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Gay Atlanta Firefighter Gets a Makeover on ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars’

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Atlanta firefighter Anaré Holmes learns to walk in heels during his appearance Friday on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.” (Photo provided by Anaré Holmes)

Atlanta Fire and Rescue firefighter Anaré Holmes will trade in his protective gear and heavy boots for a tight dress, makeup and high heels when he appears Friday on “RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars.”

Holmes has worked at Atlanta Fire Rescue for more than a decade and now serves as the department’s spokesperson and LGBTQ liaison. When he got the call last year to go on RuPaul’s show, he was ready for a new challenge. He had never done drag and was a little surprised at how difficult the experience was.

“I’ve been to thousands of drag shows and I always thought it wasn’t that big of a deal,” he said. “Learn to dance in heels!” You just take it for granted because they make it look effortless, but that’s no joke! »

For this Friday’s episode airing on Paramount TV, RuPaul gave the eight competing queens a makeover challenge: transforming four “brave firefighters into smoking hot pop stars.”

Each firefighter was assigned two queens for their makeover and teaching them how to walk, sing and dance. Jorgeous and Plastique Tiara were Holmes’ drag queen mentors.

“We (the firefighters) are a group of girls. We write the lyrics to a song, then we get together for rehearsals and learn the number, and then we perform it,” Holmes said. “Then the queens are judged on how they prepared us.”

While filming the series, Plastique requested a TV paint stick, a thick foundation, to cover Holmes’ eyebrows. There wasn’t any, so someone suggested the makeup RuPaul used.

Plastique replied, “But, darling, that’s not my technique!” said Holmes. He gave them permission to shave their eyebrows to ensure the makeup looked its best.

“I said it wouldn’t be a big deal and my hair would grow back,” he said. “The hair grew back, but it took about three or four months – I didn’t know that part.”

Holmes said he was often asked at the fire station and in the community if he was OK because he didn’t have eyebrows. To appear on the show, Holmes signed a nondisclosure agreement and could not say anything.

“So I would just tell people, yeah, yeah, I’m good, I’m just kind of working on a project,” he said.

Working on the show opened Holmes’ eyes to what being a drag queen is. It’s not just about mean jokes and behind-the-scenes drama.

“There is a desire to be excellent. There is a desire to be professional. There is a desire to truly be a master of the craft,” he said. “It’s their livelihood. People take it very seriously.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars” donated $1,000 to a nonprofit selected by Holmes. He chose ZAMI NOBLA, an organization committed to building a power base for black lesbians over 40 living across the country.

A viewing party will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at the Atlanta Eagle, 1492 Piedmont Ave., and sponsored by the City of Atlanta LGBTQ Affairs Division and Atlanta Fire Rescue.

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