What’s it like living a fantasy as the world’s biggest pop star in her most successful year yet? As the Philippines’ preeminent Taylor Swift drag performer, Taylor Sheesh may be the luckiest of the few who hold an answer. Being catapulted overnight onto a stage with massive audiences upward of 10,000 to 20,000 is enough to shake up anyone’s world. It may still feel like a dream for Sheesh but she has the ambition to turn it into a foot in the door to bloom under her own name. 

Confident but unassuming, Sheesh arrived at our studio alone before she was joined by a member of her team composed of long-time friends who helped her bring her version of The Eras Tour to life. Since she got featured on the likes of Rolling Stone and Good Morning America, the past few months have been a non-stop series of shows that even led to her first international gig at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands. “Still nasa cloud nine pa ako. ‘Di pa nagsisink-in na na-feature ako,” she says. “Go with the flow ako ngayon. Siguro next year tsaka lang siya magsi-sink-in sa’kin.”

But juggling gigs is a happy conundrum that she feels was brought on, in part, by being at the right place at the right time. Unlike other Swift impersonators, Sheesh allows for her own drag artistry to sing. And in the moments when she gives us peeks into her Pinoy na Pinoy sense of humor, you get a sense of the trump card she reveals best in her drag acts as Mac Coronel. But what I found most compelling was her Sagittarian tenacity, the ability to shake off all the bad and come out of hardship fearless. 

Started with a love story

The 29-year-old artist born John Mac Lane Coronel began his journey into Swiftiehood at the age of 15. The year was 2009 and he was a third year high school student in Marikina in the throes of his unreciprocated crush on a guy who has since met up with Sheesh and is very happy for her. 

Not unlike many a Swiftie, Mac found his own story in Swift’s lovestruck and lovesick tracks. “Kapag may crush tayo, nag-e-expect tayo na marriage na agad,” Sheesh recalls. Having just turned 15, hearing the track “Fifteen,” which was then part of Myx Daily Top 10, before heading to school brought comfort. “[Sabi sa lyrics,] okay lang na ma-fall in love pero huwag magbigay lahat. Kailangan ma-realize na you’re so very young pa para magmadali sa mga ganong bagay. Naka-relate ako agad pati sa iba niyang songs like ‘Love Story.’ Kahit wala kang jowa, ‘pag may crush ka makaka-relate ka,” she says.

It wouldn’t be until the release of the 2012 album “Red” that Mac would find himself really listening to Swift’s body of work and appreciating the releases that came after. “Parang napaka-versatile artist niya. From country, to pop, to indie,” Sheesh describes.

While Swift’s fandom isn’t as largely composed of the LGBTQIA+ as those of fellow pop icons Beyonce and Lady Gaga, queer Swifties do exist and are as passionate. There’s even a subsection called Gaylors dedicated to finding queer meaning in Swift’s narratives. Asked why Sheesh found herself among the ranks of queer fans, she says, “Halos lahat kasi ng mga bakla, ‘di ba in love lagi?” It helps that there’s a person like Swift who seems to have already written a song about every stage of a relationship. 

Another big factor was Swift voicing out support for the Equality Act, which would expand civil rights protection against SOGIE-based discrimination, in 2019. “Lalong nag-raise ng awareness about equality worldwide. Kasi bihira siya magsalita about politics. Right time nung ‘Lover’ era niya nag-release siya ng statement about supporting the LGBTQIA+,” Sheesh adds.

Introducing Baby Vivora and reclaiming Mac Coronel

It would be a while before Mac would find the same comfort he found in Swift’s music in the art of drag. “Noong una, ayoko talaga nung nagsusuot ako ng bra at ng wig kasi sobrang kati. ‘Di ako komportable. Or siguro ‘di ko pa lang masyadong nadi-discover ‘yong sarili ko noon.” But like most people, being introduced to “RuPaul’s Drag Race” by a best friend changed his mind.

