Wirral drag queen hopes to 'inspire' young people

Ryan Hoey, from Wallasey, became inspired to start drag a year and a half ago after watching RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.

The 30-year-old Premier Inn manager now wants to share his journey into drag in a bid to encourage young people to “step out of their comfort zone”.

He told the Globe: “Watching RuPaul’s Drag Race and going to gay bars and seeing drag queens perform completely inspired me. I’d look at the outfits and makeup and think ‘wow they look so fab’.

Ryan Hoey, 30, from Wallasey (Image: Ryan Hoey)

“I then came across the drag cabaret show FunnyBoyz in Liverpool and met Linda Gold who runs it. She said to me why don’t you just give it a go and see what you think of it but at the time I wasn’t confident enough to go ahead with it and dress up.”

Despite his lack of confidence, Ryan decided to push himself out of his comfort zone.

He said: “I was sat at home one day and thought what have I got to lose? So I texted Linda and said I’ve listened to you and I’m going to give it a go.

“The first challenge I faced was when I ordered my first pair of heels and tried to walk in them without breaking my neck. It took me about a week to learn in heels before I could start doing it.”

It took Ryan a week to learn to walk in heels (Image: Ryan Hoey)

After practicing his act, Ryan performed for the first time in drag after he entered his friend's charity drag night competition.

He said: “I ended up winning the competition and donating the money back to the charity. It was then that I thought I can do this.

“When I first starting going out in drag I felt intimidated about people looking at me and questioning why I was dressed the way I was if I was a man and I used to say because this is my work uniform.”

Ryan Hoey performing on Mersey Ferries (Image: Ryan Hoey)

Since starting drag, Ryan has performed at The Vinyard Bar and Kitchen in Moreton, St Joseph Parish Club in Birkenhead as well as performing a show on Mersey Ferries where he joined FunnyBoyz.

Ryan said: “I’m now performing my own bingo and cabaret nights.

“I was really nervous doing my first gig by myself but the more I got into it the more comfortable I felt. I’ve even had people say to me it’s the best drag they’ve seen in a while.

Ryan performing with FunnyBoyz on Mersey Ferries (Image: Ryan Hoey)

“I just want to get it out there to young people that it doesn’t matter who you are or what size, colour or race you are. I just want people to feel comfortable to go for it because you’ve got nothing to lose and you should just be who you want to be.

“People in the LGBT community are still struggling to come out and be who they are. It took me a while to come out I struggled but you’ve just got to be who you are and not be scared and hide.

“Since I’ve been doing this it’s inspired me to be more myself. Life’s too short you just have to go for it.”