Witty, eloquent, and deeply passionate about people, Tchaka Drag Queen is more than a performer — she’s a symbol of LGBTQIA+ resistance in Brazil. With nearly three decades of artistry, she built a path that blends performance, politics, education, and affection — becoming the official host of the largest Pride Parade in the world.
Behind the glitter and stage lights lies a powerful story of resilience — marked by a feminine childhood, military discipline, the push of law school, and the liberating birth of drag. Tchaka is the daughter of activism, born of the stage and fueled by the outskirts of São Paulo. With every high heel step, she breaks barriers, opens doors, and uplifts generations — whether on stage, in schools, on national TV or now, in the digital world.
In this exclusive interview with Cultura Queer and Radio Power Strike, Tchaka speaks with the bold honesty that defines her. She opens up about family, love, activism, aging, politics, and the future. A powerful and inspiring conversation with Brazil’s Queen of the Parties — who turns every stage into a revolutionary act.
Exclusive Interview with Tchaka Drag Queen
You had a politically engaged upbringing — your mother, Dona Branquinha, was a human rights activist in the 1960s. At the same time, you were bullied at school for being effeminate and learned to use humor as a shield against homophobia. How did these contrasting experiences — activism at home and violence outside — shape who you are in life and in art?
Tchaka Drag Queen was born at the turn of the 21st century, on New Year’s Eve 2000. She came out of a joke among friends, but also from a deeper urge to change and to fully heal from childhood and adolescent traumas.
My upbringing was very strict. I’m Valder Bastos dos Santos, the youngest of five siblings. My father, Mr. Walter Bastos, was a hydroelectric mechanic. My mother, Dona Branquinha, taught me values of character, the importance of studying and working to live with dignity — and most importantly, to respect the power of my own professional choices.
I’m a cis gay man since the womb. As a flamboyant child, I suffered a lot in the streets, but at home I had affection, freedom, and a strong foundation.
In your late teens, before becoming Tchaka, you served in the Brazilian Army and were named top shooter in your unit at the Tiro de Guerra in Mogi das Cruzes. Yet you’ve called that time “the worst experience of your life.” What impact did your military service have on you? How did the rigid discipline and prejudice there shape your worldview and your artistic path?
I had no choice — I was forced by the system to serve. And it was the most degrading and traumatic period of my life.
In the Brazilian Army, I faced homophobia at every level: from corporals, sergeants, commanders, privates, generals… in the library, dining hall, dormitories, locker rooms — everywhere. It was a daily massacre.
Becoming the top shooter in the Tiro de Guerra unit in Mogi das Cruzes was the only way I found to gain a shred of respect from the aggressively homophobic people who mistreated me constantly.
When I finally left, I promised myself I’d carry forward this message of rejection. The Brazilian military system is not ready for diversity. It’s elitist, xenophobic, racist, sexist, and LGBTQ-phobic — utterly hostile to anything that doesn’t fit its authoritarian mold.
After your military service, you studied Law at Braz Cubas University in Mogi das Cruzes, but eventually discovered your path was on stage. You’ve said that during a mock trial, a professor told you: “Go do theater — this isn’t for you.” How did that unexpected push feel? Was that moment the trigger that launched the character Tchaka?
Picture it: every single day, for five long years, I would wake up at 5 a.m., go to the army, then rush to work selling shoes and clothes, and then rush again to attend law school at Braz Cubas until 11 p.m.
During that time, I was also in a toxic and emotionally draining relationship. But I endured it, graduated, and decided to move to São Paulo.
That’s when I met a drag queen who introduced me to the world of singing telegrams. I tried it — loved it — and here I am, 25 years later, still in the business of enchanting crowds. [laughs]
Two major events happened in 2000: you met your husband Carlos — your partner to this day — and around the same time began your drag journey, handing out flyers for Nostro Mundo, the first gay club in Brazil. What was it like to give life to Tchaka while discovering a new love? How did that period transform you?
The year 2000 arrived for me — and for Tchaka — like it did for the rest of the world: full of transformation, change, and opportunity.
When I met Carlos, it was lust at first kiss — and then came a love that’s light, true, and full of enthusiasm.
Tchaka Drag Queen was born from necessity. There’s no romantic origin story — I needed to pay rent. Simple as that. Since day one, I’ve understood that my job is to bring joy to people. And in return, through those bridges, they pay me. [laughs]
The fun of being a professional actor lies in the backstage, the research, the script study, the stage itself… and then dismantling the whole circus afterward. It’s a lot of hustle and very little glamour — the glamour only happens on stage, and only if there’s time. [laughs]
It’s been said that “Tchaka Drag Queen is much more than a character created by Valder Bastos — through her, the artist reinvented himself both personally and professionally.” Who is Tchaka, and who is Valder? What does your drag persona liberate or amplify that might remain hidden without her? And what remains constant between both personas?
