“Drag Prince of the West Coast,” Tito Soto, knows what it takes to hit a creative high. The skilled performance artist proved it by coming in second in Alaska Thunderfuck’s Drag Queen of the Year Pageant in 2021.
Co-producing weekly drag showcase PRINCESS at SF OASIS, Soto sees so many equally inspiring performers that haven’t had the similar fortune of appearing in a national competition, much less a star-making vehicle like “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
So he devised The High Princx Pageant (January 20 and 27 at SF Oasis) to spotlight some of the finest seasoned entertainers in the Bay Area—all competing for the dazzling High Princx crown and generous cash prizes.
“Drag can be hard and relentless,” says Soto. “So it’s beautiful to take a moment to celebrate those who have been putting in the hard work for so many years and are willing to put themselves out there again in a more evolved state.”
Now in its third year, the four-part contest, taking place over the last two weekends in January, will see each seasoned performer facing off in creative presentation, Q&A, lip-synch, and dream performance categories.
Judging the contest will be a panel of Bay Area drag luminaries, including Soto, D’Arcy Drollinger, Nicki Jizz, Leigh Crow, Grace Towers, Militia Scunt, and Juanita More!, as well as Meatball (“Dragula” Season 1) and JAX (“RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 15).
Meet the High Princx Pageant contestants in the slideshow below:
High Princx Pageant contestant Raya Light. Photo by Chantel Beam 
High Princx Pageant contestant Beverly Chills. Photo by Chantel Beam 
High Princx Pageant contestant Yayah. Photo by Chantel Beam 
High Princx Pageant contestant Betty Fresas. Photo by Chantel Beam 
High Princx Pageant contestant Sir Acha. Photo by Chantel Beam 
High Princx Pageant contestant Cheetah Biscotti. Photo by Chantel Beam 
High Princx Pageant contestant God’s Little Princess. Photo by Chantel Beam 
High Princx Pageant contestant Sassi Fran. Photo by Chantel Beam 
Your High Princx Pageant hosts Lisa Frankenstein and Kochina Rude with producer Tito Soto. Photo by Chantel Beam
I spoke to Soto about what makes this year’s contestants special, what it takes to win the top honor, and how drag is faring amid all the recent attacks.
48 HILLS How does it feel to be entering the third year of The High Princx Pageant? What’s new this year?
TITO SOTO It’s exciting! It started as a passion project to celebrate our community’s seasoned drag performers, and it’s amazing to see its growth and the audience getting more excited about it every year. In this installment, we are introducing the “Fan Vote,” which allows our audiences to vote for their favorite contestant for the last set of points in the competition.
48 HILLS How does this pageant differ from other drag competitions?
TITO SOTO The High Princx Pageant highlights the hard work of experienced drag entertainers with at least five years under their belt. Most of our cast has at least seven! So it allows performers to showcase where they’re at in this stage of their careers and a chance to elevate their drag to the next level in front of a huge audience.
48 HILLS Drag competitions are typically ways for new drag queens to break out, but you’re celebrating seasoned performers. Why?
TITO SOTO A couple of years back, I was blessed to have been asked to participate in Alaska Thunderfuck’s Drag Queen of the Year Pageant when I was six years in. The experience was incredible because it pushed me to dissect my drag, make improvements, and evolve while surrounded by my community and friends who had seen me grow since the beginning and then helped me create my whole package. It was a beautiful reminder of what I’d accomplished and where I wanted to go.
With this pageant, I hope to pay forward that opportunity to my local community and amazing colleagues in the Bay Area and surrounding cities.
48 HILLS What does it mean to have a performer like Raya Light as part of this competition?
TITO SOTO It is a huge honor! From the beginning, we hoped to have legends like Raya join our pageant. In the early stages of my drag, I watched T*Shack videos on YouTube to get inspired, of which she was a regular performer. So it’s meaningful to have her be a part of it. She mentioned this is happening 19 years after she was in her first pageant!
48 HILLS How did you narrow it all down to eight contestants?
TITO SOTO The Haus of Princx takes a hard look at the applications and narrows them down collectively. It’s challenging due to the amount of incredible Bay Area (and adjacent) drag performers that apply to be in the show, but overall, we have a cohesive outlook on what we’re looking for.
We aim for a diverse cast that showcases all kinds of drag—and having the most experience helps a lot. We’re looking for those contestants we are most confident will give us a high-caliber show and stand out for their uniqueness.
48 HILLS What are the judges looking for in the creative presentation, Q&A, lip-synch, and dream performance showcases?
TITO SOTO Creative Presentation is our “runway” category, but as its name says, it involves more than just a walk; it is a presentation of a concept. The most successful ones tell a story through gags/stunts, reveals, accompanying performers, etc. Depth, details, and execution are critical. This year’s theme is ELEMENTAL, related to or embodying the powers of nature, which is a nod to the current state of our planet and is open to interpretation by the contestants.
Question and Answer allows the audience and judges to get to know the contestants better. The number one rule here is to be authentic and entertaining.
The Lip-synch Battles are the chance to grab the last set of points of night one. Judges will favor contestants who know their words, fully embody the song, and entertain the audience thoroughly.
Epic Talent Presentation is every contestant’s dream performance. They’re all encouraged to think big and showcase what they do best. Judges look for intentional, creative performances that take you through a journey. This category is worth the most points and could shift the whole competition.
48 HILLS What qualities must the winner possess?
TITO SOTO Consistency is key to winning this pageant, and aiming to take each category is how you make the Top 3. With the high level of drag these contestants bring, the competition is so tight that any slip-up can cost you your placement. At the same time, creativity and authenticity are just as important. Staying true to your drag style will resonate with the audience the most, and once they’re on your side, the energy in the room is palpable—and the judges feel it.
48 HILLS What does it mean to have Meatball and Jax as guest judges?
TITO SOTO I’m so thrilled to have them be a part of it! Meatball is a longtime friend whose success jumpstarted from a YouTube drag competition. She took that moment and ran with it, and has created a huge career for herself unlike any other, which makes her the perfect judge for this kind of pageant.
And then there’s Jax, who just competed in “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 15 and is one of the most sickening performers I have ever seen live—queen of the stunts, in my book. She is a new friend who recently moved to San Francisco, and it’s been such a blessing to get to involve her in all of our Princess/Oasis productions! Also, she is one of the sweetest people ever—and a great time. I can’t wait to see these two judge together.
48 HILLS What is the current state of drag amid all the attacks?
TITO SOTO The constant attacks by the far-right are very disheartening and increasingly scary. In general, we’ve had to become much more alert. Security increased at Oasis, metal detectors were added, and we underwent mass shooting training in case something like that ever happened at our club. Sadly, this is our new reality, but we must prepare for any situation.
48 HILLS Why is local drag more important, queer, and politically engaged than ever?
TITO SOTO Drag has always been inherently political and historically tied to activism. If our country’s abhorrent response to the war in Palestine and its failure to protect its LGBTQ+ citizens and other marginalized groups from violent legislation is any indication, it’s no wonder queers are increasingly disillusioned and fed up with the powers that be. It is increasingly important we stay active and visible and express our frustrations through our most effective tools—art and expression.
48 HILLS What are you looking forward to drag-wise in 2024?
TITO SOTO I am hoping to see more drag kings on TV shows that continue to break the mainstream idea of what drag is and showcase the reality of what we see in our queer spaces. Alienating a whole segment of our community based on gender is a disservice to pop culture and our community. Someone please get Tenderoni on “Drag Race” already; it’s about damn time!
THE HIGH PRINCX PAGEANT Sat/20 and Sat/27, $20-$50. OASIS, SF. Tickets and more info here.
