Drag Queens' Padding Artistry Echoes Met's 'Costume Art' Exhibition

The 2026 Met Gala celebrates the Costume Institute's spring exhibition 'Costume Art,' focusing on the dressed body. Drag queens, masters of body transformation through padding, exemplify the exhibition's themes. Padding techniques, using foam or silicone inserts, allow queens to create signature silhouettes. Jimbo, a Drag Race alum, says padding unlocks an external response and feels empowering. Plane Jane describes padding as a magic trick, using composite foams for durability and softness. Bob the Drag Queen, who makes her own padding, aims for proportions like 33-22-33. Padding origins trace to Shakespearean era, gaining prominence in 1920s pansy craze and 1960s Harlem ballroom. Pioneers Divine and RuPaul brought drag mainstream. Today, specialists like Camille Yen create custom inserts. Designers Chris Habana, Diego Montoya, Zaldy, and Marco Marco cater to drag queens. Some queens like Naomi Smalls and Aquaria forgo padding for fashion freedom. Jimbo sees padding as necessary for character, despite discomfort. Plane Jane views padding as resistance against anti-LGBTQ+ policies. The Met exhibition explores dressed bodies, including pregnant and disabled bodies.