Travis Stancil on the New Groundbreaking Series “Pageant Queens: Redefining Drag, Sisterhood, and Cultural Representation

At a time when drag culture is being debated, challenged, and misrepresented in headlines across the country, Pageant Queens: Our Story Behind the Crown is a groundbreaking new docuseries directed by Film Director and the CEO & Executive Producer at Stance Productions Stanley Travis Stancil that reimagines what drag storytelling can be. Watch the trailer here!

To get a glimpse of the creative mind behind this production, Travis tells us about his vision, purpose, and cultural importance of Pageant Queens.

What inspired you to create a drag docuseries?

Travis Stancil: I was inspired by the response. When I first created this project, I had zero film experience. The original concept was not a TV show. It was a live event, the ultimate drag pageant called Queen of Drag, offering one of the largest cash prizes ever for a single competition, $50,000 dollars.

To build excitement for sponsors and donors, my partner and I flew all ten queens to Las Vegas to film what was supposed to be a promotional trailer. We posted it online and it went viral instantly. Within days, networks were calling us, assuming it was a teaser for a television series.

That was the moment everything shifted. We realized the concept was strong enough that major networks wanted more information. Instead of waiting for someone else to greenlight it, we raised the funding ourselves and produced what is now Pageant Queens, a full reality and documentary series born out of passion, community, and the undeniable power of drag.

Can you walk us through the concept behind Pageant Queens?

Travis Stancil: Pageant Queens follows ten legendary drag performers as they pack up their lives, move to Florida for one summer, and prepare for the biggest pageant of their careers, Queen of Drag. The real story unfolds inside the house as they live together.

While sharing this space, the queens discover how similar their journeys truly are. The series removes the wigs, wipes off the makeup, and reveals the humanity, struggle, strength, and heart behind the art form. It is a rare and honest look at what it means to be a drag queen and what it means to navigate the world as an LGBTQ+ individual today.

Most drag shows have eliminations, drama, and competition. How is this series different, and why do you think a show like this is needed right now?

Travis Stancil: In Pageant Queens, you watch ten strangers become a family.

They may have known of each other through the pageant world, but living together created a level of closeness they never expected. They support each other through the pageant and through personal challenges, and that became the soul of the show.

We replaced competition with collaboration.

You see every queen in every episode. No one disappears. No one is discarded.

The world needs unity, empathy, and authenticity right now. This show gives viewers all three. For people who are struggling, it offers a roadmap. For people who do not understand drag or LGBTQ+ culture, it offers clarity, connection, and perspective.

What made South Florida the right place to bring this series to life?

Travis Stancil: As someone who lives in Boynton Beach, Florida, I believe that change does not come from staying where you are already celebrated. Change happens when you show up in places where acceptance still has room to grow.

Florida is known for its conservative values, and many LGBTQ+ people have moved away because of that climate. That is exactly why filming here mattered.

What we experienced was beautiful.

Instead of resistance, we found celebration. Every beach, restaurant, street, and community welcomed us with excitement and support. It proved that Florida is far more diverse and inclusive than people assume. And we definitely made it more fabulous that summer.

This show brings together ten of the most decorated drag queens in history. What was it like working with such a powerhouse group?

Travis Stancil: It was overwhelming, exhausting, emotional, and one of the greatest honors of my career.

The goal of Queen of Drag was always to give queens a platform without financial barriers. Many pageants are influenced by budgets rather than pure talent. My Artistic Director Michael Silas and I wanted to change that. By covering their performance expenses, we gave the queens the freedom to dream without limits, and they delivered like never before.

These performers have spent decades shrinking their artistry to fit small stages and small budgets. When we gave them a stage comparable to the VMAs, they unleashed visions they had held inside for years. It challenged us creatively and emotionally, and Michael and I would do it again tomorrow.

Each queen brings her own legacy and personality to the series. No spoilers please, but was there someone you found especially striking in their approach or story?

Travis Stancil: Tonica E Cavalli stood out to me in a way I will never forget.

I knew her name but not her personally. In early meetings she was quiet, respectful, almost reserved. But once she entered the house something magical happened. She blossomed.

Through the series viewers will watch her transform from someone who barely spoke into someone who found her voice, her confidence, and her truth. Her journey from cocoon to butterfly is one of the most powerful arcs in the entire show.

How was it working with Artistic Director Michael Silas?

Travis Stancil: Working with Michael Silas was a dream. My business manager suggested I call him. I did, and within thirty minutes I knew he was the one. I told him I would send the contract immediately. I did not need to interview anyone else.

Our business manager nearly had a heart attack because Michael and I constantly said yes to opportunities and expenses on faith before the funding was secured. But we believed in this project deeply and God provided. The project exceeded half a million dollars in budget and every dollar was secured because of that faith.

Michael put his name, his relationships, and his artistry behind this show. Many of the dancers, choreographers, and creatives came on board because of him. He has performed on some of the biggest stages in the world, including Lady Gaga’s Super Bowl halftime show, and he brought that same excellence here. I owe a significant part of this project’s success to him.

They say learning is a never-ending process. Was there anything you learned or discovered while filming the series in South Florida that really stood out to you?

Travis Stancil: I learned that when you show up unapologetically yourself, people respect you.

There was fear around filming in Florida because of the political climate. Our business manager strongly suggested security for every outing. But Michael, the queens, and I chose to walk proudly and confidently into every space we entered.

The response was overwhelming. We were embraced, supported, and celebrated everywhere we went.

This taught me that the narrative around Florida being universally anti LGBTQ+ is not the full story. Authenticity and truth have power. When you lead with confidence and kindness, people respond with respect.

As a creator and director, how is this show important to you?

Travis Stancil: This show matters to me because our stories matter. I believe God gives us certain experiences so they can become part of our testimony.

These queens have endured journeys that will inspire, challenge, and heal people. Sharing their stories on a global platform will help individuals who either do not understand or who are struggling themselves find clarity and connection.

When I started this project, I thought I was making a quirky drag show about ten people living together. I had no idea it would become a movement. That is the beauty of letting a story paint itself instead of forcing a blueprint.

Was it scary to invest this level of money without knowing what the footage would give us? Yes. But that is where having someone like Michael beside you is essential. He reminded me to trust the purpose and the destiny behind the project.

What do you hope viewers understand about drag culture after watching Pageant Queens?

Travis Stancil: Drag is not confusion. Drag is expression.

Growing up, a local queen in my hometown named Shana Nicole always said that drag is the art of illusion, not the art of confusion. Too many people misunderstand drag as an identity crisis when in reality it is a powerful form of art and storytelling.

Drag saves people.

Just like a song, a poem, or a film can save someone. It gives individuals a place to express joy, pain, humor, identity, and truth in a way the world cannot silence.

Too often, mainstream drag shows only highlight the humor, the sass, and the comedy. People see the clown but not the creator, the laugh but not the life behind it.

Pageant Queens shows the artist underneath.

It reveals the person under the wig and behind the makeup. It gives viewers a new level of respect for an art form and a community they may have never understood before.

And that is why I am proud to stand alongside Michael Silas and AFLUX Studios in creating this movement. This series will expand perspectives, open hearts, and elevate the respect for drag in a way the world has never seen.

Thank you so much for speaking with us Travis and for giving us a behind-the-scenes look at this series. Tell us how people learn more about it?

Travis Stancil: Thank you! It was a pleasure. You can follow the Pageant Queens series on Instagram for official updates, exclusive content, and the upcoming national streaming platform announcement.