Maria Katrina Paras

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Captivating Katkat Transgender Wellness

<p>Every journey under the rainbow has been laden with some form of difficulty. Challenges with regard to inequality, non-inclusivity, and unfair treatment have been faced by countless individuals for as long as we can remember. These issues led the LGBTQ+ community to stand up for one common goal: to stand against discrimination and criticism that hinder their potential, and for acceptance in society to be the norm. Although every struggle inside the multicolored arch is valid and important, transgender people are often placed at the bottom of the pyramid, receiving less recognition, viewed as peculiar, and frequently labeled as demanding beyond acceptable limits.  </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:600px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752029418340SnapInsta.to_462496197_17994754571695989_3072472599226066124_n.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">@captivatingkatkat</span></span></span></div><p>This is why the hurdles attached to medical transitioning are always underappreciated, and people overlook the amount of courage it takes for an individual to make such a life-changing decision. To further understand what’s behind the surface level of being a transgender woman,<strong> Captivating Katkat</strong>, winner of <strong>Drag Race Philippines Season 2</strong>, shared her story in an exclusive interview with Metro. She opened up about life as a transgender drag queen, her lifestyle, and the opportunities that emerged upon being crowned the winner at one of the country’s most prestigious drag competitions.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Captivating Katkat’s Winning Grace in Drag Race Philippines Season 2</strong></div><p>Getting through all the discerning eyes and challenges given by the panel of judges in Drag Race Philippines season 2 required tremendous effort to win the crown. After winning, Katkat reflected on her journey and the change the drag competition has given to her. </p><div><br/></div><div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/CzTVkshxEdx/embed/captioned/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A755582.5%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="1482" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe></div><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>“It changed my lifestyle big time. It made me known internationally. Before Drag Race, I had regular shows in bars, but after winning, it&#x27;s hard for me to commit to full-time gigs because of tight schedules. And also, I gained a lot of supporters in and outside the country and got big opportunities that I’ve never experienced before.”</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>How Captivating Katkat Maintains a Healthy Lifestyle</strong></div><p>Drag queens are performers, entertainers, artists, and storytellers. Their performances are often conducted at night–basically, a drag queen is like a colorful owl, working to give joy to the audience. Juggling work at night is already risky to our health, what more if you’re a transgender drag queen who maintains hormonal replacement therapy? Katkat explains how she kept her stamina steady and balanced her well-being, despite her multiple night performances. </p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:600px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752029556361SnapInsta.to_469039084_18001375877695989_6868966100084876079_n.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">@captivatingkatkat</span></span></span></div><p>“Rest is very important! It is better to have enough sleep, to eat well, and drink lots of water. This is the best way to recharge our body and mind every stressful day.” </p><p>In addition, Katkat also shares her diet in order for her body to remain in a healthy state: “I don&#x27;t eat much rice, and I always monitor my weight so I’ll be aware if I’m gaining or losing weight.” </p><p>Katkat has been a drag performer for years, becoming an inspiration and building her legacy at the same time. Her creativity and unique way of expressing artistry set her apart from other drag queens, one of the reasons she faced multiple challenges in Drag Race Philippines Season 2 and earned two Ru Badges during the competition.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:600px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752029664906SnapInsta.to_469327694_18001376555695989_3918056680560975671_n.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">@captivatingkatkat</span></span></span></div><p>Through this, Katkat taught us the key to a lasting performance and the power of drag makeup that captured the judges’ attention:</p><p>“The key to a lasting performance is to just enjoy what you’re doing and always devote yourself to the audience. And in makeup, just use what works best for your skin, and don’t be afraid to experiment until you get what you want,” Katkat shared.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>Captivating Katkat’s Transitioning Journey</strong></div><p><strong></strong>The advantage the young gays planning to transition today is that there are already progressive LGUs that offer transgender health check-ups and monitoring. Recently, in celebration of Pride Month, Mayor Joy of Quezon City government demonstrated its support for the transgender community by providing health services such as free hormone counseling, assessment, and management.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:600px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752029739363SnapInsta.to_387269633_1022695568971863_1550175321266955623_n.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">@captivatingkatkat</span></span></span>Katkat acknowledges this inclusivity and progress, saying, “Trans people nowadays are very lucky because Trans Health centers are already within our reach. But we are still asking for help from the [larger] government to support Trans Health and affirming centers, and make it more accessible to the public.”</div><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752029838561SnapInsta.to_402063252_255257843864357_4933351965746143051_n.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/></div><div><br/></div><p>Many young gay individuals today practice self-medication when it comes to transitioning, not realizing that it could have long-term effects on their health. Since some LGUs already offer health services for the transgender community, Katkat further emphasized the importance of always consulting professional help before taking any random pills to alter one&#x27;s body.</p><p>“Always ask for professional help when transitioning, and don’t be afraid to express your true self, because only you can help yourself the most,” Katkat affirmed.</p><p>Similar to other transgender icons, Katkat also encountered adverse effects the first time she started taking hormones, “Mood swings were my number one problem when I first transitioned. Then I tried different kinds of hormones, until I found the best female hormones that suit me.” Katkat explained. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Captivating Katkat’s Open Letter to the LGBTQ+ Community </strong></div><p>As we acknowledge the challenges transgender community faced and overcame with strength and resilience, Katkat also reflected on how she conquered all the criticism, making every transgender woman persistent with their goals and tenacious with everything they do, sharing, “With the support of our loved ones, we can easily manage our emotions, because they’re also the main reason for us to thrive harder and be resilient after all the challenges.” </p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded" style="width:600px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><br/><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1752029939845SnapInsta.to_455678885_17987663009695989_6800164730459068359_n.jpg" style="width:600px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-rounded"/><span class="fr-inner">@captivatingkatkat</span></span></span></div><p>With all these, Katkat describes being a transgender woman in one word: “Captivating.” A single adjective that perfectly embodies her personality, talent, and creativity, while also honoring the presence of every transgender woman.</p><p>Pride Month isn’t only about standing up for the rights of LGBTQ people; it is also a continuous protest for every individual across the rainbow who continues to face oppression and discrimination. It is a celebration of the remarkable icons who came before us and paved the way for where we are today—more thriving, freely expressing ourselves, and being recognized for our talents.</p><p>For Katkat, she has a message for the community, especially for the younger generation who aspire to become a queen, and a winner like her in the future: “Don’t stop believing, don’t stop chasing your dreams, because dreams have no expiration.”</p>

<p>Captivating Katkat opened up about life as a transgender drag queen, her lifestyle, and the opportunities that emerged upon being crowned the winner at one of the country’s most prestigious drag competitions.</p>

Captivating Katkat opened up about life as a transgender drag queen, her lifestyle, and the opportunities that emerged upon being crowned the winner at one of the country’s most prestigious drag competitions.

Captivating Katkat’s Transgender Health Journey

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Captivating Katkat’s Transgender Health Journey

Arci Claveria

Published July 09, 2025 11:00 AM PHT

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Updated July 09, 2025 11:12 AM PHT

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