According to Jeremy Hansen director of Britomart, exhibition Inside the Closet: Fashion Through a Drag Lens – currently showing at Britomart – partly inspired Chappell Roan’s viral speech at Auckland’s Laneway Festival over the weekend.
“She was staying at Hotel Britomart and also saw the exhibition and that’s part of what inspired her viral speech about how safe she felt, so please own that,” Hansen told those gathered for the official celebration of the New Zealand Fashion Museum exhibition co-curated by drag pioneer Edward Cowley (Buckwheat) and New Zealand photographer Denise Baynham.
Roan told the packed crowd, “I didn’t quite realise how scared I was until I got here and realised how calm I was.”
Lola Popstickle and Yuri. Photography Carolyn Enting
Last night’s gathering saw performances by some of New Zealand’s biggest names in drag including legend Buckwheat, Tess Tickle (Anthony Hotere) and Rita Menu. It was also attended by fellow exhibition stars Yuri, Ling Ling, Anita Wigl’it, Lola Popstickle, Margarita Blades and Miss Geena.
The only guest game enough to also wear sparkles was photographer and New Zealand Fashion Museum board member Denise Baynham who first had the idea for this project back in 2022.
Inside the Closet photographer Denise Baynham poses with Rita Menu (left) Buckwheat (centre) and Tess Tickle. Photography Carolyn Enting
“I was fascinated by the incredible workmanship and artistry that goes into fashioning a drag persona – how drag influences designer catwalks and mainstream fashion and vice versa, the exaggerated silhouettes, and that va va voom factor,” said Baynham. “I proposed the idea to the NZ Fashion Museum and they loved it … and in 2023, I approached the fabulous Edward Cowley (a.k.a Buckwheat) to be my co-curator. What followed has been an absolute roller coaster ride of navigating setbacks with sass, sparkle, and sheer determination to make it happen.”
As a photographer Baynham loves to tell stories through images and she shared what captivated her throughout the project was discovering that drag is storytelling too. “Performers using fashion to create and express who they truly are.”
Tess Tickle (Anthony Hotere). Photography Carolyn Enting
“Yes, this exhibition explores the interplay between drag and fashion, but it became so much more… I learned that the moment those lashes go on, performers aren’t just changing their appearance – they’re becoming whole,” said Baynham.
“I learned about the invisible labour of love: the midnight meltdowns, hot glue gun burns, weeks spent hand-sewing appliqués. Every rhinestone represents devotion. Every look is an act of love made visible.
Ling Ling. Photography Carolyn Enting
“I learned that drag isn’t a solo act – it’s built on lineage, chosen family, and community. The drag mothers, the legends who paved the way, performers supporting each other through every breakdown and breakthrough. And perhaps most profoundly, I learned that fashion in drag isn’t vanity – it’s political, it’s healing, it’s survival. It’s an act of resistance, a claim to space and belonging.”
Miss Geena with Denise Baynham. Photography Carolyn Enting
Buckwheat joked that by rights she shouldn’t be at the celebration because it was daytime. “Daytime and drag queens don’t normally mix traditionally but things have been thrown out the window haven’t they. All of a sudden we’re everywhere. We’re coming to a poster on the wall in Britomart near you.”
Performing at Ortolana, Britomart, from left, Tess Tickle, Buckwheat and Rita Menu. Photography Carolyn Enting
Inside the Closet: Fashion Through a Drag Lens is free and on at Britomart until 28 February 2026 during Pride Month.