“Sa Nectar Nightclub, every last Wednesday of the month may Drag Cartel. Ang theme noong March 2017 is Lady Gaga night. Pumunta kami ng mga kaibigan ko. Minakeupan ako, nagbihis lang ako ng crop top na t-shirt na ginupit ko lang. Wala akong stockings. Tapos ‘yong wig, ang pangit. Pumunta lang kami dun, naka-drag kaming lahat,” Sheesh recalls. 

While they were only there to party, one of Sheesh’s friends pushed her to join a lip-sync battle which she ended up winning with her “Bad Romance” performance, despite going head-to-head with professional drag queens. “Doon na nag-start na mag-perform ako [kahit] wala akong kaalam-alam sa drag,” she says. “Though nakasabayan ko sina Viñas [DeLuxe]. Sila ‘yong mga nagturo sa akin kung paano mag-makeup. Sina Andy [Crocker], OV [Cunt], Marina [Summers], Eva Le Queen. Mga kasama ko ‘yan sa Nectar.”

After bringing the house down with her hilarious first-ever lip-sync, Sheesh would go on to develop her “gorgeous but stupid” drag brand. First as Baby Vivora, a name she was bestowed with, before she eventually shed it sometime during the pandemic in favor of her own name Mac Coronel. 

There’s something so quintessentially Pinoy about Mac’s drag. “‘Yong ang ganda ganda mo, naka-ballgown ka, tapos very stupid ‘yong number mo. More on comedy ‘yong naging persona ko,” she describes it. Even her signature of cleverly incorporating TikTok trends like the yo yo yo dance and throwing #thuglife gang signs plays in familiar territory. “Pine-playtime ko lang siya sa audience. Like for example, intro ng second song tsaka ko siya gagawin. Tapos matutuwa na ‘yong mga tao.” 

That’s not to say that Mac is a one-trick pony. One of her memorable performances is a recreation of Sasha Velour’s iconic “Drag Race” finale rose petal reveal.

But it doesn’t hurt to play to her strengths, especially when so many Filipino queens also speak that humor. Given a chance, Mac would love to do collab performances with “Drag Race Philippines” Drag Superstars Precious Paula Nicole and Captivating Katkat.

While Sheesh is grateful to have Eras Tour bookings lined up until next year, she can’t help but miss doing drag as Mac. “Gusto ko ring magpatawa. Ang hirap kasing magpatawa na ‘yong humor mo is pang-adult tapos ‘yong audience mo bata. So grabe ‘yong adjustment ko. Siyempre nagbibigay akong respeto sa kanila. Baka sabihin ang sama kong [influence,]” she admits with a laugh.

Becoming Taylor

When Taylor Sheesh started performing Eras Tour productions after her initial stint at Swifties Philippines’ “Midnights” listening party in 2022, the persona started taking on a life of its own. How different is she from the woman she’s impersonating?

“Magkamukha kami. Char! Ang pinagkaiba lang mayaman talaga siya,” Sheesh quips. “Siguro iisa lang talaga kami ng utak kasi parehas kaming Sagittarius.”

Sheesh is very upfront about the fact that she’s not the type of impersonator who really tries to replicate a person’s face. “‘Di ako ‘yong parang Paolo Ballesteros kasi ‘di naman kami same ng shape ng mukha ni Taylor. Binabagay ko rin, so more on drag ‘yong makeup,” she clarifies, noting that the iconic red lipstick is the one detail that she doesn’t forego.

I asked whether she saw that Swift look that O-A shared back in October. “Tuwang-tuwa ako no’n. Pinuri ko ‘yon. Sabi ko, ‘Ay, akala ko ako. Ini-impersonate mo ako ah.’ Ganon ako lagi sa kanila,” Sheesh happily shares. “May isang drag queen from ‘Drag Race,’ nag-ask siya kung pwede siyang mag-Taylor. Sabi ko, ‘Go lang!’ ‘Di ko naman siya gine-gatekeep.”

While Sheesh’s mug is slightly different, Swift’s moves and mannerisms she knows down pat. “‘Yong kilos, ‘yong smile, ‘yong outfit, ‘yong hair is Taylor. ‘Yon ‘yong ina-achieve ko lagi. Pinapanood ko ‘yong mga TikTok [from the tour] kung may trending or paano [makuha] ‘yong choreo,” she says. “Pati ‘yong ngingiti lang siya, pati ‘yong awkward siyang sumayaw. Tapos kikindatan niya kung sino [mang] makita niya.”

