The “painting” that Alejandro Trinidad spent three hours on took all of five minutes to wipe out.

Trinidad showers, shaves, waxes, paints, tucks, dresses, duct tapes and primps his hair before a late night out. It takes him up to three hours simply because the odds are stacked against him.

“Men don’t have an hourglass figure. If you do, you’re blessed, especially if you are a drag queen,” Trinidad said.

“Painting” is the cosmetic process queens use to help become women at showtime. “It’s about keeping what you like about your face and hiding what you don’t,” said Trinidad, a student at Central Maine Community College. “I have a good handle on the basics, but I’m always learning.”

Trinidad, 22, has been a drag artist since he was 16. “It’s a coping skill for me,” he said. “I lost a lot of important people in my life, and I had issues with expressing how I felt. (Drag) is a real outlet for myself.” He said he has two personalities — one as a man and another as a woman. 

“I can be very obnoxious,” he said, once the corset and fake eyelashes are in place. “Queens tend to be catty. We can be very vicious at times … but all in good fun.”

He said drag queens have a tough time when they are new to the act.

“(Seasoned artists) have a weird type of etiquette” and often “get caught up in our egos,” he said. “We don’t like competition. You can’t be a drag queen without thick skin.”

Trinidad’s drag name is Prodigy Diamond. She will be the opening act at Saturday’s Lewistunning Dragapalooza at Bates College. The show is a fundraiser for Outright L/A, an Auburn-based organization that provides a safe environment for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth. 

“Words cannot explain what Outright has done for me,” an openly gay Trinidad said. “I knew I was gay the moment I was born. There was glitter and rhinestones that came out with me.”

Every queen has a trademark and performances focus heavily on dance, he said. His act will feature a little acrobatics, a lot of dance and some humor. Showtime is 7 p.m., but don’t expect the Dragapalooza to start on time.

“Queens are never on time,” Trinidad said. “We are notorious for that.”

What: Third annual Lewistunning Dragapalooza

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, May 7

Where: Bates College, Schaefer Theater

Why: Fundraiser for Outright L/A

Tickets: Tickets are available in advance at Western Maine Community Action at 179 Lisbon St. Tickets are available at the door, but the show always sells out, so be sure to get there early. General admission is $10. Students and seniors, $5.

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