Lady Gagita Cheek to Cheek with Lady Gaga

Lady Gagita cheek to cheek with Lady Gaga. (Photo: Vinzon Leojay Rubia Booc/Facebook)

By Arianne Lacanilao, Philippine Canadian Inquirer

After 15 years of channeling her inner Mother Monster, Filipino drag icon Lady Gagita finally met the real deal, Lady Gaga herself, in a moment so surreal, even she still can’t believe it happened.

On May 18 at the National Stadium in Singapore, during Gaga’s Chromatica Ball Tour, Gagita, real name Vinzon Leojay Rubia Booc, stood proudly in the crowd wearing a red outfit inspired by Gaga’s now-iconic opening look, known to fans as “Lady in Red.” 

And Gaga noticed.

“TONIGHT IS HISTORICAL!” Gagita shared. 

Gaga went down the stage and performed near the barricades, and that’s where she saw Gagita. The drag queen quickly snapped a selfie with her idol as Gaga smiled and leaned in for a hug. No backstage pass. No special access. Just a raw, unforgettable moment in the middle of the crowd.

In a mothership.nova interview, Gagita shared “I had a lot of moments today,” she said. “She told me, ‘Nice costume,’ during her speech. Then she got near me during the ‘Vanish Into You’ portion. I’m still on cloud nine. I cannot believe our cheeks touched. OMG. I mean… I deserve this after impersonating Lady Gaga for 15 years!”

Gagita began impersonating Lady Gaga as a teen, posting drag performances on YouTube while still in high school. One of her earliest viral hits, a Telephone parody with drag partner Haronce, launched her into the spotlight. She later appeared on TV and became one of Southeast Asia’s most recognized Gaga impersonators.

Online, fans called it “queer joy in motion” and “proof that dreams do come true.”

Because on that night, Gagita wasn’t just a drag performer. She was seen, celebrated, and held, cheek to cheek with her forever icon.