Hugo Grrrl

George Fowler (born 1 April 1991) better known by the stage name Hugo Grrrl, is a New Zealand drag king, comedian, cabaret producer, best known for winning the inaugural season of House of Drag.[1] Entering the competition, Hugo Grrrl became the first drag king and first trans man to compete on a drag reality show.[2]

Hugo Grrrl
Born
George Fowler

(1991-04-01) 1 April 1991
Christchurch, New Zealand
NationalityNew Zealander
OccupationDrag king, comedian, cabaret producer
Known forHouse of Drag winner
Websitewww.hugogrrrl.com

Drag king career

After finishing his studies, Fowler worked nights in bars, however, it was not rewarding. George had a gender identity crisis in his twenties and Hugo Grrrl was born.[3] He quit his job and started his career as a full-time drag king.[4] In 2016, Hugo Grrrl created his well known shows "Naked Girls Reading" and "The Pun Battles". Naked Girls Reading show is exactly what it sounds like, a concept beautiful in its simplicity, completely nude women reciting literature aloud.[5] The Pun Battle is a show filled with puns literally, generally a battle between two comedians with a play on words.[6] With the success and popularity of both shows, Hugo Grrrl decided to take the shows on tour across the country.[7]

House of Drag

In 2018, Hugo Grrrl entered a New Zealand reality competition television series produced by Warner Bros. International TV Production New Zealand for TVNZ OnDemand and OutTV. It debuted on 15 November 2018 on TVNZ OnDemand.[8] In the first episode, all the contestants were introduced and participated in a photoshoot challenge. Hugo entered in a Ringmaster type outfit and had a stunning photoshoot making him safe for that week.[9][10] In the second episode, the contestants participated in a comedy stand up challenge with Hugo Grrrl wearing a Pink suit. His stand up routine was about coming out as a Tran man. The routine was well put together with no negativity and succeeded in making the room laugh. Hugo was safe from this week's episode.[11][12] In the third episode Hugo began the episode wearing a boy scouts outfit. After a comedic skit of tai chi, the contestants spoke about the criticism that Hugo Grrrl and Trinity Ice received for being transgender and a drag queen. The episode challenge was a DIY outfit design challenge made out of random objects. This is where a rivalry began between Hugo Grrrl and Lola Blades after Blade stole items out of Hugo's hands. Hugo DIY outfit was made out of gold party cups in a Borat bikini type outfit. Hugo Grrrl won the challenge of the week, give him the right to choose the bottom two. He picked Lola Blades and Trinity Ice to be the bottom two of the week, but it was Trinity that was eliminated.[13]

In the fourth episode, it began with Hugo Grrrl reflecting his win from the previous week. In this episodes challenge the contestants did an acting challenge. Surprisingly team captain Lola Blades picked Hugo to be in his team. Their team skit was the beginning of the host Anita Wiglit career. Hugo's team won the team challenge, making him safe for the week.[14][15] In the fifth episode, the contestants had to compete in a dance challenge. Lola Blades was randomly selected to hand out the themes of the challenges, which resulted in Lola selecting Hugo to do the Hip Hop theme. Hugo performed his dance routine successfully, receiving only positive comments. Hugo Grrrl was safe on this week's episode.[16][17] On the sixth episode, It began with Hugo talking a little on his rival Lola Blades with Bunny Holiday. In this episodes challenge, the contestants had a four-person tournament like a rap battle. Hugo defeated Leidy Lei in the Semifinals, however, lost against Lola Blades in the finals. Hugo Grrrl was safe in this week's episode.[18][19] In the season finale, the competition were down to its final three. In the final challenge, the contestants had to compete in a lipsync challenge to "Cherry Blossom" by Sal Valentine. After a successful lip sync, Hugo Grrrl won the Inaugural season of House of drag with Lola Blades coming second and Leidy Lei coming third. Hugo took home a prize of $10,000, a 55" LG Smart LED TV and one year of free Broadband.[20][21]

Personal life

George Fowler was born in Christchurch to two English teachers. He moved to Wellington at the age of 17 to not only study Law and theatre but also to be part of the gay scene.[22]

Filmography
Year Title Role Note
2018 TVNZ Breakfast[23] Himself
Seven Sharp[24]
House of Drag 7 Episodes, Winner

Events and tours
  • The Pun Battle[25]
  • Naked Girls Reading[26]

Awards
  • 2017 Wellington Comedy Awards Best Producer (Won)[27]
  • 2018 Wellington Comedy Awards Best Producer (Won)[28]
  • 2018 Wellington Comedy Awards Best MC (Won)
  • 2018 Wellington Comedy Awards Outstanding Achievement (Won)
  • 2018 Wellingtonian of the Year Arts Category (Nominated)[29]

See also

References
  1. "House of Drag winner Hugo Grrrl on his 'life-changing' win". New Zealand Herald. 2018-12-20. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  2. "Wellington's Hugo Grrrl is the world's first drag king on reality TV". Stuff.co.nz. 2018-12-07. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  3. "MEET THE 'HOUSE OF DRAG' KING: HUGO GRRRL". Gay Express. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  4. "KING OF THE WORLD". Gay Express. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  5. "Naked Girls Reading". Radio New Zealand. 2017-03-09. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  6. "Your cheesy puns might be good, but comedian Penny Ashton's are grater". Stuff.co.nz. 2018-10-13. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  7. "George Fowler, MC". Foodshow. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  8. "House of Drag: New TVNZ reality series searching for the ultimate Kiwi dragstar". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  9. "House Of Drag: Who Shantay Stayed and who Sashayed Away". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  10. "House Of Drag – Episode 1". TVNZ. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  11. "House of Drag wobbles in the man-sized heels of Drag Race". SpinOff. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  12. "House Of Drag – Episode 2". TVNZ. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  13. "House Of Drag – Episode 3". TVNZ. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  14. "House Of Drag – Episode 4". TVNZ. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  15. "House of Drag, episode four recap: A shock exit leaves us shook". Spin Off. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  16. "House Of Drag – Episode 5". TVNZ. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  17. "House of Drag power rankings: Let me see y'all one two step". Spin Off. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  18. "House Of Drag – Episode 6". TVNZ. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  19. "House of Drag power rankings: The all-white rap challenge". Spin Off. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  20. "House of Drag winner George Fowler, aka Hugo Grrrl on being Kiwi television's first drag king". Womens Day. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  21. "House Of Drag – Episode 7". TVNZ. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  22. "RESIDENT #124: DRAG KING GEORGE FOWLER ON MAKING HUGO GRRRL". Resident. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  23. "Hugo Grrrl on Breakfast TVNZ for The Pun Battle". Youtube. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  24. "The Pun Battle on Seven Sharp: Hugo Grrrl". Youtube. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  25. "Pun-erston North prepares to suffer a re-wording and pun night out". Stuff.co.nz. 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  26. "Naked Girls Reading: a phenomenon that's about to hit Christchurch". Stuff.co.nz. 2017-05-18. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  27. "Naked Girls Reading is nude women as you've never seen them before". Stuff.co.nz. 2018-08-05. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  28. "Carnage Comedy Show". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-02-12.
  29. "Wellingtonian of the Year finalists revealed". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2019-02-19.
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