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[title]GAWDLAND is loud, proud and RuPaul-approved.
The Northern-born, Bangkok-based queen stormed Drag Race Thailand season 3, became a Silom staple and is now the only Thai queen on RuPaul's Drag Race VS The World season 3 – the international all-stars showdown in front of Mama Ru herself.
Here's her gag on Thai pride, Gen Z fire and what going versus the world really means.
So, GAWDLAND – where does the name come from?
It's from my real name! Tharathep, which in Thai means 'god of the land' – like the big boss of the earth. And then I thought, you know what? Let's make it queer. So instead of 'God' (G-O-D), I made it 'GAWD' (G-A-W-D). Just GAWD-ed it up.
What makes GAWDLAND... GAWDLAND? What's your signature?
"Loudness. Volume. I'm like a firecracker – you know those little ones we see when Chinese New Year comes around? Small, compact, but the impact is massive."
Every time I step into a space, people have to turn and look. Some love it, some find it annoying, some find it jarring – but you will notice me baby! That's guaranteed.
People define drag in so many ways – art, activism, entertainment so what is it to you?
"All of it. And more. It's art, it's entertainment, it's activism – it's life itself."
My entire life is driven by drag. I wake up thinking about it, I go to sleep thinking about it. It's always: how do I become a better drag queen? It's in my head constantly. It's my life force, honestly. It's what keeps me going. I can't even describe it properly – it's just everything.
How does a look come together?
It depends on the assignment, really. Whether it's a photoshoot, a fashion moment, a performance – whatever the purpose is. I get the brief, then I pull in my drag identity and weave it into what's being asked of me. Most of the time, I'm working to a brief. There's always a theme.
Drag always has parameters, every runway has a theme. You get the creative brief and then it's up to you to interpret it, inject yourself into it and deliver something that's both you and what they're asking for.
Tell us about your early creative process.
I grew up in the north and my family wasn’t exactly open to queerness. But I remember sneaking around, watching traditional dance performances, trying to copy them in front of the mirror when no one was looking. My parents caught me once and yelled at me for it. But I've always felt connected to performance, especially the local, traditional kind – the Thai classical dances. That really inspired me. I wanted to be a performer from such a young age. And now, here I am, doing it professionally.
is both deeply traditional and incredibly modern – tell us about your balance.
"I'm a Gen Z drag queen, so one foot's in the algorithm, one in the archive."
I want that fresh-off-the-timeline energy – to show who I am, to be relatable and reachable, never stale or dated. But I also bow to the queens who built this, who came before me. I take reference from that lineage.
So when I was preparing to represent Thailand on the show, I knew I had to merge the traditional with the contemporary. That's the whole concept: old meets new.
P' Art Araya is my creative director – a Thai drag icon, designer, and stylist who's worked in fashion for three decades and judges Drag Race Thailand. She oversees everything from start to finish.
She's older, I'm younger. The collision of those perspectives created something balanced and fresh while honoring roots that run deep and still showing my individuality that couldn't be more Gen Z Thai.
"It's a generational crash, but it's all glitter and rainbows and garlands and awesome Thainess. And I'm confident we pulled it off beautifully."
And now you're on the biggest stage in drag – RuPaul's Drag Race VS The World. What does that feel like?
"It's a huge responsibility. I'm not just representing myself – I'm representing Thailand, Thai drag, the Thai community, Thai entertainers. It's a national thing."
Even if I tried not to think about it, it's always there in the back of my mind: I'm here to represent my country. I'm so honoured. I'm proud to do it. And honestly, on an international stage, Thai culture does stand out. It's so rich, so distinct. I felt proud showing that to the world.
You remix tradition, dig past the stereotypes. Concerned some won't get it?
If people don't get it, they can always look into it themselves – that's part of the journey! Sometimes I'm not doing it straight (pun intended!). I'm taking it, blending it, making it modern, making it campy. It's going to be so queer and so me and so good. That's spreading Thainess in such beautiful ways – making people curious and inviting them to discover it in their own time and on their own terms.
Tell us about the day you got the call about VS The World.
I got a call. They asked if I was interested first, because Drag Race Thailand season 3 was still airing. They were worried I might not be ready. But I didn't even think. I just said yes immediately. No hesitation. And when it was confirmed, I was over the moon. For so many drag queens, meeting RuPaul is the pinnacle. And for me, it's confirmation that I'm doing good, going well and making Thailand proud.
Pangina Heals was the first Thai queen to step onto this stage. What did watching her journey teach you?
She's a legend. The first queen from Southeast Asia to represent us on a global stage – she didn't just crack the door open for Thailand, she kicked it wide for all of us. That's her legacy forever. But I also learnt from her in ways you might not expect – the highs, yes, but also the weight that comes with carrying a whole region on your shoulders.
"So yes, I'm representing Thailand. But I'm walking in as myself. To spread love, positivity, to inspire people, to show the art I believe in."
I'm going for me – and Thai is already woven into everything I do. That realisation? It lifted so much pressure off my shoulders.
One of your most viral moments was going full drag to your graduation at Chulalongkorn University – what's the story there?
(Laughs) Yeah, that was fun! Chula is a very prestigious institution and I studied journalism, so I learnt critical thinking, how society is constructed, gender, politics, queer art – all of it. Drag is political. Journalism is political. My degree makes my drag better, honestly. Like, no one expected me to show up to my graduation in full drag – but that's a political statement.
"Both drag and journalism are about crafting stories that matter"
Give us GAWDLAND's guide to going out in Bangkok
Massage first. Always. Anywhere. Oil massage, foot massage – I'm obsessed.
Then food. Na Rueang Lao (ณ เรื่องเหล้า) near Chao Phraya – super chill, local vibes, the food slaps. Also Tahona in Sukhumvit for dinner dates – classic Thai flavors reimagined with contemporary cooking methods and plating.
For drinks, I'm all about Long Islands at Hippie de Bar in Khao San.
If it’s a day date, we’re starting at a museum or a temple – Wat Pho, Wat Arun, something. Gotta test the vibe!
Now, my queer venue roll call!
Silom Soi 4, always. That's home. If I'm not performing, I'm in the audience. The list goes: House of Heals, Eau de Toilette, The Stranger Bar, Beef – they're all on this magical stretch of Silom. You can literally stumble from one to the next, like a full gay bar crawl situation.
With all of this coming at you fast and hard – the fame, the scrutiny – how are you feeling right now?
The world is bigger than I knew. I understand people better now. Being on screen, being constantly perceived, being visible – you realise you can't make everyone love you. You can't make everyone like you. All you can do is ask yourself: am I happy where I'm standing? Did I come here for the right reasons? And my answer is yes. I get to do the art I love. I get to inspire people and be inspired back. I get to show that dreams do move closer. The world stage once felt far, now it’s in my palm. It’s not impossible. I’m living proof, guys, girls and gays.
GAWDLAND is competing on RuPaul's Drag Race VS The World season 3, streaming January 27 2026.