Tchaka Drag Queen is a character created by actor Valder Bastos. Over the course of my acting career, I’ve played many roles — but Tchaka is my golden goose. Through her, I’ve reached places I never would have, had I remained just a guy from the countryside of São Paulo.
Valder likes simple things: ice cream, barefoot walks, silence, cuddles, and hot soup. Tchaka, on the other hand, wants spotlights, applause, to be seen, consumed, adored — she wants to shine in the corporate world and the social scene.
She’s excess, glitter, and power. I’m more reserved. But we’re both real — and perhaps it’s that fusion that makes everything so powerful.
At the beginning of your artistic journey, there was resistance at home. Your family struggled with the “combo” of having a son who’s a law graduate and an openly proud drag queen. You’ve said that to be taken seriously, you had to meet certain expectations — “He’s gay, but he’s studious… but he’s an artist… but he’s financially independent.” How did you win your family’s support while staying true to yourself? At what point did prejudice shift into pride?
Let’s get straight to the heart of the matter. When did my family truly start to understand me — as someone different from societal norms and our own family traditions?
When I achieved financial independence.
That was the moment I stopped being “the family’s gay” and became “the family’s artist.”
Today, when I give lectures on diversity all over Brazil — at companies, colleges, NGOs, schools, even churches — I emphasize that LGBTQIA+ people need education, autonomy, and at least a bit of financial independence. And after that, they must confidently say: “Let me be.”
Unfortunately, that’s often how respect is earned: by showing we can support ourselves, that we exist on our own terms. Once you find that strength, it becomes easier to be loved and respected.
You’re the official host of the São Paulo LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade — the largest in the world — and many consider you “the face” of the event. Leading nearly 4 million people down Avenida Paulista requires charisma and strategy. What does it mean to you to take on such a prominent role? How do you manage the energy of a crowd celebrating and fighting for rights at the same time?
Responsibility and joy — those are the key ingredients in my recipe for leading the largest LGBTQIA+ Pride Parade in the world.
I was invited 11 years ago by Nelson Mathias, the president of the São Paulo Pride Association. He told me he felt I was ready to take on the most visible role of the entire event — and I was honored to accept it.
Every year, the São Paulo Pride Parade brings people together to co-create the theme, actions, and demands for that edition. I get fully involved, I love it, and I make myself available to help make it clear that the fight against LGBTQIA+phobia isn’t just the responsibility of LGBTQIA+ people — it’s a societal issue.
With the rise of far-right extremism around the world, we have to stay alert and safe — while still marching forward with strength. I believe in protest with glitter, in fighting through joy.
As I always say: “Fervo também é luta!” — “The party is also resistance!”
This year’s Pride Parade in São Paulo will take place on June 22, 2025, along Avenida Paulista. In addition to São Paulo, I’m also the official host of over 30 other LGBTQIA+ Pride Parades across Brazil.
From the very beginning of your career, you’ve said that drag is also a political act. Over the course of 25 years blending art, activism, and entrepreneurship, when have you felt the most impact from your voice? How has Tchaka — known for being both fun and fierce — helped raise awareness and defend LGBTQIA+ rights on and off stage?
Tchaka Drag Queen gets invited to run for office in every election — for city council, state deputy, you name it — from all sorts of political parties.
But that’s never been an option for me.
I love contributing with provocative, thought-provoking art — without being tied to anyone or anything. I’m not affiliated with any party because I value my freedom: freedom to speak up, criticize, suggest, and expose anyone or anything when necessary.
I love the stage. I want to keep expanding in audiovisual — films, ads, soap operas, podcasts, and open platforms like YouTube.
And now with the rise of artificial intelligence, I’m evolving once again — aiming to be a reference in drag artistry that not only dazzles and educates but also earns with dignity through digital means.
Brazil recently experienced a government openly hostile to LGBTQIA+ rights, followed by a significant political shift. During the height of that regression, you once said, ‘We made a mistake putting our future in the hands of so-called saviors of the homeland, myths, and demigods’ — a clear critique of Bolsonaro. How did you cope with those years as an LGBTQIA+ artist and citizen? And now, under a more progressive administration, what’s changed in your activism and hope for concrete progress?
The most corrosive, devastating, and depressing period of my life was during Bolsonaro’s presidency.
He dismantled the Ministry of Culture, cut funding for universities and scientific research, and his anti-vaccine policies during the pandemic contributed to the deaths of over 700,000 people in Brazil.
