Meta debuted its first-ever mixed reality drag show at a star-studded event in London on 7 September. Drag Race UK stars Blu Hydrangea and Tia Kofi delivered show stopping performances alongside well-known drag king Adam All.
The looks featured at the immersive event were inspired by the metaverse and designed using a combination of virtual and augmented technologies.
The designers were Nwora Emenike, a queer, non-binary stylist, Sal Mohammed, a queer, genderfluid NHS worker and life coach who has a passion for drag and Christie Lau, a non-binary Central Saint Martins graduate whose work blends physical and digital fashion.
All three drag performers showed off their outfits as they walked the runway in front of a packed audience of fans. Augmented reality technology was used to elevate the looks as it revealed a new digital version that came to life through impressive filters. “The best thing about technology is that it brings everyone closer together,” Tia said. “During the pandemic, everybody had to get creative and use technology to stay in contact and keep drag alive.