I am:

This is my 27th year doing drag. I perform mostly at Caluzzi Cabaret, 461 Karangahape Road.

My fashion sense has been shaped by:

My drag fashions mostly nowadays are from watching a lot of Drag Race.

Before that it was just very basic and looking at all the legend people who do dress up and perform from there, that is inspiration. And then I'm trying to create a little bit by a little bit. Especially from where I start. Very basic from SaveMart. Now you can buy online.

Drag is definitely getting more glamourous, fabulous – and especially sparkling – from head up to toe. Everything is just perfect. When I first put on everything it makes me feel very exciting and interesting. I feel very feminine and have a lot of fun.

My relationship with fashion is:

Fashion is definitely very important for Ling Ling. When someone looks at me, I want to tell them: be happy, be yourself, you enjoy what you can do.

Putting together an outfit/inspiration:

I'm quite tiny, and I mostly buy and redo it and create something different. You know, drag is always loud and just really full on and right in your face. And then I'm looking at all the fashion, and I try to make it. I'm not the sewer, but I'm a stitcher.

I can do it a little bit here and there to make it something special. It's very important because I need to look a little bit Asian, but I just transfer that and make something a lot better.

I also want to give thanks for all the support, to the people who believe in me and who look at me. Other than that, I’m just so thankful for everything.

When I’m not in drag:

If I'm not in drag, you see a normal boy/man. Ling Ling is very basic.

Portrait by Denise Baynham, 2025.

Audio engineering by Finn Hopley.
Video by Rochelle Ivanson.

Last published January 2026.

This exhibition was created for the New Zealand Fashion Museum for Pride 2026 with support from Britomart Group, Foundation North and The Rule Foundation.