Meet Burkhard Eichberger and the What a Drag Team Behind Frau G-String

When Burkhard Eichberger steps onto the What A Drag! stage in 2026, he won’t just be walking in heels — he’ll be walking in with a guitar, a lifetime of stories, and a drag name that makes it very clear he’s not afraid to play with expectations.

Performing as Frau G-string, Burkhard will blend elegance and edge by playing Air on the G String alongside Little Wing by Jimi Hendrix — live, on electric guitar. Classical meets rock. Bach meets Hendrix. Heels meet amps. It’s a combination that mirrors his own life story: born in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1955, raised there until his thirties, then reinventing himself in the United States for nearly four decades before landing full-time in Puerto Vallarta in June 2024.

A retired senior software engineer, Burkhard’s interests are as wide-ranging as his passport stamps — composing music, Zumba, Bitcoin and crypto, and lifelong learning. Curiosity has always been his through-line. It once led him to live in an ashram in India to study meditation, compete in the National Jimi Hendrix Competition in Los Angeles, experience ayahuasca with a shaman in Costa Rica, and pack up his life at age thirty to move from Germany to the U.S. Saying yes to What A Drag was simply the next logical adventure.

Meet Ken Brownlee and the What a Drag Team Behind Marina Del Slay

When Ken Brownlee steps onto the What A Drag! stage in 2026 as Marina Del Slay, he won’t just be strutting in heels — he’ll be carrying three decades of tropical adventure, community love, and a wicked sense of humor right along with him. Born in Windsor, Ontario, and raised in Canada before moving to the tropics at 23, Ken has called Mexico home for nearly 30 years. Puerto Vallarta isn’t just where he lives — it’s where he belongs.

By day, Ken is a wedding videographer, capturing love stories from behind the lens. At heart, he’s a beach-loving dog dad who believes deeply in giving back to the place that gave him a life. That spirit is exactly what drew him to What A Drag. “Charity begins at home,” he says — and Puerto Vallarta is his home. What’s he most excited about? Laughing a lot and making new friends. What’s he dreading? “The shoes. Oh god, the shoes.”

Ken’s life story already sounds like a movie. Before Vallarta, he spent his 20s and 30s as a SCUBA instructor and underwater videographer, working across Caribbean islands, Australia, and Southeast Asia. Now, he’s ready to add drag to the list — and Marina Del Slay is ready to make waves.

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Meet David Sánchez Pérez and the What a Drag Team Behind Davina Divine

When Davina Divine sashays onto the What A Drag! stage in 2026, she’ll be bringing more than drama — she’ll be bringing heart, humor, and a whole lot of Vallarta soul. Behind the lashes and heels is David Sánchez Pérez, born and raised in Mexico City and now proudly calling Puerto Vallarta home. For David, this city isn’t just where he lives — it’s where his life unfolds, where community matters, and where giving back feels personal.

By day, David is a psychologist, trained to navigate emotions, transformation, and the stories we tell ourselves. Outside of work, he loves dancing, swimming, and embracing Vallarta’s beachside rhythm. He joined What A Drag because giving back to the community he calls home truly matters to him. What excites him most is the chance to do something wildly different — playful, theatrical, and a little daring. What makes him a little nervous? The performance. Because Davina Divine doesn’t believe in halfway — only fabulous or nothing.

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Meet Cary Thompson and the What a Drag Team Behind Feather Lock-Lear

When Feather Lock-Lear takes the What A Drag! stage in 2026, expect heart, humor, and a leap of faith — possibly all at once. Behind the feathers is Cary Thompson, a self-described jack-of-all-trades with roots in Perryton, Texas, a childhood in Red River, New Mexico, and a life now firmly planted in Floresta, Puerto Vallarta.

Cary’s offstage world is refreshingly grounded. He loves river time, dogs, motorcycles, and living life a little outside the lines. He’s also a father of two daughters — which may explain both his courage and his nerves. Cary joined What A Drag for one simple reason: charity. What he’s looking forward to most is getting out of his comfort zone. What he’s notlooking forward to? Embarrassing himself… and possibly crossing a point of no return. (That, of course, is where the magic usually happens.)

Guiding Feather Lock-Lear through this transformation is Fairy Drag Mother Richard Carnegie, whose own journey blends showbiz, choreography, and a whole lot of personality. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and living in Puerto Vallarta for more than five years, Richard works part-time selling tickets at The Palm and Coco Cabaret, connecting audiences with Vegas-quality live entertainment, while serving full-time as Director of Sales for BuzzyBooth, an innovative marketing platform that turns fun moments into branded memories.

