River Perrill's journey into drag performance began with a transformative experience at the University of Texas, Austin, witnessing a live performance that encouraged them to express their identity more publicly. Growing up inspired by shows like RuPaul's Drag Race, Perrill started experimenting with drag in 2020, ultimately debuting on stage as 'Rio Grande' at a local gay club's open mic night. Their story highlights the importance of community and self-exploration in the world of drag, despite feeling isolated outside of their supportive bubble in Austin.
Perrill, a student from Houston, had an interest in drag from an early age. "Really, it was seeing RuPaul's Drag Race - that seems like a lot of our generation's first introduction. I just fell in love."
But it wasn't until they came to Austin in 2022 that they felt emboldened to express it more publicly. "Seeing it live was like, 'Oh, I could go on stage or I could perform in front of people.'"
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