Marilag Odtohan

‘Art was always the thing that I fell in love with’: M1ss Jade So opens up about healing and hope

For M1ss Jade So, the premiere of "Drag Race Down Under vs. The World" became more than the beginning of another competition—it became a reminder of why she wants to keep creating, living, and sharing her art.

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ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA -- For M1ss Jade So, the premiere of &quot;Drag Race Down Under vs. The World&quot; is more than the beginning of another competition—it is a reminder of why she wants to keep creating, living, and sharing her art.</p><p>Just days after her family and the Haus of M1ss Jade So announced that the &quot;Drag Race Philippines&quot; season 2 star would be taking <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2026/7/22/m1ss-jade-so-to-take-indefinite-hiatus-following-alarming-livestream-1702">an indefinite hiatus</a> from drag performances and public appearances following a livestream that alarmed fans, fellow performers, and loved ones, Jade broke her silence with a deeply personal statement reflecting on healing, survival, and purpose.</p><p>&quot;I take it back, music will heal me, and will always heal us,&quot; she wrote in <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DbMyHfUJldP/">a lengthy, emotional post on social media</a>.</p><p>Jade revealed that she has been surrounded by &quot;non-stop love and comfort&quot; from her family, friends, and supporters while seeking professional help for her mental health.</p><p>&quot;I’m also seeking help from psychologists for my mental health that was destroyed by a lot of problems,&quot; she wrote. &quot;I need to learn life after downfall, what’s the importance of life, appreciate life even if I already achieved my goals, and continue dreaming and aiming for the pinnacle.&quot;</p><p>Looking back, Jade said she did not expect this chapter of her life but now sees it as part of her journey toward becoming stronger.</p><p>&quot;I did not see this coming but I need to acknowledge that this stage of life happened to me in order to continue life for the better,&quot; she said, adding that she is learning to protect her peace, stand her ground, and &quot;not forget to breathe, smile, and live.&quot;</p><p>She also spoke about distancing herself from people she described as manipulative, choosing instead to value &quot;authenticity over fake character disguised in power.&quot;</p><p>Amid her recovery, watching herself compete once again on the global Drag Race stage became an emotional turning point.</p><p>&quot;Watching the episode made me realize that my purpose to live, to preach, and to share my unique knowledge to the world is something worth to behold and believe for,&quot; she wrote.</p><p>&quot;Art was always the thing that I fell in love with, not the money.&quot;</p><p>Even if the recent events affect future opportunities, Jade said she remains hopeful about what lies ahead.</p><p>&quot;If this stage of life will be the reason for losing on working for the brands and the bars, then so be it. I know warehouses, theaters, arenas, stadiums and fields are waiting for me someday.&quot;</p><p>She ended her message by thanking those who stood by her during one of the most difficult moments of her life.</p><p>&quot;My family, my sisters, my friends, your messages and unwavering support gained something in me that uplifted my soul that was breaking apart.&quot;</p><p>&quot;I am taking serious steps to fully recover so that I can proudly say and embody, &#x27;I am strong coming back to drag, music &amp; fashion.&#x27; Namaste indeed!&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>THE GODDESSAFICATION AGENDA BEGINS</strong></div><p>The statement also came as viewers watched Jade launch her &quot;Drag Race Down Under vs. The World&quot; campaign with one of the strongest starts of the season, earning her first RuBadge during the premiere episode released Friday, July 24.</p><p>Representing the Philippines after her memorable run on DRPH Season 2, Jade emerged into the werk room fully embracing the &quot;goddessafication&quot; persona that became synonymous with her during her original season.</p><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02jhVQgDpKpXFp7iMtrJmJ86L8CVeB7wcDrXyAcGmcYitNAq6pN1HX7PiG91mHBzEFl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="773" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div><p>Wearing a Filipiniana-inspired couture look infused with her unmistakably surreal aesthetic, Jade immediately filled the room with the playful, unpredictable energy that made her a standout among Filipino drag fans.</p><p>Her entrance quickly became one of the episode&#x27;s memorable moments as she introduced herself with the same whimsical confidence viewers came to know. At one point, Jade attempted to get the queens to join her in a hand-holding &quot;ritual,&quot; leaving several contestants amused and curious about her eccentric personality.</p><p>American drag veteran Nicole Paige Brooks summed up her first impression by saying Jade “is a little witchy,” adding, &quot;she has an interesting point of view. I’m into it.&quot;</p><p>The queens were welcomed by host Michelle Visage, who takes over as the franchise&#x27;s main host this season, alongside returning judge Rhys Nicholson and &quot;Drag Race Down Under&quot; winner Lazy Susan.</p><p>For the premiere&#x27;s &quot;DIY Divas&quot; challenge, the contestants were tasked with creating runway looks using assigned fabrics and materials.</p><p>Jade&#x27;s look drew praise from the judges for its creativity, distinctive point of view, and polished execution. Her work ultimately earned her a place among the week&#x27;s top performers alongside Michael Marouli, with both queens receiving the season&#x27;s first RuBadges.</p><p>The pair later faced off in a lip-sync to &quot;Melodrama&quot; by Beks for the power to eliminate one of the bottom queens after LaLa Ri and Flor landed in the bottom two.</p><p>Michael ultimately won the lip-sync, but the episode ended with a non-elimination twist, allowing every contestant to continue in the competition.</p><p>Following the episode&#x27;s release, social media was flooded with messages of support for Jade, with many viewers celebrating both her standout performance and her return to television.</p><p>Fellow DRPH alum Marina Summers and “Down Under vs the World” contestant Art Simone were among those who also publicly expressed their support for Jade.</p><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display:flex;max-width:550px;width:100%;margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px"><iframe 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<p>For M1ss Jade So, the premiere of "Drag Race Down Under vs. The World" became more than the beginning of another competition—it became a reminder of why she wants to keep creating, living, and sharing her art.</p>