Cheyenne Suarez

Arizona Brandy masters the art of “never let anyone know your next move”

Article (news)

Marilag Odtohan

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765351183067d22c6a3936dd5afebb19581e23b76e47.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Arizona Brandy masters the art of not letting anyone know her next move. Photo courtesy of Arizona Brandy"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Arizona Brandy masters the art of not letting anyone know her next move. <em>Photo courtesy of Arizona Brandy</em></span></span></span>Arizona Brandy discovered drag through a YouTube recommendation featuring Jiggly Caliente. That single click led her to stream “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 4, and soon, her casual curiosity grew into a desire to make her own mark on the drag universe.</div><p>Her journey started on small stages and in crowded backrooms, joining competitions wherever she could. Until, she found refuge behind the walls and on the stages of Chelou in Malate, and later Rapture in Cubao. </p><p>What she didn’t realize was that these early steps would become the first strides in a journey that would take her far beyond Metro Manila’s nightlife scene.</p><p>Arizona reached a new chapter when she made her television debut on the second season of “Drag Race Philippines,” introducing her camp, charm, and unmistakable energy to the viewers of the show. From there came “Slaysian Royale,” where she took her chaotic brilliance to ever greater heights — earning recognition and an ever-growing fan base. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>WHERE IT ALL BEGAN</strong></div><p>Sixteen years have passed since “RuPaul’s Drag Race” first premiered, ushering drag into the mainstream spotlight and rewriting the landscape of queer entertainment. In 2021, it reached the Philippines when World of Wonder announced its search for the first Pinay drag superstar through the debut of &quot;Drag Race Philippines.&quot; This sent ripples across the local drag community — and among those who felt an immediate push was Arizona.</p><p>The moment she heard about the upcoming franchise, Arizona knew she wanted to be part of it. Fate, however, had other plans. She did not make the cut of the first season, but instead of looking at it as a rejection, she took it as a sign of redirection — and she made it to the second season.</p><p>Arizona entered the second season with a purpose: to represent her “Royalties” sisters and to champion the stories of every local drag artist who hustles night after night for the love of the craft. Her “Royalties” sisters weren’t just friends — they were the queens who stood beside her throughout her drag journey, the ones who saw her grow, stumble, rise, and evolve.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17653512974306a1696b0b4cbf5f1b624a5adaff27e5e.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Arizona Brandy and her &#x27;Royalties&#x27; sisters posing for a photo. Courtesy of Arizona Brandy"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Arizona Brandy and her &#x27;Royalties&#x27; sisters posing for a photo. <em>Courtesy of Arizona Brandy</em></span></span></span></div><p>They shared dressing rooms, long nights, small stages, and big dreams. Many of Arizona’s defining moments in drag were witnessed, shaped, or supported by these very sisters, making it all the more meaningful for her to carry their name onto an international platform.</p><p>“I think entering the competition, gusto ko lang din maging ako at i-represent iyon sa competition. Gets ko &#x27;yung struggle ng isang local drag queen. Gusto kong mag-shine ng light sa mga local drag queen, support local queens. Kaya ako, sumali, I want to represent the hardworking local queens,” Arizona said.</p><p>It was terrifying for Arizona to enter the werk room. She had no friends from the previous season who can provide insider tips and no whispered warnings to expect. Everything she knew came from watching the show as a fan. But instead of surrendering to the pressure, she let the fear melt away.</p><p>That choice gave birth to some of Arizona’s most unforgettable season highlights: her unhinged girl group performance, her earnest Adele impersonation, and her over-the-top lip syncs performances — from the chaotic “Kitty Girl” battle against Tiny DeLuxe to the gag-filled showdown with Miss Jade So. Floor licking, powder blowing, vape couture, swallowing contact lenses — Arizona turned chaos into a form of an art and entertainment.</p><p>Arizona fought her way to the final lip-sync against Captivating Katkat where she finished as runner-up. Just a heartbeat away from the crown, she believed that while victory had eluded her, perhaps the drag gods were saving her for a different kind of adventure. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>A NEW CHAPTER IN SLAYSIAN ROYALE</strong></div><p>That journey arrived in the form of &quot;Slaysian Royale,&quot; a spin-off featuring an all-star lineup of Asian queens across the Drag Race franchise. She was one of the five Filipino queens chosen to wear the Philippine sash alongside Bernie, Brigiding, Khianna, and Vinas DeLuxe. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02RyhKPUeDdaZgytuyRJsXArb266C6PSBuiw7JeRmgLV1oE2orzvvJ8kWdk3mFYqBTl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><div><br/></div><p>All-star formats are often framed as redemption arcs for queens craving closure or reinvention. But Arizona was not coming back to rewrite a story; she accepted the invitation to reveal a newer one. She believed she had become the strongest version of herself and she wanted the international audience to meet her all over again.