How Filipina sensation Francheska Dynamites exploded to unlikely drag stardom in Lethbridge, Alberta

Francheska Dynamites is just one of the many fabulous subjects featured in Canada's a Drag, a docu-series from CBC Arts that showcases drag artists from across the true North strong and fierce. You can watch all three seasons here.​

When Francis Yutrago immigrated to Canada from the Philippines under the live-in caregiver program in 2010, he had no idea that it was the beginning of a journey that would ultimately lead him to stages across the country as his fierce, fabulous drag alter ego: Francheska Dynamites.

"People were asking...what is her name?" Francis recalls of his drag beginnings. "When I was in the Philippines, they used to tease me by changing my name from masculine to feminine. 'Oh, Francheska,' they said. So I was like, 'You know what? I'm going to use that name and make it Francheska Dynamites.'"

"My drag persona came from Beyoncé," Francis says. "I loved listening to R&B music back in the Philippines. And then when I saw Beyoncé with the big hair the way she moved in that 'Crazy In Love' music video...I said, 'One day I'm going to perform like that.' So that was my first drag performance number."

Francheska lives in an unlikely spot for a burgeoning drag superstar: the historically Mormon Alberta community of Stirling. With a population of just under 1,000 people, Francheska typically takes the stage 30km down the road in Lethbridge, Alta. She is the first queen from Lethbridge to become a finalist of Alberta's Next Drag Superstar and is also the current Miss Fiesta Filipino Queen and Miss Dame of Progress. In 2018, she was crowned Miss Queen Philippines Canada.

If that doesn't sound like a busy enough schedule, Francis also works three jobs out of drag — in a fast food restaurant, a nursing home and janitorial services. This allows him to support his family back home, paying for his mother's medication and his brothers' tuition.

Thankfully, both Francis and Francheska have some support of their own. Seven years ago, Francis met his now-boyfriend Cody on an online dating site, and the two have been together ever since. Cody accompanies Francheska to her drag performances, which primarily take place within the Lethbridge LGBTQ community they both have come to call home.

"When you're in the community, you're performing [for] people who will just look at you like a star," Francheska says. "They treat you differently. All they see is the beauty in you. All you hear [are] beautiful words. And it feels great. After two hours of doing your hair and makeup, it pays off because there's people that you know are happy to see you, excited to see you. To see them happy and smiling — it makes me feel great."

There's about to be a lot of folks across Canada who you're about to make smile, Ms. Dynamites.  

Follow Francheska Dynamites on Instagram and meet the other kings, queens and in betweens in the third season of Canada's a Drag, streaming now on CBC Gem.