Marcus Massalami Makes History As Drag Race España’s First Drag King
Make room in the werkroom: Marcus Massalami is bringing drag king artistry to the sixth season of Drag Race España, marking a first for the Spanish competition.
The performer from Xàtiva, Valencia, joins a 12 strong cast ahead of the September 27 premiere, with Spanish broadcaster Atresplayer confirming Marcus as the show’s first drag king.
But there is an important distinction behind the history making announcement.
Marcus Massalami : A first for Drag Race España
Marcus is being recognised as the first contestant in the wider franchise to compete exclusively as a drag king, rather than the first competitor ever to perform king drag.
Canada’s Drag Race season six contestant Velma Jones also performed as drag king Johnny Jones, bringing both queen and king personas into the competition at the same time.
Marcus’s casting builds on that visibility while placing a dedicated king act at the centre of a contestant’s Drag Race journey, a first for the franchise as a whole.
For viewers discovering drag kings through the series, the season offers a chance to see it front and centre across the competition, beyond just an individual runway appearance.
Meet Marcus Massalami
In Atresplayer’s introduction, Marcus names glamorous men, including Spanish musician Tino Casal and his own father, among his inspirations.
He also credits the historical lesbians who dressed in masculine clothing across the centuries, placing that history alongside the swagger and humour of his stage persona.
The broadcaster describes Marcus’s character as powerful and ready to invent an answer whenever he does not know something. Marcus also discusses being deaf and jokes about removing his hearing aid when someone becomes irritating.
His arrival comes as performers across the franchise continue discussing what television exposure means for queer artists.
Michael Marouli, the Down Under Vs The World winner, highlighted the value of bringing queer stories into people’s living rooms following the announcement that the franchise is leaving the BBC in the UK.
Marcus will compete alongside competitors that include Coco Luna, Liz Dust, Sorny and Vanessa Artiles when the new season debuts on September 27.
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