We are dedicating the second part of our series of articles, “Drag Hotspot: Salzburg”, to Gigi La Pajette. We talk to her about her early days in drag in Hamburg, how she established herself as a stage persona after moving to Salzburg, and what drag art means to her personally.

Gigi’s entry into the world of drag was anything but glamorous. In 2013, she threw on a ‘dress’ just for fun whilst going out to party in Hamburg. “It was a black, fairly tight skirt, a cheap purple chiffon flouncy top with a belt, and very long, pink hair. That was a world away from the Gigi of today,” Gigi recalls with a laugh.

“I’m glad there aren’t any photos of that. But I still have the outfit in my wardrobe, just as a memento,” says Gigi. After that first time deliberately wearing drag, Gigi dived into the world of drag, hesitantly at first, then with increasing determination. “After six months, I started doing it more and more,” she explains. From serving schnapps at the doors of Hamburg clubs to hosting various events, her career developed step by step.

From Hamburg to Salzburg

Gigi’s first steps in drag in Salzburg came through appearances at events and initiatives such as the “Long Night of Diversity”. In this way, the drag queen had already made a name for herself in Mozart’s city even before moving there in 2023. “It was a long, rocky, hard road. But it was worth it,” she says, looking back.

One moment that had a particularly profound impact on her was when a wide variety of people gathered outside the Mexxx Gaybar during an event: “Just having fun. No judgement, no shame.” That moment stayed with Gigi so strongly that this feeling continues to shape her work to this day.

“No judgement, no shame”

When asked whether she sees herself as a drag pioneer in Salzburg, Gigi says: “I don’t have the classic feeling of being a ‘trailblazer’, but rather that of someone who recognises and seizes opportunities.” When asked about her event ideas, Gigi says with a smile: “I call it my glittery drawer. I put all my ideas in there and when the time is right, I take them out again.”

And she has plenty of ideas: these include bingo events, brunches, her Christmas drag revue “Silent Night, Shrill Night”, murder mystery dinners, silent discos, the Rosa Stadl, the G&G Live event with her colleague Grazia Patricia – and all of this in drag. You’ll also find the blonde queen on the theatre stage. She has been part of the ensemble at the Salzburg OFF Theatre for two and a half years and can be seen there in the plays “Club Oberon” and “Taxi, Taxi”.

For Gigi, it is particularly important to take drag art out of its usual contexts. “Making drag accessible to all kinds of people, through a wide range of formats in different venues.”

“A more mature person”

In her view, Salzburg has developed significantly over the years, although she qualifies the term “drag stronghold”. “The scene here is growing very well,” she says. It is “a scene on the rise, with a growing understanding of drag as an art form.” But it is also important to Gigi that respect for the art form is not lost. “For me, drag is an art form into which I put a lot of time, money and work.”

She says the character has “made her a much more mature person”. “I’ve learnt so much about myself,” she says. At the same time, there’s the day-to-day work: Gigi La Pajette is now in her third year as a full-time self-employed drag queen, which involves a great deal of effort. Coming up with new show concepts, sewing costumes, rehearsing songs… “You realise: it’s work.”

“Drag is political”

For Gigi, visibility is key, especially within the queer community: “Would we have achieved what we’ve achieved if everyone had turned up in tracksuit bottoms?” she asks rhetorically, referring to Pride parades. Drag is always political, even if each drag queen decides for themselves to what extent. And drag queens like to wrap issues in humour and various show acts: “We point the finger at injustices, but with long, glittery fingernails,” says Gigi with a smile.

Her passion is palpable as we talk. Whether it’s bingo, Rosa Stadl or brunch. Finally, Gigi La Pajette tells us with a smile: “Creativity, community and the courage to try new things – that’s what matters to me. If it flops, I can always say: ‘OK, it’s not for me. But I gave it a go.’”
Interview and text: Sebastian Brandstätter

Tickets for Gigi La Pajette’s events are available here.