Richard is no stranger to the drag world. He once competed in drag pageants himself and worked nationally as a dancer and choreographer — which makes him the perfect guide for someone stepping into drag for the first time. For Richard, What A Drag brings together everything he loves: creativity, performance, connection, and doing something meaningful without taking it all too seriously. This is his first year with WAD, and he’s clearly right at home.

Completing Feather Lock-Lear’s transformation is makeup artist Wendy Warhol, a visually striking multidisciplinary drag artist originally from Montreal and now a prominent part of Puerto Vallarta’s drag scene. With nearly a decade of experience, Wendy is known for high-concept looks that blend art, fashion, pop culture, and humor — inspired by the spirit of Andy Warhol himself. Performing year-round at venues like Blue Chairs Resort, Studs Bear Bar, Chachalaca Bar, and Onyx PV, Wendy uses makeup as a tool for self-expression, connection, and empowerment. This marks her first year with What A Drag, and she’s diving in with full creative force.

 Meet Warren Porter and the What a Drag team behind Madame Bordeaux. 

When Madame Bordeaux hits the stage expect the punch of a Cabernet Sauvignon with the finesse of Pinot Noir. 

Raised in Vancouver, Canada and spending most of his career in Toronto, Warren and his wife now reside in Calgary where they run the largest fine wine and spirits auction in the country. When he’s not working or riding out the winters in Puerto Vallarta, Warren travels extensively, enjoys golf and riding a 1961 Vespa complete with sidecar. 

Having attended What a Drag since first coming to Puerto Vallarta in 2021, curiosity got the better of him and he threw his hat in the ring to support a great cause. Back in Canada his viewing party will be cheering him on with great bottles at the ready. 

Is he nervous?....you bet, “but once you round the 9th hole in life my reservoir of sh*ts to give gets pretty dry”. Let’s light this candle. 

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Meet Dave Neilson and the What a Drag Team Behind Ellie Vez

When Ellie Vez steps onto the What A Drag! stage in 2026, she’ll be bringing rhythm, heart, and just enough swagger to make the room lean in. Behind the lashes is Dave Neilson, born in Hamilton, Ontario, raised in Calgary, Alberta, and now calling Puerto Vallarta home — a place where reinvention feels not only possible, but encouraged.

By profession, Dave is a truck driver, someone used to long roads, steady focus, and keeping things moving no matter the conditions. Off the road, his creative side takes over. He loves singing, traveling, and art — especially music. Dave is a lifelong Elvis fan, a karaoke devotee, and someone who understands the joy of connecting with a crowd through a song. Add in the fact that he’s a former firefighter and a father of four, and Ellie Vez suddenly makes perfect sense: strength, soul, and a willingness to step into the spotlight when it counts.

Dave joined What A Drag thanks to encouragement from his Fairy Drag Mother Disco Vinnie, and what he’s looking forward to most is exactly what this event does best — fun times with good people. What’s he not looking forward to? Pushing past his comfort zone. But that’s where Ellie Vez lives now, and she’s ready to sing her way through the nerves.

Born in Spokane, Washington, and living in Puerto Vallarta for nearly two years, Disco Vinnie is a semi-retired DJ from Seattle now enjoying his golden years with the volume turned all the way up. He’s been in the music business since 1981 and currently spins disco, funk, soul, and ’80s/’90s dance classics as DJ Disco Vinnie, lighting up Monday nights at Studs in the Zona with his legendary Disco Nights.

For Vinnie, it’s all about the moment — the instant someone recognizes a beat, smiles, and hits the dance floor. This is his second year with What A Drag, and what he loves most is how music and performance bring the community together for a cause that truly matters.

Completing Ellie Vez’s transformation is makeup artist Evita Loca, a live-singing drag performer known for her bold personality, theatrical flair, and love of the stage. Evita doesn’t just paint faces — she understands performance from the inside out. Her makeup reflects movement, expression, and confidence, helping performers feel not just ready, but alivewhen they step into the spotlight. With Evita’s touch, Ellie Vez’s look is built to sing, sparkle, and command attention from the first note to the final bow.

