American pop icon Lady Gaga praised Filipino drag queen Precious Paula Nicole, calling her a “superstar” after a viral performance of her latest single, “Abracadabra.”
Last Saturday, Precious took to the stage at Rampa queer club in Quezon City alongside fellow drag queen Popstar Bench. The duo delivered a performance of “Abracadabra,” captivating the audience with a visual spectacle inspired by the song’s official music video.
Popstar Bench, who initially conceptualized the performance in celebration of Rampa’s anniversary, originally planned a solo act dressed in white, mirroring Lady Gaga’s look in the video.
However, Precious, as one of the club’s creative heads, suggested that the performance would be even more impactful as a duo, with her taking in the role of the “lady in red” figure from the video.
“Hindi lang siya pwedeng ma-perform mag-isa dahil, doon sa music video dalawa siya. May lady in red, kailangan dalawa siya para mas ma-feel nila yung magic na maipalabas natin yung music video at mailagay natin sa stage ng Rampa,” Precious said in an interview with showbiz reporter MJ Felipe.
The performance quickly gained traction online after Precious uploaded a clip on TikTok and other social media platforms. By the next day of her posting, Lady Gaga herself had taken notice and left a comment that thrilled fans and the drag community alike.
“You are a superstar,” Gaga wrote on Precious’ TikTok video.
The Drag Race Philippines Season 1 winner enthusiastically replied, “Thank you Mother.”
The recognition from the singer was a milestone moment for Precious, marking the first time an international pop star had publicly acknowledged her work.
Beyond Lady Gaga’s praise, industry figures also took note of the performance.
“Yung stylist mismo ng music video, nag-follow sa kin sa IG, yung choreographer nag-follow na rin, yung mga drag race queens din sa US nagme-message din po sila. Na-amaze nga daw sila sa bilis at sa magic na naideliver namin sa Rampa,” Precious shared.
The 35-year-old drag artist gained popularity in 2022 when she was crowned as the first winner of Drag Race Philippines, the Filipino version of the American reality drag competition Rupaul’s Drag Race.
