How to Tell the Difference Between Clowns and Drag Queens

Apr 30, 2012

ByLisa Mason Lee

Arts and Entertainment, California, clown, drag, Drag Queen, drag show, Indiana, it, perform, Stephen King, Transgendered, United States, weho, West Hollywood

For most people, it might be hard to tell the difference between a “Clown” vs. a “Drag Queen”…I used to be a lot-a-bit unsure, until I grew up into an adult, lived in West Hollywood, CA, where many drag queens are out and about daily, and performing at nightclubs.

I grew up seeing many clowns, when I lived in the bible belt of Indiana, where only happy clowns existed- with the exception of seeing the evil Stephen King clown “It” on TV. But when I moved to California and saw their clowns, I first thought- ‘These clowns (really drag queens) are so unique- they are wearing mini-skirts and high-heels! That’s interesting!’.

Then, when I was educated by a pal on who what I thought were ‘clowns’, were really ‘drag queens’, I started to be able to recognize the difference between the two pretty quick.

An easy way to figure the two out, is by their costumes, location, time of day and by their attitudes! Clowns are typically dressed to be in a kid-friendly environment, as where drag queens dress for an ‘adult’ environment, like for night clubs or street walking.

Clowns’ makeup is typically more on the happier side, as where drag queens have a more distorted and creepy look, with a feminine flare.

Men dress up as drag queens, as where both men and women can be clowns. Drag queens have a sexual and prissy attitude, as where clowns are friendly to everyone and want to make you smile.

Well, I hope that helps! Try my exercise below, and see if you can guess which ones are clowns or drag queens! Answers will be below gallery.