Pabllo Vittar, the New Drag Sensation and Embodiment of Resistance in Digital Media Space

In keeping with the spirit of this volume’s focus on queer visibility, online discourse and political change, this chapter analyses the intersections between social media, music and gender and sexuality, with their nexus specifically in drag culture. This chapter argues that through social media, music and performance, drag queens have claimed new positions in both the virtual and physical worlds, and especially in Brazil. In particular, this chapter examines the case of the Brazilian drag queen, Pabllo Vittar. The work of Pabllo provides prime examples of how social media, music and performance in general play important roles in renegotiating gender and sexual identities in digital space, and in the non-digital world. Over the last few years, Pabllo has gained visibility in the context of Brazil, and globally, which has allowed Pabllo to become a queer icon for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer individuals. Pabllo’s music, performances and social media activism have opened up discussions about the role of drag culture in political discourse in Brazil, which itself has been mobilised by the Brazilian government and religious factions against LGBTQ individuals. In turn, Pabllo’s performance has also played a crucial role in shaping acceptance of marginalised individuals into mainstream Brazilian society by virtue of bringing to the fore the idea of non-normative identities.