As Tchaka Drag Queen, I’ve always been aware of our rights and responsibilities. I have a critical view of President Lula’s government, but at least with him, we can talk. There’s room for dialogue, for proposing progressive solutions, and for reactivating cultural and social programs that had been destroyed.
We’re not in an ideal situation, but it’s one where rebuilding is possible. And I’ll continue being a politically engaged drag queen — without idolizing any leader.
As I learned from Maju Giorgi of the group Mães pela Diversidade:
“We’re 50% left, 50% right… and 100% LGBT+.”
Drag artists and LGBTQIA+ individuals have gained visibility in Brazil like never before. You’ve witnessed that evolution firsthand — from handing out flyers outside the country’s first gay nightclub to watching drag stars take over prime-time ads and TV shows. What’s changed the most since you started in the early 2000s? And what barriers still need to fall?
Tchaka Drag Queen is rooted in the present — in the here and now.
I’m ready to host any reality show, lead any event, and take part in major productions, television programs, corporate functions, festivals, and films. I’m ready!
But even with all this experience, I’ve started facing ageism.
People say I’m “too old” for certain projects. Once again, the system reminds me that I must keep navigating, pushing through, and breaking bubbles — just to survive through art with dignity and joy.
Yes, we’ve come far. We have more visibility, we’re invited to campaigns, we’re on screens. But true recognition of drag as a legitimate, professional art form? That’s still a fight.
Although your art is deeply Brazilian, your recognition has reached beyond national borders. You’ve even been featured in the Financial Times. What are the biggest differences you see between Brazil’s LGBTQIA+ scene and others — especially regarding drag culture and visibility? And what can the world learn from Brazil’s queer experience, while you also grow through international exchange?
The world applauds us because Brazilian drag queens are simply the best. That’s a fact!
Imagine doing what we do with minimal resources, no real money, no access to technology — and still delivering excellence. That alone deserves a standing ovation.
Sure, drag culture was born in the U.S., but when we add our Brazilian spice, it becomes something even more powerful — an art form that provokes, touches, and captivates.
As a teacher in the Drag Queen Culture Workshop, I pass on this knowledge — the history, the aesthetics, the color theory, the visagism, the lip-syncing… How to build your own drag persona, how to gain respect, and how to make a living with dignity in this space.
“The world has so much to learn from joy as resistance — and that’s exactly what queer Brazilian art is.”
Looking ahead to 2025, what can we expect from this next chapter in Tchaka’s journey? What new projects, dreams, or initiatives excite you after all that you’ve accomplished?
2025 will be a year of major milestones for Tchaka Drag Queen.
I want to release my book and launch my new show on YouTube and on the website www.culturaqueer.com.br — it’s called “Muita Tchaka Nessa Hora.”
I also want to take my stage production “Camarim Drag Queen” to theaters all across Brazil — it’s currently running in São Paulo. And, of course, I want to keep having fun with this profession I chose to be both successful and happy.
I aim to expand in audiovisual projects, host TV shows, work in films, and lead advertising campaigns. The sky’s not the limit — not when you’ve got high heels and a purpose!
With a journey that now touches international audiences, what message would you like to leave for your Brazilian fans at Cultura Queer and your global audience at Radio Power Strike? Is there something in your path — from Sobradinho to Avenida Paulista, from anonymity to being crowned “Queen of the Parties” — that you believe can resonate universally with people from all cultures?
I love people. I love cultural diversity. I thrive on these exchanges — I gather and welcome people, and when they’re near me, I make sure the moments we share are unforgettable.
There’s a saying I live by:
“I won’t laugh at you. You won’t laugh at me. Let’s laugh together.”
I believe in collective joy.
I can’t wait to meet my fans in many corners of the world — and to continue being what I’ve always been:
Tchaka Drag Queen, the Queen of Our Parties.
Tchaka Drag Queen is far more than a stage persona — she is a force who broke barriers, rewrote narratives, and placed the sparkle of drag artistry at the heart of a fight for dignity, joy, and transformation.
With charisma, courage, and a life story that inspires, she has spent decades staying true to herself — on stage, in activism, across digital platforms, and in the hearts of the countless crowds who celebrate her across Brazil.
From Sobradinho to Avenida Paulista, from anonymity to being crowned Queen of the Parties, her journey is a masterclass in high-heeled resistance, love, and authenticity.
Tchaka proves that being a drag queen is more than just performing: it’s about presence, legacy, and creating real change.
More than being seen, she’s deeply felt — and her voice continues to echo wherever empathy, justice, and pride are needed.
Instagram: @tchakadragqueen
TikTok: @tchaka_dragqueen
Official website: www.tchaka.com.br
YouTube: @tchakadragqueen7336
Contact: contato@tchaka.com.br | WhatsApp: +55 (11) 99132-7750