you meet, again, those people are just people, famous people are just people.”

“I think the best thing about being a drag queen is a lesson learned a long time ago about the show, and it’s always stuck with me, everybody wants to talk through those doors and forget about their day,” explained Kay. “Everybody just wants to have brunch and be with the girls or your friends.” While Kay talks about all of the highlights of being a Drag Queen and shows, she highlights some of the struggles that she faces. “I say self-doubt is one of the biggest struggles of being a queen. Again, it goes back to just always wanting to give people your best. I think that we are constantly entertaining, even if you’re just sitting there and talking to people,” said Kay.

“I think sometimes people forget that we have some days where we’re exhausted from the week before or may have a little headcold. I would say that’s the hardest part, because when you know you’re having those days, you just have to try and give it your best,” said Kay.

With her roots in Leland, NC, Pwincess Malaysia Kay takes more than just the stage but forms a community of those who are here to celebrate and embrace themselves. This Pride Month, you can find Kay and other local queens celebrating queerness and self-love all throughout Wilmington, NC.