Theatre student, Charlie Barton, who is 18-years-old and lives in Ross-on-Wye, is delighted to have been selected to compete in the Miss Drag UK finals, which take place on the evening of Sunday, March 10th. On stage, she is known as Miss Charlii. This a huge achievement for Charlie, who is representing not just herself but the county of Herefordshire.

Charlie told the Ross Gazette that she often finds many people believe drag acts are only men dressing as women, but there are many people, like her, who enjoy drag too.

The event is not only about dressing up and extravagant make-up, however, it is also raising funds for vital charities. This year, Miss Drag UK is raising money for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity.

All of the performers work hard to raise money for the chosen charity in the run-up to their performance, and Charlie is no exception. She has been working in and around Ross-on-Wye to raise awareness of the cause and charity donations, and has also set up a donation page online. Ticket sales from the Miss Drag event also go towards Sands.

Charlie has been enjoying drag for over three years now, despite having a disability which can make performing on stage difficult. She was born with Elhers Danlos Syndrome, which affects her joints, often causing instability or pain. In fact, she suffered an injury relating to this while performing at the Black Country Pride, but still managed to carry on performing.

To donate to Charlie’s funding page for Sands, visit https://www.gofundme.com/miss-drag-sands-fundraiser?fbclid=IwAR1NggwPAi_26Ewxtqgg75lPW1ZiE4uF6Hf7QZ9F4xOini9daXR4U-5LI2w.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.