Finding freedom, pride, and forgiveness in drag

Discovering and practicing drag seemed to have magnified the confidence that Mac always had inside. “Nagiging introvert ako kapag ‘yong mga tao ‘di ko kilala. Pero maingay talaga ako. Kapag nakausap ko na, go with the vibe. Pero kapag in drag na, jusko madaldal na,” she says. “Mag-iiba ‘yong personality mo kapag naka-makeup ka na, kapag nakita mo ‘yong sarili mo sa salamin. Parang nagkakaroon ka ng energy. Through your performance, doon mo mailalabas ‘yong expression mo.” 

Becoming Taylor Sheesh strengthened this further. “Nawala ‘yong kaba ko. ‘Di katulad dati na kahit everyday na ako nagpe-perform sa Nectar, kinakabahan pa rin ako kahit in [front of] a small audience,” she says. “[Ngayon], mas gusto ko marinig ‘yong crowd kapag sumisigaw. Nawawala ‘yong kaba ko kapag ganun.”

Being Sheesh also taught her how to treat people better, especially herself. “Natuto ako kung paano makitungo sa tao. Kasi dati parang oo lang ako nang oo [kahit] minsan ‘yong tao kino-control ako,” she says. “And how to act professional [rin] kahit anong mangyari.”

She’s also careful not to cultivate an air of superiority with her newfound celebrity status. “Kapag kumakain kami [ng mga friends ko tapos] naka-out of drag ako, [sisigaw sila ng] ‘Andito po si Taylor Sheesh.’ Minsan ganyan sila mang-trip ‘yong mga kaibigan ko [kaya] pinapagalitan ko sila,” she confides, laughing. “Ayokong nagiging cause of delay. Minsan may mga guard, may mga escort. Parang napaka-feeling entitled ko. Ayoko nang ganun. Gusto ko normal na tao lang. Natutuwa ako kapag sinasabihan nila akong very approachable ako.” 

Sheesh has also become a conduit of sorts in mending Mac’s relationship with his parents. “Hindi kami masyadong close ng parents ko ever since, parang ‘di kami nag-uusap. Dati kasi ‘di ako tanggap. Like legit. Alam mo ‘yong very normal Pinoy gay na super [daming] nangyayaring trauma and everything? Naranasan ko lahat ‘yan,” she says. “Nung nagte-trend na lahat [at] umuuwi ako ng bahay, normal lang. Pero minsan pinagsasabihan rin ako ng mama ko through chat. ‘Di niya kaya in-person. ‘Magtiwala ka sa anak mo.’ Ganun lang ‘yong mas gusto kong sabihin [sa kaniya].”

“Pero nararamdaman ko naman na proud sila kasi nung first [and] last na nuod ng papa ko sa gig ko sa may Lucena, nag-live siya sa Facebook. After ng performance ko, sinabihan niya ako ng, ‘Ang galing mo.’ Actually ‘di pa siya nagsi-sink in sakin kasi dati jusko puro trauma binigay mo tapos ngayon… ‘Di ko alam kung matutuwa ako or magagalit,” she says, honest. 

“Minsan napaplastikan ako sa mga ganon. Lalo na sa mga kamag-anak ko na nambu-bully sa’kin before. Siguro nauuna muna ‘yong galit ko kasi antagal kong kinimkim eh. From elementary to college hanggang sa nag-work ako, lahat ’yon sinalo ko,” she confesses. “Kaya bihira akong sumama sa mga reunion kasi ako lagi napapansin sa pagiging mapayat ko, na masyado akong malambot, malamya. Alam mo ‘yon? Pati kung paano ako kumain, lahat kinukuwestiyon.”

But drag has brought her on a path of healing and acceptance, with her best friends at her side and thousands of Swifties cheering her on. 

