This Philadelphia cowboy is Drag Wars’ first All-Star king, and is conquering more and more of New York: Eugene Rideher Betta! [Cover photo: Davide Laffe]
Thotyssey: Hi Eugene, how is September treating you?
Eugene Rideher Betta: September has been amazing so far — I’ve been spending the whole month up here catching a vibe and giving shows!
Tell us where you are now, and where you’re from.
So I’m currently staying in Brooklyn, but I’m up here from Philly. I’ve been going back and forth performing for the past two years, so I’m now considering moving here!
Very cool! What’s the difference between the two scenes, from your point of view?
Philly is a lot smaller, so by default it’s gonna be pretty competitive since there are only a handful of places to perform drag. New York, on the other hand, is so big that there are a lot more opportunities to expand… and not just within drag, but other art forms like acting and modeling. As a king, we don’t necessarily have a set trajectory… so I think branching out into other mediums is a great way to build your brand and grow as an artist.
Are you a native of the Philly area, and were performance and art always in your life in some form or another?
I’m originally from the southwest! I grew up in Colorado and moved up here from Texas. And I actually get this question [about a performance background] a lot. People assume that I have, and while I was always involved in theatre growing up, it wasn’t until I transitioned that I really stepped into myself as an artist. I think being more comfortable and confident in my own body allows me to take up space onstage in a way I wasn’t able to before.
I see you’ve been sashed Mr. Trans Pennsylvania 2025! What it was like participating in that competition, and what does the win mean for you?
I went back and forth on whether or not to do it just because of the current climate, but ultimately I decided the need for representation outweighed any fear I had being a visible trans person. I grew up not seeing any trans men, and especially not any Asian ones… so that’s what holding this title means to me. Unfortunately though, with everything going on in our country, the national pageant and the chance to compete for Mr. Trans USA has been postponed. This just speaks to the need for trans art and systems to be just as resourced and prioritized as our cis gay counterparts.
These are some crazy, fearful and infuriating times… thank God or Whoever for queer artists and performers like you, who both uplift and inform! How might you describe what Eugene is like on stage?
I’d describe my stage presence as sultry, captivating, and strong. I definitely draw from my southwestern upbringing to inform my movement as well as being Korean American. We don’t often see Asian men being portrayed as the masculine love interest, so I think every time I step on stage, it means something.
How did you enjoy your recent turn in Shequida’s “Drag Wars All Stars 9” at Pieces?
I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience! Being the first ever king chosen as an All Star is something I did not take lightly. My whole goal was to show that kings and queens can compete at the same caliber. Drag kings are so often treated really as second class citizens, so any chance I get to model excellence, entertainment, and professionalism as a king feels really important to me.
On Thursday, you’ll be at 3 Dollar Bill for a show that’s destined to be a blast: “The K-Pop Demon Hunters Sing Along,” care of Shia Ho and a fun cast! KPDH on Netflix was of course pure, vibrant entertainment with heart. What did you take from the anime, and what can we expect from the 3DB show?
The movie meant a lot to me, specifically as a Korean American person. I never got to see myself represented in media, so to have something so specific to my experience being portrayed felt really special. The movie talks about overcoming shame, which is such a big part of Korean culture, so it was really cool to see this need for perfectionism be debunked. Asian drag artists are kinda known for delivering a certain level of excellence and it comes from this pressure to be faultless, and so I draw a lot of parallels between that and the movie.
I think the show itself is gonna be the party of the year! The music from the movie beat records that Destiny’s Child held for years, and there’s something so dope that happens when it’s an all Asian cast… so I’m excited.
Then on Saturday, you’ll be at Footlight beneath the Windjammer in Ridgewood for “Tea Party for Cowboys” hosted by Deangelo the Deviant and George Glass! What’s in store for us there?
This one I’m super excited for as well. Every time I’ve performed in New York, I’ve always received such a warm welcome despite being from out of town. Because I come up so consistently, I actually ended up forming a brotherhood with George and DeAngelo known as the House of Glass, and this’ll be the first show we’re all putting on together. They’ve been doing it for a few months now, and Saturday’s show is gonna be a full on Western theme… which is great, because every king has at least one cowboy number. It’s pretty much mandatory!
Hee-Haw! Anything to add?
Just that regardless of where I end up, I’m no stranger to New York… so I would definitely love to continue giving shows here regularly, and hopefully continue using my platform to uplift QTBIPOC, and kings in general!
Amazing! Lastly: what’s your favorite item in your drag bag, be it cosmetic / costume / or otherwise?
Probably my cowboy hat! I think I have yet to travel without it. It’s so much deeper than just drag for me; it’s part of my culture, so it feels like giving back to Little Me every time I get a chance to wear it.
Thanks, Eugene!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Eugene Rideher Betta’s upcoming area appearances, and follow him on Instagram and TikTok.
Thotyssey 