Rify Royalty’s Stunning Cosmo Queens Return: Drag, Style, and the Power of Performance
NYC drag sensation Rify Royalty returns to Cosmo Queens, inspiring with head-to-toe cheetah looks, musical melancholy, and a bold celebration of artistry.
Rify Royalty’s Enchanting Cosmo Queens Return
Rify Royalty, the dynamic NYC-based drag queen, made a triumphant return to Cosmo Queens, capturing hearts and attention with a daring head-to-toe cheetah print ensemble. Widely celebrated for her gothic glam debut, Rify’s latest appearance cements her position as an icon, holding an undefeated 2-0 win streak on the Cosmo Queens stage.
Why Rify’s Return Is Significant
- Rify’s creative vision and makeup mastery distinguish her as a leading drag artist in New York and beyond.
- Her bold fashion choices challenge conventions and inspire viewers to embrace individuality.
- With performances ranging from legendary monthly shows to viral social media looks, Rify Royalty is forging new paths in drag artistry.
Style, Substance, and Drag Inspirations
Drag is more than performance—it’s a celebration of self-expression, artistry, and cultural lineage. Rify cites an array of 1990s legends as core inspirations: Pamela Anderson, Lil Kim, and Naomi Campbell. These icons shape Rify’s approach to drag by mixing glamour, edge, and unapologetic authenticity.
Musical Mood: Melancholy Meets Magic
- Signature songs: “Anything sad,” owing inspiration to melancholic legends like Cher, Alanis Morissette, and Lana Del Rey.
- Rify’s performances often blend emotional vulnerability with theatrical grandeur, capturing audiences through music that stirs the soul.
Makeup Artistry: Step-by-Step Transformation
Fans and newcomers alike marvel at Rify Royalty’s intricate makeup routines. Her work redefines drag beauty standards—elevating technique into an art form. Below is a breakdown of her process, channeling witchy, avant-garde vibes perfect for stage or screen.
Rify Royalty’s Drag Makeup Process
- Brow Preparation: Glue brows flat, set with powder.
- Base and Contour: Color-correct chin and under eyes, apply cream foundation, and blend. Add contour to forehead, nose, cheekbones, then blend again.
- Powder & Highlight: Use loose powder on the bridge of the nose and other areas to highlight and set.
- Brows: Outline with brown cream shade, fill with pencil, and highlight edges.
- Eyes: Apply white eyeshadow to brow bone, add matte copper shade to crease, blend with purple, cut crease with concealer, set with white pencil, layer on purple shadow.
- Baking & Finish: Bake forehead, cheeks, nose, under eyes. Apply mascara, winged liner, smoke out lower lash line with purple and black liner.
- Extras: Highlight cheekbones with glitter, dot a beauty mark, affix fake lashes.
- Lips: Line messily with purple, feather out with a brush, fill with red liquid lipstick.
- Accessories: Add skull earrings, bird’s-nest wig, red-bottomed nails to complete the look.
Products Used in Rify’s Looks
- Hydro Grip Primer: Milk Cosmetics
- Red Lipstick: MAC Cosmetics ‘Feels Fo Grand’
- Dip Brow: Anastasia Beverly Hills (Ebony)
- Foundation: Kryolan
- Leg & Body Foundation: Dermablend
- Setting Powder: Laura Mercier
- Highlighter: MAC Cosmetics Hyper Real Glow
The Influence of Rify Royalty: Challenging Drag Norms
Rify is recognized not only for her beauty, but for her stance on gender presentation and drag artistry. As a self-described “muscle queen,” she often receives criticism for not appearing conventionally femme and challenges the norm of drag as solely “female illusion.” Rify pushes boundaries by blurring lines between masculinity and femininity, opting out of padding and presenting her natural body—even in see-through gowns.
What others are reading
Perspectives on Drag and Gender Policing
- Rify advances the idea that drag should celebrate ambiguity rather than reinforce strict gender binaries.
- She critiques the tendency in drag culture to “police” genitalia and pronouns, expressing that comfort with ambiguity empowers artistic freedom.