Her own Eras Tour

Bringing Taylor Sheesh to bigger stages is made possible by the efforts of big local fan groups such as Swifties Philippines, T-Party Philippines, and Taylor Swift Secret Session Philippines. “’Yon ‘yong mga organizers na andito sa Metro Manila. Pero may iba pa sa Visayas and Mindanao. Sila ‘yong mga gumagawa ng iconic events, like every time na magre-release si Taylor ng bagong album. Last time sa Gateway, si Swifties Philippines ‘yong nag-create no’n.”

A Taylor Sheesh show also wouldn’t be possible without the support of her best friends, some of which were the ones who went to Nectar with her on her first night in drag. Joining Sheesh are Drew, Arjay, Ced, Yzelle, Keith, Miguel, Prince, Sher, and Lady X. “Sila na rin ‘yong mga naga-assist sa akin. Sila ‘yong mga sumasama kung may mga quick change. Isang grupo kami lagi,” she says. “Kung sino ‘yong mga available sa kanila, nagtatanong ako every week. Kasi kailangan ko ng kasama for the quick change. Nauuso na ‘yong quick change talaga na parang 30 seconds lang, bago na ‘yong outfit.”

For Sheesh, the ball gown quick change is the most difficult Eras Tour detail that she’s recreated. “Ewan ko ba kung bakit ko pinapahirapan ‘yong sarili ko. Kasi ako ‘yong nage-edit ng music. Nag-e-edit ako na maiksi ‘yong intro tapos magagalit ako kung bakit hindi naususot agad ‘yong outfits,” she reveals, adding that sometimes all she can do about it is let go. 

When it comes to her wardrobe, Sheesh also takes great pains to create close to identical replicas. “Hands on ako minsan sa mananahi. Pinapa-check ko agad. And mas prefer ko na ako ‘yong naglalagay ng mga stones, para alam ko kung saan ilalagay at ano ‘yong shade ng stone,” she says.

She’s also picky about which looks to recreate. “Kapag may magandang outfit si Taylor na bago, pinapagawa ko. ’Yung iba hindi ko pinapagawa kasi hindi ko bet. Mas gusto ko ‘yong mas kilala rin [na outfit],” she adds.

Over the course of multiple shows, Sheesh has been able to recreate many fun moments from the concert as well—like the ‘22’ hat giveaway and the Taylor Lautner appearance (which won’t be happening again any time soon after her falling out with Taylor Laughter). But her favorite memory so far is her 1989 World Tour recreation at Gateway where she got to invite her friends to strut with her during the “Bad Blood” segment. “Diba sa 1989, papalabasin ni Taylor yung mga best friend niya isa isa? Ganon pinagawa ko sa mga kaibigan ko. Ayun, naglakad-lakad lang kami,” she gushes. “Isang goal ko ’yon. ‘Okay lang kahit naka-pambahay kayo, go.’ Ang saya nun. Iconic.”  

With Sheesh keeping up with The Eras Tour’s 21-month run, how does she sustain that energy and excitement for each show? Simple: “‘Di ako nakikinig ng anything Taylor after nung event. Para hindi ako maumay.”

That, along with the joy she sees in the young Swifties which matter to her the most. “May mga matatanda na kasama ‘yong apo nila tapos kinukwento [sa’kin,] ‘Tuwang tuwa ‘yong apo ko sa’yo.’ ’Yon ‘yong mga compliment na gusto ko sana marinig sa lola ko kaso wala na siya. ‘Yong mga nanay na tuwang-tuwa ‘yong mga anak, makikita mo ‘yong mga reaction ng mga bata na hindi sila takot. Natutuwa sila. Kasi ‘yong [ibang magulang] diba, [naniniwalang] natuturuan daw silang maging bakla lalo dahil sa drag. Sabi ko, ‘No,’” she says. 

The tour has also given her the opportunity to meet and perform for people like Bretman Rock. “Parang isang song lang ‘yong na-perform ko. Apat lang silang andoon [sa hotel room niya] so nakaka-pressure. Tapos sigawan lang kami nang sigawan [after]. Nag-fangirl kami sa isa’t isa. Sobrang saya ni Bretman. Parang bigyan mo lang siya ng Red Horse, mag-i-inuman na kayo. Sobrang bait. Kaso naubos ang English ko,” she recounts their meeting.

