Francheska Dynamites
Francis "Kiko" Yutrago, known by the stage name Francheska Dynamites, is a Filipino-Canadian care worker and drag performer who was featured in the third season of Canada's a Drag and the subject of the 2022 documentary film Francheska: Prairie Queen which premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival.[1][2]
Career
[edit]Along with working as a drag performer and care worker in a nursing home he also works in the fast food industry and in janitorial services.[3]
In drag he has won multiple pageantry titles including Miss Fiesta Filipino Queen in 2019, Miss Dame of Progress in 2019, Miss Queen Philippines Canada in 2018,Queen of Canada The pageant-Tourism 2023. She was also the first drag queen from Lethbridge to be a finalist of Alberta's Next Drag Superstar.[3]
He was one of the Canadian drag performers featured in the third season of the CBC Gem series Canada's a Drag in 2020. He was the subject of director Laura Lynn O'Grady's documentary Francheska: Prairie Queen which follows Yutrago as he works as a care worker and drag queen in Lethbridge, Alberta to support his family in The Philippines after a typhoon hits their home. It also follows Yutrago and his fiancé as he prepares to compete in a pageant as Francheska.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Yutrago was born in The Philippines and later immigrated to Canada in 2010 under the live-in caregiver program. He works to pay for his mother's medication, his brother's tuition, and to support his family in The Philippines.[3][4]
Yutrago's drag name comes from people in The Philippines teasing him by changing his name from masculine Francis to feminine Francheska. His drag persona is inspired by Beyoncé and other R&B artists.[3]
As of 2020 Yutrago lives in Stirling, Alberta with fiancé Cody, and commonly performs in Lethbridge.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Film about Filipino care worker premieres at Calgary International Film Festival - Informing, Engaging and Connecting Community". www.canadianfilipino.net. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ "CIFF puts the spotlight back on Alberta films ahead of next month's festival | Listed". dailyhive.com. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
- ^ a b c d e Knegt, Peter (February 7, 2020). "How Filipina sensation Francheska Dynamites exploded to unlikely drag stardom in Lethbridge, Alberta". CBC Arts.
- ^ Herald, Lethbridge (2023-04-28). "'Francheska: Prairie Queen' highlights Filipino contributions". The Lethbridge Herald - News and Sports from around Lethbridge. Retrieved 2024-07-21.