The Essence of ICONIQA Is You

Lewks

Mar 27

Drag Nervio Photos by @just.chroma and @noanoafilms

ICONIQA was born from a simple but urgent idea: to create a platform that gives focus to queer excellence.

And this past edition, our latest ICONIQA at Razzmatazz on February 28, reminded us exactly why we do this. It filled both our eyes and our hearts to witness the level of effort, talent, and presence not only from our cast of artists, led by Violet Chachki, but from every single person who walked through those doors.

From early hours, the line outside Razzmatazz was already a show in itself. Creativity. Design. Expression. Queerness in full force.

Steah Photography by @just.chroma and @noanoafilms

Local drag queens, both rising stars and established names, showed up and showed out. Some, like Xandy X, are being shaped in real time within these spaces, A baby drag was born in Iconiqa!. Ballroom energy traveled across borders, with figures like Emmanuel Manuelito coming from Toulouse, bringing one of the night’s strongest moments giving Best Dressed category with a sharp, unapologetic (and very nasty) European runway walk.

There were trans and non-binary bodies leading the charge, like Demian, among the first in line, setting the tone before doors even opened. Trans women delivering full fantasy, giving moments that felt like a reimagined Victoria’s Secret runway. Trans masc energy igniting the stage, with standout moments led by Lars and Kaikoa Alexander, who flew in all the way from Los Angeles to be part of this night.

The underground electro drag and clubkid scene of Barcelona was fully present. Performers like Drag Nervio, a favorite for many, pushed the room to its limits, while Aries Galaxy ultimately took the crown with a powerful message: “Political Circus ends.”

Lola Pop Photo by @just.chroma and @noanoafilms

And then there are the stories that only ICONIQA can hold like Lola Pop from Mexico, finishing her makeup at the Paris airport just in time to take the plane and arrive directly to the runway.

Another important piece of the cake, and one we feel is essential to highlight, is the presence of cis women within our space. Voices like Belén Díaz from Uruguay shared with us that for her, ICONIQA is a safe space of expression, a place where she can dress and exist as she chooses, free from the fear of being harassed or having her body disrespected (even with a bare ass red lace bodysuit lewk).

A room so full of talent, so layered, so expansive, that even the largest space in Razzmatazz felt barely enough to contain it.

This is what ICONIQA is.

〰️

This is what ICONIQA is. 〰️

Lucia Massalta and Klamy GoSy Photo by @just.chroma and @noanoafilms

Not just a stage. Not just a publication. But a meeting point for expression, for risk, for visibility. A space where the audience is just as important as the lineup. Where the looks, the walks, the energy you bring are the essence of everything.

The essence of ICONIQA is you.

We are honored to feature the night through the eyes of David Vera from Noa Noa Films, alongside Chroma from Haus of Eye Candy, who traveled from Mexico as part of their LGBTQIA+ travel platform, Gay Traveler’s Guide, to capture what this moment felt like.