017: The Art of Drag – Setting The Record Straight W/ Marshall Ngwa

As we continue honoring #PrideMonth, we will be having Marshall Ngwa also known as BeBe Zahara Benet is a Cameroonian-American drag performer, television personality, and musician best known for winning the first season of the reality-television drag competition RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2009. 

Currently, he stars in the TLC transformational makeover television series Dragnificent, as the event planning expert. He recently released an EP called Broken English, which is having a lot of great reviews and has a documentary called Being Bebe: The Bebe Zahara Benet Documentary, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival from June 19, 2021 through June 23, 2021.

Hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. Please leave an honest review and get the resources you need in the information below.

[00:01 – 02:25] Opening Segment

• Introduction of Guest and Topic

[02:25 – 10:31] Our Guest (Marshall Ngwa) Shares His Journey

• The beginning of finding himself
• How the family supported
• The Experiences they (host&guest) had in the same school
• How the environment allowed him to be who be himself

[10:31 – 20:30] The African Mindset & Ways We can Change

• Ignoring our gifts
• Finding his purpose in college
• Setting the record straight about the Art of Drag
• How art saved the world
• The talent in Africa 

[20:30 – 42:00] Finding Bebe Zahara Benet

• Who is Bebe Zahara Benet?
• Marshall shares his current projects
• Final regards and laughs
• Discussions on myths & facts about the art of drag

[42:20: – 1:10:00] Finding Bebe Zahara Benet

• More on Projects
• Where to find his work
• Advice and inspiration
• Premier of his documentary

Tweetable Quotes:

“We ignore the gifts of our children instead of allowing them to explore that gift and see what it has for them.” – Marshall Ngwa

“I am evidence that the arts can make you successful and more. Your gift can always make way for you.” – Marshall Ngwa

“You need to come across life with an open mind. Take out the stereotypes, prior knowledge and be ready to experience people and life, then it becomes easy.” – Marshall Ngwa

“Most of the time, it’s not that the family doesn’t want to be supportive to their LGBTQIA+ Community – but they don’t understand and lack knowledge on what your authentic self is.” – Marshall Ngwa

“We did Drag art unintentionally in our African Community. People dress up as women or men to make us laugh.” – Marshall Ngwa

• Contact Marshall Ngwa – Instagram: @bebezahara, Facebook: Marshall Ngwa; get updates about his documentary Being Bebe: The Bebe Zahara Benet Documentary here.

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