Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap episode 8 recap: Take a day off!

This week in Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap Season 1 episode 8, the drag queens are on a mini-break together at the Piekenierskloof Mountain Resort in Citrusdal. There’s braaing, crying, and apologising, choreography and archery, and would you believe, no yelling and screaming? Instead, Madison wants to leap out of a giant toaster, BB puts her foot in it again, and thank the gay gods for waterproof mascara, because Ina and Manila have something to say.

Stream Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap Season 1 on Showmax now. New episodes on Thursdays. 

1. Dipping a toe in transition

While the queens were together round the pool, Maxine explained what it was like coming out to her mom as gay. And then coming out as a drag queen. And then coming out as a trans woman, and getting pushback every step of her journey. 

Manila and Emogan chipped in to agree that they had their own questions about their gender identity. For Veon/Manila, it was a passing question. “I literally snapped out of it instantly because I knew, ‘Girl, it’s not for you.’ I like taking my boobs off at night,” he joked. Manila’s revelation prompted Emogan to admit that as Fabian, that feeling was a little more complex to unpack. He explained that when men gave him attention while he was in drag, he started to wonder if that was how he was really supposed to be. “You’re getting all this attention, and when you take it off, no one cares about you anymore.” It was a sharp wince of a moment that had us wondering what it must feel like – to have all the attention of the people you find attractive, then feel that vanish the moment you are your authentic self. 

2. The last supper confessional

After a full day of sunshine, dance, and outdoor activities, the queens got in drag for dinner together. Looking at them seated on one side of the table to facilitate filming, we suspect the Paris Olympic Games of sending a spy to take notes for their opening ceremony! 

Amidst the laughter and confessions, Ina and Emogan brought the table to a standstill when they opened up about wanting to quit drag. While Emogan tearfully revealed that it was Maxine who gave him back his love for drag, Ina admitted that it wasn’t just drag he wanted to quit, but life in its entirety. 

Wade/Ina added that he struggled alone most of his life, and he still struggles with his mental health. He revealed that he owes his life to Manila’s support. In Veon/Manila’s absolutely gutting interview segment, Veon cried as he explained, “I could not fathom seeing the world without her talent. And seeing that it could have been that, it was just so hard for me. That’s why I hold her so close to me. Because she brings so much light into my life. I also just want to be the light for her as well.” 

Ina revealed that every piece of effort he puts into taking care of himself as Wade, in staying sober, also pays off in his creative expression as Ina blooming. But there’s a price for him giving out to the world as a performer and being around people, too. “It drains me in a way that I’ve never experienced before,” Ina admitted. With that, and the fact that drag doesn’t pay well, Wade is under constant stress. It turns out surviving takes not only personal grit, but the strength and support of the drag community. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara, indeed. 

3. Two left feet in her mouth

This episode brought us Madison apologising to BB, BB apologising to Madison, Maxine apologising to Madison and a great, big scoop of khumbaya between drag queens. But the moment the drama appeared to be packed away, along came BB like a toddler toppling over a toy box and playing tornado in all their freshly folded clothes. 

With BB and Madison teaming up to proclaim themselves choreographers for the queens’ upcoming joint performance, BB jumped in with both left feet during dinner to insist, “I’ve seen you guys perform, [the subtitles miss it but she adds, ‘backup dancers, everything’]. It just never looks polished to me. You are polished, but your dancers aren’t (the subtitles have her saying, ‘You’re polished but your dance isn’t’). 

To the other queens, it seems as if BB called them “bad” dancers, when she’s critiquing their group performances in general. As both Madison and Manila note, it’s a remark that would have earned Madison a kicking from dinner to Christmas, and the mood around the table turned distinctly frosty at the affront to their professionalism. There’s always something! Looks like we’ll be packing a doggy bag of drama to take home to episode 9. 

3 sneaky moments

1. Emogan and BB hit the bullseye

You know what rounds off a drag queen mini-break? Random sports. We’ve had rollerskating, mini-golf and now it’s time for archery. While Emogan was on the border of the bullseye, BB hit it square on. Is she a natural Katniss Everdeen? No, this sly queen did archery at school. 

2. Madison doesn’t knock

Manila and Madison had adjoining rooms at the resorts with a connecting door, and during dinner, Manila revealed that Madison was in and out of his room at all hours, but never once knocked before flinging the door open. What if she was in her unmentionables?!

3. Just take the win!

After both BB and Maxine’s apologies, Madison’s talking head interviews revealed that she believed that both were just apologising to save face and cover their butts, not because they sincerely felt sorry. Do you know someone like this in your life? 

Stream Beaulah: Queens van die Kaap Season 1 on Showmax now. New episodes on Thursdays. 

Catch up quick: Read our Beaulah Who’s Who, our guide to Gayle in episodes 1-5, and 20 things you didn’t know about drag queens.