A New Year to Dream Big and Go Bigger: Your 2025 Drag King Vision

It’s a brand new year! If you’re anything like me, the start of a new year brings both reflection and excitement. It’s the perfect moment to pause, take stock of the year that’s just been, and set a vision for the one ahead.

As your King Coach, I’m inviting you to complete the year 2024 with intention. Grab a journal, a blank doc, or whatever feels right, and let’s get it all down.

Complete the Year That Was – 2024

•   Celebrate Your Wins: Write down everything you accomplished this year as a Drag King—big or small. Did you debut your first performance? Did you nail a tricky lip sync? Did you bring a new costume to life or master a new makeup technique? Write it all down. Celebrate yourself!
•   Remember the Joys: What were your favourite moments? The laughs at rehearsal, the energy of being on stage, the joy of belonging to this wild and wonderful community—where did you find your joy this year?
•   Acknowledge the Regrets: Maybe there’s something you wished you’d done differently or something you didn’t quite get to. That’s okay. Acknowledge it without judgment. Let it be part of your story.
•   Make Space for Disappointments: Did something not land the way you hoped? Maybe a performance didn’t feel as strong as you wanted, or life pulled you away from Kinging more than you planned. Give these feelings space too—they matter.

Once you’ve gotten it all down, take a deep breath. You’ve wrapped up 2024 with honesty, pride, and clarity. Now, let’s turn towards 2025.

Where Will Kinging Sit in Your Life This Year?

Kinging doesn’t have to look the same for everyone, and it doesn’t have to look the same every year. So, ask yourself:

•   Is this something that’s just for fun? Maybe you love the buzz of the occasional performance, the creativity of putting a look together, and the thrill of taking the stage when the moment feels right. That’s perfect. Play! Enjoy it.
•   Is it about community? Perhaps Kings of Joy is your crew, your people, your chosen family. If being in a supportive space where you can explore, belong, and uplift others is what fuels you, lean into that. Where can you show up? Where can you let yourself shine?
•   Is this a hobby you want to invest in? Maybe Kinging is something you’d like to get better at, piece by piece. This year, do you want to focus on your makeup skills? Develop your stage presence? Work on a solo act? What small steps can you take to bring your Drag King persona to life?
•   Do you want to take it to the next level? Dream big. Then go bigger! What would it look like if you fully committed to your Drag King journey this year? Can you see yourself performing more regularly or creating a signature persona that turns heads? Would you love to headline? Win a competition? Work toward paid gigs? Put on your own one-human show?

Imagine standing at the end of 2025, looking back on everything you’ve accomplished. What would make you so proud? What would make you say, “Wow, I did THAT!”

Your Invitation for 2025

Here’s the truth: You get to decide where Kinging fits into your life. Whether it’s for fun, connection, creativity, or something bigger, let yourself dream without limits.

Write it down. Say it out loud. Share it with your fellow Kings of Joy if you feel called. Let 2025 be the year you take up space, own your joy, and go after what you want.

And if you’re not sure where to start? Just start. Show up. Reach out. Your Kings of Joy community is here for you every step of the way.

I can’t wait to see where this year takes you. Dream big. Then go bigger. Let’s make 2025 a year to remember.

With pride,

Danica Lani

The King Coach

P.S. Wanna be a Drag King? Learn how to become a Drag King. Click here to join the Kings of Joy community

 Hello handsome, 🌈 I'm Danica Lani, also known as The King Coach, here to empower you in your exploration of gender, sexuality, and performance. I have proudly mentored, choreographed, and produced 129 first-time Drag Kings since December 2020. Welcome to the joyous community of Kings of Joy, where we uplift and celebrate each other every step of the way! 🎉🤩 Let's embark on this Drag King journey together, embracing our true selves and cheering each other on! 🤗💖 #KingsOfJoy

Photo credit: 📸 Sarah Malone