</p><p>“I really redeemed myself after our original season… [pero siyempre] hindi ka naman nasusubaybayan… at hindi mo naman sila mapipilit na i-check ‘yung accounts mo. Gusto kong bumalik kasi sobrang layo na ng Arizona sa season namin hanggang sa bago ako pumasok [ng &#x27;Slaysian Royale&#x27;]. Gusto kong ipakita ‘yon sa tao, ‘yon ang way para ma-reintroduce ulit ako sa kanila,” Arizona shared.</p><p>Competing once again, Arizona remained true to her nature: go with the flow, do what feels right, and savor every moment.</p><p>“Nag-prepare ako, nag-take ako ng improv classes going in. Pero once na pumasok ako sa werk room, tinapon ko na ‘yon, wala akong kailangang i-expect. So, parang I just go with the flow and mas maging genuine, at nakita siguro ‘yon ng tao,” she added.</p><p>The journey was not smooth but that did not stop her. She won two RuBadges along the way and secured a place in the finale once again.</p><p>Beyond the competition, &quot;Slaysian Royale&quot; offered cultural connection. Arizona found herself learning from her fellow Asian queens — discovering cultural nuances and shared values she never knew they had in common. And during the competition, language barriers often added an unexpected twist to her experience. True to form, Arizona leaned into humor, playing with the moment and turning each mix-up into lightness and laughter.</p><p>If the drag universe calls again, perhaps through another &quot;Versus the World&quot; season, Arizona is more than willing to answer.</p><p>Aside from Arizona and her fellow Pinay queens in &quot;Slaysian Royale,&quot; several DRPH alumni have already stepped into the global spin-offs: Marina Summers in &quot;UK vs the World&quot; season 2 and Eve Le Queen in &quot;Global All-Stars.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>BONDED FOR GREATNESS</strong></div><p>Arizona never expected her career to soar this quickly after her &quot;Drag Race&quot; stints. What was once a quiet hope has now become her everyday reality.</p><p>Her breakout single “Arizona B” has racked up over 2 million YouTube views since its release. Riding on the success, she recently dropped a clean Christmas version that is now continuously being passed around playlists across all groups and becoming a seasonal favorite.</p><p>While &quot;Slaysian Royale&quot; was airing, Arizona was also busy with her project “Arizona Bonding” with Hana Beshie. Bringing the show to life was a dream come true to her, an idea she had long envisioned finally materializing.</p><p>It began as a simple viewing party concept that quickly came full circle, rising as one of the most well-received local drag shows.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1765351525233IMG_7065.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Arizona Brandy with Hana Beshie, the other heart of &#x27;Arizona Branding.&#x27; Photo courtesy of Arizona Brandy"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Arizona Brandy with Hana Beshie, the other heart of &#x27;Arizona Branding.&#x27; Photo courtesy of Arizona Brandy</span></span></span>With her close friend Hana Beshie as host, the show gained a fresh dynamic — witty banters, unfiltered humor, and a chemistry that elevated the experience. For Arizona, choosing Hana was one of her best decisions. She believed in Hana’s abilities and working together allowed her to know her sister even more — fitting perfectly with their show’s theme of bonding.</div><p>“This time mas naging strong ‘yung friendship naming dalawa. Strong na talaga ‘yung friendship namin kasi isa si Hana sa tumulong sa akin sa &#x27;Slaysian Royale&#x27; …and get to know the strengths of each other. Nagkaroon ng another layer ‘yung friendship namin,” Arizona reflected.</p><p>Arizona admitted that numerous meetings were held to structure the show but it kept growing. New segments like “Isang Tanong, Isang Sagot” were added, all of which proved to be audience hits. From intimate venues to sold-out shows, they reached a major milestone with “Arizona Bonding, Mga Beshie” live at Market! Market!</p><p>Looking ahead, Arizona is eager to stage even bigger productions. She is among the queens set to headline “The Playhouse Bonding” at the Music Museum on December 19.</p><p>Beyond physical shows, she is also excited for her digital program “B is for Bonding with Hana Beshie,” which premiered last November 30 and airs every Sunday.</p><p>Drag has taught Arizona to be resilient and savor every moment. She knows her journey does not always follow a straight path, but she also understands that the possibilities are endless.</p><p>With a laugh, she even joked that who knows, she might try acting next. It is a quip that perfectly captures her spirit: Arizona never let anyone predict her next move. </p>

<p>Arizona Brandy discovered drag through a YouTube recommendation featuring Jiggly Caliente. That single click led her to streaming “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 4, and soon, her casual curiosity grew into a desire to carve a name of her own in the drag universe.</p>

Arizona Brandy discovered drag through a YouTube recommendation featuring Jiggly Caliente. That single click led her to streaming “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 4, and soon, her casual curiosity grew into a desire to carve a name of her own in the drag universe.

Arizona Brandy masters the art of keeping everyone guessing her next move

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Arizona Brandy masters the art of keeping everyone guessing her next move

Marilag Odtohan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 10, 2025 04:48 PM PHT

Read More:

Drag

Arizona Bonding

Arizona Brandy

Drag Race Philippines

Slaysian Royale

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