And she still has a list of people she wants to perform for and be able to watch perform which include Adele, Beyoncé, and P-pop supergroup SB19. 

Better than revenge

But it’s not all rainbows and butterflies for Taylor Sheesh. Like her idol, she has received her fair share of hate comments—among them were ones from  Jiggly Caliente. Sheesh has taken cues from Swift on how to deal with them. “Dedma,” she says. “Dati mapagpatol talaga ako. ‘Yong konting kibot lang papatulan ko talaga hanggang sa masira ‘yong account niya. Pero ngayon wala na akong time. Parang dun ako nag-grow.”

The comments that hit Sheesh the hardest are the ones that body shame. “Hindi nila alam ‘yong pinagdadaanan ko, kung bakit ganito ‘yong katawan ko. ‘Yong iba parang ginagawa kong joke na lang pero minsan meron talagang maa-attack ka talaga as personal. ‘Yong ginagawa ko, dinedelete ko. Bino-block ko sila after. Para wala silang ganti,” she says. “Pero actually natutuwa rin ako sa kanila kasi nagu-up tuloy ‘yong mga post ko. Thank you kasi kumikita ako. Still winning.”

She says she’s not in the business of asking for pity, adding, “Ayoko kasi na kaawaan ako ng tao, na parang hahanap ako ng kakampi. Alam mo yun? Kahit fault mo naman, hahanap ka ng kakampi? It’s a no sa akin.”

What’s next for one of the faces of Pinoy drag impersonation today?

Asked whether she feels pressured and intimidated in her status as a top impersonator and drag artist in the country, Sheesh was quick to answer no. “Hindi sa pagmamayabang. Lahat naman ng mga impersonator dito sa Pilipinas ay magagaling, so bakit ka mape-pressure? Patunayan mo na lang. Ma-pressure ka sa mga taong nag-e-expect lagi. [Pero] kahit binigay mo na lahat, ‘yong gumastos ka ng P50k sa gown, ‘di [‘yan lahat] ma-sa-satisfy. Kaya dedma. Mag-focus ka na lang sa mga taong naniniwala sa’yo,” she says.

Whether or not she gets that long-awaited recognition from Swift, Sheesh says she has no plans of stopping anytime soon. In fact, she wants to go bigger and establish her own name. “Tuloy-tuloy pa rin sa Taylor Swift events, [pero] gusto ko may drag din. ‘Di lang makilala ng tao as Taylor Sheesh lang, gusto ko as a versatile artist. Kaya ko lahat, ‘di lang puro Taylor. ‘Yong iba nag-u-underestimate sa akin kasi ‘di pa nila ako kilala way back sa Nectar. ‘Di pa nila ako napapanood [as Mac],” she says.

Sheesh is forever grateful to Swifties who’ve been with her in this entire journey and promises to carry them with her when she gets to watch TS next year. “If in case, ako ‘yong mabunot sa ‘22’ hat moment, ‘di ’yon para sakin. Para rin sa mga fellow Swifties ko na tinulungan ako,” she says. “Siyempre parang achievement sa lahat ng Swifties na ma-meet si [Swift]. At least [sana] ma-meet nila through me. Parang ako ‘yong naging bridge. At least na ma-experience ng tao [‘yong] Filipino pride na ako ‘yong nag-represent. Super grateful and forever suportahan and tulungan [tayo].”

The tour is an era for Taylor Sheesh and she’s planning to have many more. Because, as the lyric goes, Sheesh is out to prove that she’ll never go out of style.

Photos by Colin Dancel

Story by Amrie Cruz

Styling by Edlene Cabral

Hair and makeup by Keith Yema 

Creative direction by Nimu Muallam-Mirano

Art direction by Ella Lambio

Produced by Amrie Cruz

Videos by Samantha Ong and Mikey Yabut

Video produced by Andrea Posadas

Assisted by Ched Bautista and Katrina Valerio

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