As Pride Month celebrations continue worldwide, Bretman Rock, winner of the Breakthrough Social Star award at the 2021 MTV Movie and TV Awards, opened up about being out, loud and proud. Now, he's giving big kudos to RuPaul's Drag Race for not only breaking barriers but creating greater visibility and acceptance for every member of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Bretman, a Filipino influencer, has an astounding 8 million-plus YouTube fans and 16 million Instagram followers. He praised RuPaul and his desire to "pay it forward" by being a positive role model for queer youth. On his Instagram page, Bretman clearly understands the importance of his MTV win, stating proudly, “If there’s anything about me, I will always understand the assignment.”
In an extensive interview with E!, Bretman praised Drag Race. “Drag Race was, like, my outlet and finally being able to see myself in television and that was through Manila Luzon, who was a Drag Race contestant," he said. "Manila was the first Asian queer person that I ever saw on mainstream media and Drag Race really did that for me.” Bretman stressed the power of positive self-reflection in mainstream media especially as it relates to him as a Filipino man. “Going back to Drag Race, when I first ever saw Manila Luzon on and the first thing I recognized was her name, Manila Luzon, because that is literally the capital and city of the Philippines and she named herself after that. That meant the world to me and let alone he looks like me, as well. He looks like a typical Filipino man and I just saw myself in him, and there was nothing more that I wanted to do.”
Rock was just 18 years old when he started creating beauty tutorials on YouTube. Soon thereafter, one of his make-up videos went viral and Bretman came out as a gay man and proudly chronicled his transformation into his drag persona. Sporting a six-pack of chiseled abs, along with flawless skin and high cheekbones that would make Meryl Streep envious, Bretman quickly became a social media beauty influencer and voice for the LGBTQIA+ community.
When asked about who his queer hero is, Bretman wisely chose Freddie Mercury, the frontman for Queen, whose outrageous flamboyance was backed up by an unparalleled vocal range that created a new genre – the Queer Rock God. “I would thank him for his legacy and everything that he has done for the gay community.”
Bretman wrapped up the interview by emphatically expressing his desire to make society more inclusive – not just for queer persons of color but also for his trans brothers and sisters.
Source: Bretman Rock