Drag Queen Teaches Kids Makeup At Brooklyn Library

DITMAS PARK, BROOKLYN -- Eight little girls watched carefully as drag queen Cholula Lemon pasted fake lashes onto the eyelid of 12-year-old Abigail Lane.

"Gorgeous," Lemon told Abigail as they waited for the glue to dry. "Why don't we dip into the sparkle motion?"

Lemon and her nine young pupils gathered at the Brooklyn Public Library on Cortelyou Road Thursday afternoon for a class on building a "dramatic eye" with make-up and a little quality time with a positive queer role model.

"[Drag Queens] really are the best people to learn makeup from because they're absolutely gorgeous," said Abigail's mom, Megan Lane.

Abigail said of drag, "I think it's a cool way to express yourself."

Brooklyn Public Library sponsored the make-up event as an expansion of its "hugely successful" Drag Queen Story Hour program, which has brought drag readings to toddlers across the borough.

The makeup tutorial was designed to bring older kids in on the fun, and to give them some useful tools for navigating the world.

"When you get up in the morning, and you're like, 'What do I where today,' that's drag in its own way," said Lemon. "This is how you're presenting yourself to the world. "

Lemon, clad in a Dolly Parton wig and a sequined minidress, struck a pose. "Today, this is how I'm presenting myself to the world."

"It's a full fantasy."

The kids, equipped with mirrors and makeup donated by some bigwig manufactures such as Revlon and Mario Badscue, first watched Lemon demonstrate a technique, then tried it for themselves.

Lemon provided encouragement and pointers.

"Blend those creases in a little more."

"Is anyone totally lost?"

"You're all naturals, you don't need me."

The kids walked out with big smiles. And very dramatic eyes.