Drag queens: Farmer's son brings joy to Welsh countryside

19 October 2023

By Ian Edwards and Rhys Thomas

BBC Cymru Fyw

A farming drag queen has said he is on a crusade to bring drag to the Welsh countryside.

Chris Jones, from Lampeter, Ceredigion, created his drag act Serenity three years ago as he wanted to create a new persona of himself.

He was inspired by Ru Paul's Drag Race, a TV show where drag queens from all around the UK compete.

He said: "She represents part of my personality that I can't put out there when I'm Chris."

In 2020, when Covid brought the world to a stop Mr Jones, a farmer's son from the outskirts of Llanbedr Pont Steffan, was busy changing his life.

The 26-year-old dance teacher said he has always loved performing, singing and acting and after watching Drag Race, thought: "I want to do that."

When lockdown ended, he started going out and performing as Serenity.

Chris said the reaction to Serenity has been positive

He said: "When I'm performing as Serenity it's a little bit like I am acting but then it's also Chris, Serenity is just a part of me.

"Serenity is a little bit more fierce. My friends say I'm very different when I'm Serenity... but I don't see that but what do I know."

Mr Jones said the reaction to Serenity in the Ceredigion countryside has been positive.

"Performing in front of an audience that has never experienced a drag show before is an amazing feeling.

"Seeing their reaction and having them come to me after the show to say they love what I'm doing is great."

Serenity performs in a club in Lampeter which offers a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community

Serenity performs in The Mind's Eye, a club in Lampeter which offers a safe space for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Mr Jones said there needs to be more places like this, not just in Ceredigion, but across Wales.

"Personally, having an area like this has helped me so much with my drag performance, with loving myself and being gay," he said.

Chris said he hopes to take his drag act over the border

Mr Jones is hoping to spread Serenity's message beyond Lampeter and recently had an opportunity to perform in Pride Cardiff for the first time.

He has also started performing in Manchester.

"Of course I love performing, and to be able to do that in places like London and Manchester is definitely part of my future plans.

"But I am not planning on moving from Lampeter anytime soon. The local support I have for Serenity is very important to me."

Additional reporting by Eleri Griffiths

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