- Rify’s visibility as a Middle Eastern queen adds necessary diversity to the drag conversation—and she hopes for more inclusive representation on mainstream shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race.
Global Performance and Impact
- Rify Royalty’s shows span cities such as London, Miami, Portland, and Chicago.
- She aims to bring her monthly show “Straight Acting” to international stages, such as Berlin and Toronto, positioning herself as a global drag ambassador.
- The evolution of drag, as Rify describes, has made room for performers of all identities—trans, cis, bearded, non-binary, and beyond.
Live Performances and Where to Find Rify Royalty
If you’re in New York City, you can catch Rify’s electrifying performances at:
- Metropolitan Bar
- 3 Dollar Bill
Her shows mix music, drag artistry, and spontaneous costume changes, making each performance unique. For a broader glimpse of her looks and creative process, Rify maintains an active presence on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.
Meet the Writer: Annabel Iwegbue
Annabel Iwegbue is an associate editor at Cosmopolitan, covering entertainment and lifestyle. With a background in entertainment journalism for Harper’s Bazaar, The Knockturnal, and Black Film, Annabel’s perspective brings added depth to coverage of personalities like Rify Royalty. Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, and now based in Brooklyn, Iwegbue holds a B.A. in Journalism and Cinema Studies from New York University.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What makes Rify Royalty’s drag unique?
A: Rify combines influences from 1990s legends with avant-garde fashion, bold makeup techniques, and a celebration of both masculinity and femininity, challenging traditional drag norms.
Q: Where can I see Rify Royalty perform live?
A: Rify routinely performs at Metropolitan Bar and 3 Dollar Bill in New York City, with plans for international shows in the future.
Q: What are some of Rify’s favorite products for her drag looks?
A: She frequently uses Milk Cosmetics Hydro Grip Primer, MAC Cosmetics red lipstick, Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow, Kryolan foundation, Dermablend Leg and Body, and Laura Mercier setting powder.
Q: How does Rify’s drag challenge gender stereotypes?
A: By refusing to conform to standards of feminine illusion, not using padding, and proudly displaying her body, Rify highlights the power of ambiguity and encourages the drag community to embrace all forms of presentation.
Q: Who are Rify Royalty’s musical and style inspirations?
A: Style icons like Pamela Anderson, Lil Kim, and Naomi Campbell inform her aesthetic, while singers such as Cher, Alanis Morissette, and Lana Del Rey inspire the emotional resonance of her performances.
Table: Rify Royalty’s Most Used Drag Products
| Product | Brand | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Hydro Grip Primer | Milk Cosmetics | Priming Skin |
| Red Lipstick (‘Feels Fo Grand’) | MAC Cosmetics | Lips |
| Dip Brow (Ebony) | Anastasia Beverly Hills | Brows |
| Foundation | Kryolan | Base Coverage |
| Leg & Body Foundation | Dermablend | Full Body Coverage |
| Setting Powder | Laura Mercier | Set Makeup |
| Highlighter (Hyper Real Glow) | MAC Cosmetics | Highlight Cheekbones |
Celebrating Modern Drag: Rify Royalty’s Legacy
Through style, music, and performance, Rify Royalty embodies the evolution of modern drag—where self-expression triumphs over conformity. Her journey from local NYC bars to international stages, her advocacy for diversity, and her influence on makeup artistry all reflect a new era of drag that is inclusive, bold, and unapologetically unique. For both aspiring queens and dedicated fans, Rify Royalty’s story is a blueprint for pursuing excellence without boundaries.
References
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/a38173721/rify-royalty-cosmo-queens-return/
- https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a27480178/rify-royalty-makeup-transformation-cosmo-queens/
- https://www.gaytimes.com/culture/rify-royalty-is-the-drag-queen-who-trolls-straight-acting-gays-amplify-by-gay-times/
- https://davidxdaisy.com/wrq/2019/9/12/rify-royalty
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGT036fy2eU
- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrx4fxhgMUObxX0iY54Q996G8VLgAauvD
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