‘Drag Race Holland’, the Dutch version of the iconic and worldwide hugely popular ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ has been going on for four weeks now. And while part of the population may not like the program in advance, the reactions of those who do watch are immensely enthusiastic. Fans at home and abroad are very enthusiastic about the participants, but certainly also about the presenter: Fred van Leer (44).
“People from all over the world say nice things”
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Before Fred took the plunge and took to the main stage of Drag Race Holland, many people may not even have known that he himself was drag queen was active. “When you were still sperm, I was already on a high heel”, Fred said to the ten participating in the first episode. queens from The Netherlands.
And since that first episode, which can be seen on Videoland, the reactions in Fred’s inbox have been going fast. “I get two thousand responses a day”, Fred tells RTL Boulevard. “I get so many sweet reactions. Recently someone spoke to me in the supermarket. She said she was skeptical about the program at first, because it was a Dutch remake was going to be, but in the end she really liked it. “
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Drag Race Holland presenter Fred van Leer about drag experience
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And the positive reactions do not only come from the Netherlands. “People from all over the world say nice things”, says Fred enthusiastically. “Poland, Mexico, Brazil, America. You name it.” Fred is quite happy with that, “because at the same time it goes through your mind that RuPaul is of course at a lonely height. I didn’t want to imitate her, but give it my own twist. But are people going to like us?” Fred wondered. And the fact that the answer is apparently ‘yes’ makes him particularly happy.
Moreover, the international fans are not only crazy about Fred, but also about the candidates. Every week the queens from the Netherlands their best creations on the runway and every time viewers from all over the world react lauter positively.
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Working for Drag Race was Fred van Leer’s dream
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Not only fans of the program are positive about Fred and the candidates. Well-known experts are also impressed by their performance. For example Raja and Raven, two of the best known drag queens worldwide. Every week, they judge the looks of the Dutch candidates in their Fashion Photo Ruview program on YouTube in front of hundreds of thousands of people. Every week they are very impressed.
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Also other great American drag queens like Latrice Royale and Manila Luzon love what the Dutch version shows. “That is wonderful to hear”, said Fred, who also emphasizes that it is mainly about the candidates. “I have a lot of contact with them. They are so talented. It is crazy what they do.” And Fred would like to compliment the producer, Vincent TV Producties. “It’s so well made. Full of love.”
The only one who may be missing from the show is RuPaul himself. Sometimes she records video messages for the queens of the Dutch version, but that’s it. “Without the corona crisis, Ru would probably have come by himself,” says Fred. “In any case, I know that she is very happy with the result.” Fred talks about the big shoes he had to fill in the video below.
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Despite all the positive reactions, coming from both the Netherlands and abroad, not much is said about it Drag Race Holland talked about as for example De Bachelorette, which could also only be seen on Videoland. Media expert Rob Goossens has an explanation for this. “The program mainly lives in the LGBTIcommunity“, Rob tells RTL Boulevard.” A large group of people think in advance that it is a program for homosexuals. ”
Rob himself thinks it is an entertaining program to watch. “It’s entertainment. And I also hear from many women in my area that they think it’s a great program.” Rob is also satisfied with Fred’s performance. “Of course they are doing so well in America, there is no way to compete with that”, said Rob, who emphasizes that Fred is clearly growing in his role. “It just keeps getting better.”
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These 10 Drag Queens participate in Drag Race Holland
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And while the target audience may be a bit too niche, Rob does think there will be a second season of the drag show coming. “RTL also wants to show where it stands as a media company with the program.” And is there still enough talent from the low countries to fill the field? “We can make seven seasons,” said Fred.
In the video below you get a better impression of the ten drag queens which in the first season of Drag Race Holland participate.
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