Filmmaker Luke Willis’ spirited documentary “Lady Like”—which recently had its world premiere at BFI Flare and was screened at the festival’s closing night gala—opens with a quite literal bang. A bin in an alleyway explodes, revealing its subject reveling in all her sparkling glory with a peppy background score and her name flashing across the screen in bright neon pink font: the talented Lady Camden. Camden is a drag queen and dancer trained in ballet who cemented herself as an artiste and drag icon par excellence following her stint on Season 14 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
The documentary not only acts as a record of Lady Camden’s star-making journey, but also imbues the audience with lessons on self-confidence. It incorporates snippets from the performer’s Instagram live vlogs through which one also learns of the extensive prep involved in the lead-up to the big televised moment. Willis’ documentary shows such things as racing against time to sew costumes from scratch in a crowded studio apartment, perfecting make-up, and boosting confidence via Skype sessions with an ever-ready support system across the pond. This is as well as the collective imaginative minds comprising a network of designers, drag moms, and stylists, all of whom collaborate to brainstorm a costume that’s within budget yet one that highlights Lady Camden’s uniqueness and personal brand. While overwhelmingly and immensely exhausting, this is an exciting process that is simultaneously worth the pay-off for the designers and performer(s) alike.
Staying in Character
Camden—who goes by the offstage name of Rex Wheeler—also addresses the struggle of staying in character while also not losing one’s true self during this immersive experience. This is because the contestants have no control in the editing room and therefore in the final presentation that’s broadcast. Wheeler also opens up on his scepticism of being accepted by his parents but also peers, particularly the overall reaction of the drag queens of Bay Area, San Francisco who might perceive the UK resident as an outsider. This worry also feeds into an overall, intense feeling of low self-esteem.
However, the platform and particularly the multiple watching parties in the presence of fellow “Drag Race” contestants provide for a much-needed sense of community. This community also serves as an enriching learning process in enduring harsh critique from judges and audiences, and equipping oneself with a thick skin, and with maintaining a sense of humour as well as remaining composed. It shows how each piece of constructive criticism and online comment proves to be a trampoline to amp up one’s performance. In the process, Wheeler/Lady Camden also learns that there’s quite nothing like falling face first during one’s debut catwalk… just to rise like a queen! (A growing fandom also ensures in cushioning the fall)
Later, Rex also reminisces about his participation in school dramas and putting in the time and effort to play the role of Peter Pan led to him giving wings to many cherished childhood dreams. He brings this same energy and courage allowing him to dig deep into some invaluable memories that have now shaped his onstage personality. In the process, he has grown leaps and bounds from the shy Rex Wheeler to the spunky Lady Camden.
Finding Your People
Wheeler is also nostalgic about the time he spent as a student at the Royal Ballet School, especially citing the perforation of his ballet training into drag performances. It helped to improve his stage presence, teaching poise, and grace that later carry a petite Lady Camden over the finishing line. This simultaneously enables Rex to overcome limitations such as a lack of physical strength or beefy physique. Rex is also open on how dance and drag culture both brought a pop of colour back into his life after it was all but extinguished due to overpowering grief and trauma at the onset of a tragedy in his family.
Moreover, Rex also elaborates on how being surrounded by fellow drag artistes—who are no less of a family themselves—can feel akin to walking around without the need for any armour, particularly after years spent looking over his shoulder and growing up enveloped by fears of abandonment and homophobia. In fact, the drag scene is a safe haven for the performer to freely indulge in an unapologetic love for make-up. It allowed him to effortlessly transition into Lady Camden, who is an extension of a fearless and sexy pop star diva, much like Rex’s role model, Christina Aguilera.
Informative and Packed with Realness
Fellow drag queen and Season 11 contestant Nina West adds additional flourish with her voiceover for a whimsical animated sequence. She presents bullet points to the less initiated or those who have yet to binge a single episode of “Drag Race” (personally speaking for myself and on behalf of Rex’s mum, who flies in from the UK to watch her son’s drag performances for the first time). West’s easy-to-follow narration is helpful in keeping beginners up-to-date on various buzz words and eases newcomers into a fun, lively space created by RuPaul. “RuPaul’s Drag Race” has become nothing short of a monumental, defining platform for the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s a place for the acclimatisation of allies and passionate performers on the drag scene previously turned away by other gatekeeping/feuding queendoms.
The titular lady’s journey wraps up with the initial nervousness creeping up once again upon her homecoming, and—as she isn’t active on the British drag scene—Lady Camden braces to expect the unexpected. Fortunately, her hard work reaps benefits with the drag culture and night life back in the UK welcoming her much like a royal—with open arms. And Rex is in for another surprise, fulfilling yet another dream of headlining the first ever gay club he’d snuck into during his youth!
Informative and packed with realness, “Lady Like” ends up being anything but a drag. It promises not only an empowering, endearing, and intricate look at the humble roots of ‘America’s Very Own Spice Girl,’ but is also an affectionate ode to “RuPaul’s Drag Race itself.” It’s a space where importance isn’t placed on winning or losing but rather on belonging.
“Lady Like” screened at the BFI Flare 2024 Festival, which ran from March 13-24.
