Drag Race icon Miss Fame announces they/them pronouns while telling people ‘stop starving gender non-conforming artists’

Miss Fame in a bronze metallic dress

Drag Race legend Miss Fame said they “identify as they/them” while calling out the fashion industry for not paying queer and gender non-confirming artists properly.

Miss Fame told the world to “wake up” and start treating queer artists equally.

“If I am worthy to be sat front row, invited to your show, have allies within in industry, [be] in the pages of Vogue, [then] realise my worth,” they wrote in an Instagram story.

“My reach is vast and my talent is backed as I stand before you.”


Without directly naming names, they accused the fashion industry of mis-crediting queer artists “to skirt the issue of finance”.

“Compensation is key to respecting artists. Starving queer or gender non-conforming people out financially, just to look inclusive, while you budget countless ‘influencers’ is backwards thinking and wrong.

“One day we are influencer, or queen, or model, or friends of the house, always to dodge the collars necessary to compensate our time and talent while we cover expenses on our own just to keep good ties.”

The Drag Race season seven alum explained that they use they/them pronouns to remind people that their gender-fluid appearance isn’t merely a performance.

“I am not an accessory. My time is valuable. Compensation is respect. As such, I identify as they/them, so we don’t forget, I’m a human and not wearing a mask to appease or entertain you.”

My presence is authentic.

Miss Fame has previously spoken out about being underpaid after they were approached to star in a Justin Bieber music video.

For their effort, Fame was offered $500 compensation, which they said wouldn’t have even covered the cost of their transport from New York to LA.

“I can’t pay my rent off of the ‘honour’ or ‘experience’,” they said.

“If you want to involve LGBTQIA+ Artist in a JB music videos, I suggest respectable compensation/rate for their (mine) time & talent.”

The casting team for the video later said that all talents were offered the same amount of money for the shoot.

Speaking to Paper, a spokesperson clarified that Bieber wasn’t involved in the casting process, and instead was “the director’s vision”.

They added that the director, who also identifies as LGBT+, specifically wanted an “inclusive set”.

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