Calixto Quan's role as a new addition to the Pit Crew in RuPaul's Drag Race has received a lot of attention.
A model, influencer and gamer, he talked in an interview about how the macho band brings visibility to Asians and Latinos, his love of games, and the importance of psychedelic drugs.
Q: How do you usually do skin care?
Quan: Maintenance is very important to me, it is equivalent to the façade of my face to the world. I wish I had known this as a teenager: gentle cleanser, vitamin C serum, moisturizer, eye cream and sunscreen. I think these are essential items for the maintenance process, and these alone are useful! We all love the sun, but having sun protection allows us to avoid excessive exposure to the sun.
Q: Many fans of the Rupaul Drag Queen Show know you because they watched the show. What valuable things did you learn from this experience?
Quan: The most important thing should be that being yourself is not only irrelevant, but also necessary. The love conveyed by this show will spread. I felt like a person with a lot of flaws, complicated and clumsy, and Azai's personality, and the show accepted every part of me, which made me feel full of power. When I was involved in the shooting, I was able to be myself, which also made me more confident in my daily life.
Q: For you, what is the significance of presenting Latino, Asian, LGBTQ+ in the media?
Quan: I'm humble enough to represent both Asian and Latino communities on screen and I feel lucky. I think my participation in this iconic show can help change the environment, show the sexiness of Asian men, and put Salvadoran men on the world stage. Becoming a delegate is a very important thing! I know I'm excited to be on this show by many Asian and Latino men around the world, and I'm honored to do it myself. Growing up, I rarely saw people like me on TV, especially LGBTQ+, so I felt very lacking in role models similar to mine personally. So I feel like I'm making a difference for other people who are in the same situation.
Q: You're still a gamer! What sparked your love of gaming?
Quan: The reason why I like games is that I can say that I am an exploration of the external world. It has a lot to do with my love of travel and culture. I love gaming more than I used to because LGBTQ+ and people of color are becoming more and more representative of it, and we're now more able to navigate through stories and characters that are relevant to us. I should be playing for the rest of my life.
Q: What have you been playing lately? Where can fans follow you?
Quan: I play Fortnite and League of Legends: Wild Rift almost every day and play it well. But I also play other games.
Q: What are your next plans?
Quan: I have some work going on that I can't disclose at the moment, but I'm looking forward to meeting you next year. When the time comes, I'll share the news with you on IG!