'Drag Race PH' season 3 winner Maxie on how competition would be different without sister Angel
Newly crowned winner of Drag Race Philippines season 3 Maxie is already thinking about giving back as her reign as the country's "Next Drag Superstar" begins.
ICYMI, the Manila-based queen won the drag reality competition, besting Top 4 competitors Tita Baby, Khianna, and her sister Angel.
Throughout her journey, she earned three "RuBadges" for winning the girl group, hosting, and makeover challenges. Maxie had the most challenge wins out of the season 3 contenders.
Drag Race journey
After the grueling competition, Maxie told L!fe that she learned how important loving the art of drag and patience are.
"Dapat may puso ka talaga sa laban. Kasi kung wala, parang hindi mo mabibigay yung best mo eh, so hindi ka mag-enjoy. Kailang may puso para mag-enjoy and kailangan mong mag-enjoy para mapakita mo 'yung best mo," she said.
"Kailangan mo ng [patience] kasi mahirap talaga siya," she added. "Hindi talaga minamadali ang pangarap."
Maxie also showed how much family means to her during the course of the show as she competed alongside her younger sister, Angel. The pair's parents were also part of the competition as loved ones to makeover.
Even when Angel ended her Drag Race journey in the Top 4, Maxie still put her in the spotlight as she brought her sister to the stage during the Lipad ng Pangarap finale lip sync.
According to the season 3 winner, her dynamic with the other queens would've been different if she wasn't in the same season as Angel.
"Feeling ko, mas palaban [ako]," she said. "Parang mas marami akong mapupuksa, parang mas madaldal ako."
"Kasi si Angel yung nagpapalambot ng puso ko sa loob. siya yung isa sa mga dahilan—andito kasi yung sister ko kaya kailangan role model ako sa kanya."
She added that she didn't want her sister to see her stressing out during their run.
Next Drag Superstar
As the Philippines' Next Drag Superstar, Maxie hopes to share the stage with up-and-coming queens and continue causes near to her heart.
"I want to perform with [budding queens]," the 25-year-old said, adding that she wants to see the young performers in person. "Iba kasi 'pag nasa personal. Mas na-fe-feel mo 'yung art."
"I want to continue my advocacy for HIV [awareness], my [LGBTQ+] community, for others na pwede pa nating i-advocate, especially na ngayon na malapit na ang eleksyon. Kailangan nating maging active sa mga ganyan,' she ended.
Before Drag Race, Maxie was among the ten contestants of Queen of the Universe season 2, the world's "first all-drag, all-singing" competition. However, she withdrew from the competition due to a medical emergency.
All seasons of Drag Race Philippines are streaming on HBO GO and WOW Presents+.