Winning over hearts from around the globe during season 14 of mainline RuPaul’s Drag Race, Lady Camden “served it to you like a lady” during her run on the series. But how did she get to that point in her career, and what kinds of challenges go into the actual preparing stage of being part of such a cultural juggernaut? Lady Like takes an emotional, candid approach to Lady Camden and her boy-persona of Rex. We see more than the surface level glitz-and-glam, opting for nuance instead. Lady Camden is the latest queen from the show to receive the documentary treatment, after Workhorse Queen, Being Bebe, and Dancing Queen. Experience the journey to becoming an unexpected fan favorite in sincere drag docu-drama, Lady Like.
Tracing Lady Camden’s roots from London to San Francisco, the documentary begins with a whimsical flashback of Lady Camden as a child. Paralleled by a shared memory of watching her first ballet at the Royal Opera House, we follow the days leading up to her appearance on Drag Race. From the start, Camden’s passion for performance is evident, but so are the challenges that come with it. Growing up in London was harsh—marked by the tragedy of her older brother’s suicide—and this emotional depth shapes Camden’s undying resilience.
A clever narrative device framing Camden’s story as a fairy tale casts RuPaul as a larger-than-life mother adored by all—even “the straights.” This storytelling element underscores the fantastical nature of her journey, but it also contrasts with the very real struggles she faces. The challenges of preparing for Drag Race are unending. Taking a rarely seen peek behind the curtain makes for a compelling watch, especially as the documentary catches up with Camden in between live airing episodes of the series. The watch parties begin with a smaller crowd, and harsh critiques from other queens on YouTube and social media take a hit at Camden’s confidence. We follow Camden in real time, as her “safe” status on Drag Race week after week do not make her an immediate fan favorite. All in good time. Before long, an iconic Freddie Mercury moment would solidify her as a force to be reckoned with.
One thing I have to admire here: Lady Like makes the concepts and premise of Drag Race easily digestible for the uninitiated, paring them down to their purest parts. A fairy tale world of animation fills in the blanks, with only minimal sequences actually sampled from the show at large. Still, we get a pretty good idea of how Camden did then, considering she boldly made it to the top two. A variety of footage is shown and sampled, including fan videos and professional photography. The financial pressures of competing are not glossed over, either—I loved seeing some technical artistry to prepare the ruveals, and of course, the blueprint of a killer lipsync for the finale.
Snippets of live performance reveal more about Camden than initially meets the eye. Top to bottom, we get to know this performer like we never have before. While always celebrating Lady Camden’s achievements, Lady Like is not afraid of delving into the darker moments too. One scene near the end where Lady Camden gets teary-eyed with appreciation for the fans that have been there since the beginning is a poignant reminder of the impact queens can have through the platform of Drag Race. I would love to see an All Stars appearance sometime soon, especially given the sheer talent on display via Camden’s ballet background. A moving, lovingly filmed documentary that captures the heart and soul of Lady Camden, Lady Like proves to be another compelling chapter in the life of a RuGirl.
Lady Like screened at 2024’s NewFest, the 36th Annual New York LGBTQ+ Film Festival.
