Arts

These Barbie dolls are being transformed into RuPaul’s Drag Race queens

A graphic design artist in the US is recreating the Barbie doll and transforming them into everybody’s favourite drag queens.

Mark Jonathan has always loved the classic American toy but was inspired to make his own twist of the figure.

“They’re such an iconic doll,” he explained. “There’s so much history behind the Barbie doll.”

The artist said that he wanted to change the meaning of the Barbie doll, and he thought drag was one of the best ways to do that.

“Changing the visualization and what it actually looks like and the meaning behind the Barbie doll is kind of what drew me to it.”

Jonathan is now working on his art with his mother.

“She’s always, like, loved drag queens and stuff but I think the more that I’ve gotten her working with these she’s been watching the show,” he said.

Jonathan uses acrylic paint and watercolour paints to master the dolls, and it’s a process which usually takes around three days.

Currently, he is working on a range of Valentina dolls, a queen who was in season nine of the show.

His portfolio so far includes Trixie Mattel, Bob the Drag Queen, Violet Chachki and other fan favourites.

However, he has also worked on other dolls including Emma Watson’s Belle doll, which was notoriously mocked for not looking like the actor.

As well as working on a series of Valentina dolls, Jonathan also has Kim Chi, Aja and Miss Fame dolls in the works.

He added that he hopes more people begin to celebrate his art.

“I want to share with people what I do and get it out there. I’m kind of shocked how it’s snowballed into what it is right now.”

Twitter user, @phi_lipi shared a screen shot of the error which translated “sashay away” to “bye, go home, no one loves you”.

In France, “sashay away” got translated to “défile jusqu’à la sortie” which literally means “Parade to the exit.”

The show isn’t just inspiring artists, or failing to inspire translators, but families.

She shared the beautiful pictures on Twitter but was later accused of child abuse for celebrating drag culture.

Queer News. Straight Up.