Proudly sponsoring Ellie Vez’s journey to the stage is American English Tree, supporting this transformation while standing behind a cause that lifts women and children when they need it most.

Together, Dave, Disco Vinnie, Evita Loca, and American English Tree embody the spirit of What A Drag: courage, music, laughter, and the joy that comes from saying yes to something unexpected — and meaningful.

Meet Daniel Villaseñor and the What a Drag Team Behind Mamá Dora

When Mamá Dora makes her entrance at What A Drag! 2026, she won’t be chasing the spotlight — the spotlight will be following her. Behind the lashes is Daniel Rafael Villaseñor Esqueda, a man whose life has been shaped by movement, responsibility, and an instinct to take care of people wherever he lands. Born in Mexicali, raised across Sonora and Nayarit, and now firmly rooted in Puerto Vallarta, Daniel’s story is one of adaptability and heart.

By day, Daniel works as a waiter at Cantina La Margarita. By nature, he’s a caretaker. When asked about his favorite hobby, he didn’t name a pastime at all — he named his charity program. Add to that his role as a father of four and partner to Kenia Coral Guerra Hurtado, and a pattern emerges: Daniel shows up. For family. For the community. For people who need help. Mamá Dora isn’t just a drag persona — she’s an extension of that same nurturing strength, with a little extra sparkle and sass.

What drew Daniel to What A Drag was simple and sincere: giving back matters. What excites him most is stepping into something bold and unfamiliar, allowing himself to be seen in a new way. Mamá Dora is warm, resilient, funny, and fearless enough to step onto a stage not because it’s easy — but because it means something.

Helping Mamá Dora find her full expression is Karla Fifi, also known as Carlos de Niz, returning as both Fairy Drag Mother and Makeup Artist. A Puerto Vallarta native and one of the original pillars of What A Drag, Carlos brings experience, humor, and a deep understanding of how to guide first-time contestants with care. Her role this year is not to steal the show, but to help Daniel own it — polishing the look, boosting the confidence, and reminding him that he belongs exactly where he is.

Proudly sponsoring Mamá Dora’s journey to the stage is Thrive IV and Med Spa, supporting this transformation while standing behind a cause that uplifts women and children when they need it most.

Together, Daniel, Karla Fifi, and Thrive IV and Med Spa capture the true spirit of What A Drag: courage wrapped in kindness, creativity fueled by purpose, and the joy that happens when someone dares to step outside their comfort zone for something bigger than themselves.

Meet Alfredo Meraz and the What a Drag Team Behind Mama Casa

When Mama Casa takes the What A Drag! stage in 2026, expect heart, humor, and a whole lot of soul — because this diva doesn’t do small.

Behind the lashes is Alfredo Meraz, born and raised in Torreón, Coahuila, México, and now proudly calling Puerto Vallarta home. By day, Alfredo is a financial advisor — a numbers guy who loves math, books, and precision. Calm, analytical, steady.

Inspired by the warmth and bold spirit of the legendary Mama Cass, Mama Casa is all about big presence, big heart, and living out loud. Alfredo joined What A Drag through his work and sponsorship involvement, but what truly moved him was the cause. Supporting women in need and giving back to the community is what matters most to him — and he’s looking forward to using this moment to do exactly that.

There’s another reason he doesn’t take this opportunity lightly. At 15, Alfredo survived a serious motorcycle accident and spent two weeks in a coma. That kind of second chance changes you. It teaches you to show up fully. Mama Casa isn’t just a persona — she’s a celebration of being alive.

Guiding this soulful transformation is Fairy Drag Mother Derek Carkner, born in Ottawa, Canada, and living in Puerto Vallarta for nearly ten years. By day, Derek is a real estate agent with Donner & Associates, helping clients turn their dreams of paradise into reality. He’s been involved with What A Drag for several years in various capacities — including supporting cast members — and what he loves most is backing Casa Esperanza and the women and children it serves.

Completing the look is makeup artist Roxy Ibáñez, whose artistry brings sparkle, confidence, and just the right amount of drama. Roxy understands that makeup isn’t just about color — it’s about transformation. With her brush in hand, Mama Casa won’t just shine — she’ll command the stage.

Proudly sponsoring this glamorous journey is Donner & Associates, standing behind both the performer and the powerful mission of What A Drag.

Together, Alfredo, Derek, Roxy, and Donner & Associates embody what What A Drag is all about: courage, heart, and showing up for something bigger than yourself.