This Queen’s Daily Drag Shows Are the Quarantine Balm We All Need Right Now

Back in those early pandemic days of March, Derek White started doing a daily check-in with friends on social media. “It was just a ‘cheers, how’s everyone doing?’, making sure everyone was okay,” says White. “A friend said, you should wear your wigs! I thought, that’s hilarious, and I think I can do more with that.”

He kicked off a one-minute video series that’s now 250 days in – and counting. “Basically wearing a wig evolved into a more actual CoCo coming out,” he laughs. CoCo, of course, is White’s drag queen persona, and she’s been taking to the stage for over 25 years. That means CoCo has a pretty rich drag closet to draw from, too – over 35 wigs, and plenty of outfits – so each of those 250-plus shows has yet to have a duplicate wig and clothing combo. “There’s always a variation,” says White. “I’ll accessorize differently, or if I wear the same dress, I’ll change the hair.”

The song will inspire the outfit, but CoCo’s not precious about changing her mind last minute. “Sometimes I have a song in mind and I put the hair on, and I think this isn’t going to work and switch it up – I’ll switch the song or the hair.”

And the goal, says White, is to put a smile on someone’s face right now. “I try to keep them uplifting, to have a positive message,” White explains. “Something that’s kind of fun – and I have no problem making myself look silly.”

It means CoCo might be holding a drink tray while she sings Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money,” or she’ll be dressed as Annie-by-way-of-Grace-Jones to belt out “Tomorrow.” She’ll pull out deep cuts like Jasmine Guy’s “I Wish You Well,” or she’ll belt out classics like Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together,” or George Michael’s “Freedom 90.” “I’ve done George, I’ve done Dead or Alive, I just try to keep it fresh,” says White. “It doesn’t have to be gender specific – that’s part of the fun. To have the freedom to do whatever I want.”

CoCo’s annual holiday drag show at the Fountainhead, which has raised $60,000-plus for A Loving Spoonful and the Food Bank over the past 20 years, is on hold for an in-person gathering, but White is currently trying to see if they can pivot to hosting it online this year, date to be determined.

In the meantime, look for CoCo to start kicking off the12 Days of Christmas staring December 14 over on Instagram @drecked. (Big hopes for “Last Christmas” over here.)