A skateboard coach from Ipswich has spoken about how embracing drag has given him the confidence to be 'fully accepted as whatever I want to be'. Lewis, 25, who performs as drag rapper Barby Wire, said drag culture is all about acceptance.
'Anyone who's tried drag... will tell you that it gives you a massive amount of confidence. I can't even fully explain why but it just does,' he said. 'The drag culture, queer culture, is all about acceptance and I love the fact that through drag and my music I can be fully accepted as whatever I want to be in that community.'
Writing rap music during lockdown, Lewis said: 'For anyone seeing, hearing my story, then don't confine yourself to one thing. If you think that those things you want to do are contradictory, then find a way to combine them and just be yourself unapologetically.'
More from Barby Wire can be heard on BBC Music Introducing in Suffolk on Saturday 19 March.
