A hair and makeup artist from South London is on a mission to become the fastest male drag queen to complete the London Marathon, aiming to shatter stereotypes surrounding sport and the LGBTQ+ community. Ryan Walklett, from Bermondsey, is set to tackle the iconic 26.2-mile challenge in less than four hours, all while sporting a dazzling blue and silver bodysuit, rhinestone-studded trainers, and a 32-inch blonde ponytail, in hopes of securing a Guinness World Record (GWR).

Having first run the London Marathon in 2017, the 30-year-old is running this year in aid of the Terrence Higgins Trust, a charity dedicated to providing information on HIV and sexual health. He believes that his participation in full drag will help dismantle the stigma associated with sports and the LGBTQ+ community.




Mr Walkett said: “In my head, the connotation between sport and my job was never a correlation. It was one of those things at school where if you were a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and doing PE, it didn’t seem to correlate.”

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“I love the idea I’m pulling them together. It’s seeing somebody combining sport and being the member of the (LGBTQ+) community… just having that visual representation.”

His drag outfit, taking hues akin to the Terrence Higgins Trust logo, was inspired by RuPaul’s Drag Race UK alumna A’Whora and USA relay team running attires. Mr Walklett, who took on his maiden half-marathon donned in drag back in 2019, eagerly awaits the London Marathon though he wonders if his glitter-laden outfit might present hurdles mid-race.

Ryan wants to break the stigma around sport and the LGBTQ+ community(Image: Ryan Walklett/PA Wire )

He jested: “The glamorous problems I’ve had was how much glitter is too much glitter? How do I still be glittery, but then not have it running to my eyes? “.

Mr Walklett plans to host a string of wig sales to meet his £3,500 fundraising goal for Terrence Higgins Trust, a charity that stood by him during his school days.



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