Makayla Couture
Makayla Couture | |
|---|---|
| Born | Makayla Walker Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Other names | Makayla Walker Louboutin |
| Occupation | Drag queen |
| Years active | 2021–present |
| Television | |
Makayla Walker, known professionally as Makayla Couture, is a Canadian drag performer competing on the fifth season of Canada's Drag Race (2024). She previously competed the second season of Call Me Mother (2022) as a finalist.
Early life and education
[edit]Makayla Walker was born and raised in neighbourhood Jane and Finch, located in Toronto, Ontario. She attended public high school Earl Haig Secondary School, participating its musical theatre major in the Claude Watson program.[1]
Career
[edit]2021–2023: Drag beginnings and Call Me Mother
[edit]Walker initially began performing under the drag persona Makayla Walker Louboutin at some local drag shows in Toronto. She made her first television appearance as a special guest for competition series Canada's Drag Race (2021), where she partook in a makeover challenge alongside contestant (and now winner) Icesis Couture.[2] She presented herself as Ruby Couture and wore a red Cher–inspired outfit symbolizing fire.[3] Afterwards, Walker now performs as Makayla Couture.[4]
The next year, Makayla Couture later competed in the second season of Call Me Mother (2022).[5] Over the course of the season, she was selected into the House of Dulcet formed by American drag queen Peppermint, won one challenge, and finished as a top four finalist.[6]
As the drag panic rose throughout Canada in 2023, the drag performer protested with Violet Parks by hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour event at the McLaughlin Branch of the Oshawa Public Library on June 3.[7] Makayla Couture later appeared in a Pride campaign for British cosmetics The Body Shop to involve customers to support the Equality Act for the United States.[8] The campaign also featured drag performers Angel Au and Lana Ja'Rae.[9]
2024–present: Canada's Drag Race and breakthrough
[edit]She has performed at various festivals and events highlighting the Ballroom scene, HIV awareness,[10] and supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community.[11] For three consecutive years,[12] she performed at the Wilfrid Laurier University since 2022.[13] Makayla Couture sooner made her first film appearance depicting as singer Jackie Shane's younger self for documentary film Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story (2024).[14] Later on, the drag performer was announced in the Lavender Wild lineup including American singers Slayyyter and Rebecca Black, which occurred on August 24.[15]
Makayla Couture is competing on the fifth season of Canada's Drag Race (2024), becoming the first makeover special guest to later compete as a contestant from the Drag Race franchise.[16] She was placed in the top two for the premiere episode, after losing the lip-sync contest to The Virgo Queen.[17] Makayla Couture later won the 1990s–inspired girl group challenge on episode five, which the song features singer and songwriter Simone Denny.[18]
Personal life
[edit]Walker is a transgender woman and uses she/her pronouns; her drag persona is based in Toronto.[19] After appearing on Canada's Drag Race, Walker joined the House of Couture led by her drag mother Icesis Couture along with drag sister Kimmy Couture.[20]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story | 2024 | Jackie Shane | [21] |
Television
[edit]| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada's Drag Race | 2021; 2024 | Guest | Episode 18 | [22] |
| Contestant | [23] | |||
| Call Me Mother | 2022 | Runner-up | [24] |
Podcasts
[edit]| Title | Year | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Happy to See Me with Erika Casupanan | 2022 | Guest | Episode 10 | [25] |
References
[edit]- ^ "Makayla Couture". The Sonar Network. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Lautens, Annika (January 18, 2022). "Icesis Couture on her best looks from Canada's Drag Race". Fashion. St. Joseph Communications. Archived from the original on September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Elauria, Jom (December 3, 2021). "Canada's Drag Race season 2 episode 8 recap: Pythia's magical makeover". Screen Rant. Valnet Inc. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Newport, Ashley (October 22, 2022). "Halloween drag show set to take place at The Food District in Square One in Mississauga". InSauga. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
- ^ Sim, Bernardo (October 13, 2022). "Watch the exclusive new trailer for Call Me Mother season 2". Out. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Smith, Charlie (August 1, 2024). "Trantasia celebrates trans women and femme star power during Vancouver Pride Week". Pancouver. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
- ^ Szekely, Reka (June 9, 2023). "Drag queen storytime proves popular at Durham libraries despite protests". Durham Region. Metroland Media Group. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Mazzoni, Mary (June 21, 2023). "The Body Shop's Pride Month campaign engages drag performers in support of the Equality Act". TriplePundit. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Crann, Justin (June 16, 2023). "The Body Shop maintains its Pride". Strategy. Brunico Communications. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Szekely, Reka (June 9, 2023). "World AIDS Day Ball 2023". Now. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "Everything you need to know about the 2023 Green Space Festival!". In Magazine. June 20, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "Winter's a Drag takes the stage for third year in Brantford". Wilfrid Laurier University. January 5, 2024. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ "Winter's a drag so let's celebrate spring with a drag show and fun swag". Wilfrid Laurier University. February 24, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (June 19, 2024). "A Black trans '60s soul singer gets a tribute in Any Other Way, executive-produced by Elliot Page". IndieWire. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Long Decter, Rosie (June 18, 2024). "Toronto queer music festival Lavender Wild gets Slayyyter, Rebecca Black for summer dance party". Billboard Canada. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Sim, Bernardo (October 23, 2024). "Meet the buzzy queens competing on Canada's Drag Race season 5". Out. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ O'Keeffe, Kevin (November 22, 2024). "'Canada's Drag Race season 5 premiere recap: Return to the North". Xtra Magazine. Pink Triangle Press. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Guzzo, Bianca (December 19, 2024). "Canada's Drag Race season 5 episode 5 recap: "The One They Went 90s"". In Magazine. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
- ^ "Meet the teens of Canada's Drag Race prom makeover challenge". It Gets Better Canada. December 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 20, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
- ^ Scriver, Amanda (December 21, 2022). "What goes into designing a runway look for Canada's Drag Race". CBC Arts. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
- ^ Talbot-Haynes, Michael (March 10, 2024). "Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story". Film Threat. Archived from the original on April 7, 2024. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ Martin, Russ (December 17, 2021). "Shantay she slayed! Icesis Couture is the winner of Canada's Drag Race season 2". Xtra Magazine. Pink Triangle Press. Archived from the original on December 17, 2021. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Shatto, Rachel (October 23, 2024). "O Canada! The queens of Canada's Drag Race season 5 have been revealed!". Pride. Here Media. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (September 22, 2023). "Call Me Mother season 2 cast of drag queens, kings, and nonbinary artists is here to serve". Entertainment Weekly. Dotdash Meredith. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2024.
- ^ "Makayla Couture on her trans journey, drag families and self love". Happy to See Me with Erika Casupanan. April 3, 2023. Apple Podcasts (Canada). Retrieved December 12, 2024.
