The mother of a nine-year-old drag queen has been criticised for ‘sexualising’ her child, after he adopted a female alter ego at the age of seven.
Montreal ‘mini queen’ Nemis Quinn Mélançon Golden has been catching the eye of drag artists across the globe, ever since he appeared onstage as Lactatia with Ru Paul’s Drag Race star Bianca del Rio on her Werq the World drag tour earlier this summer.
When Nemis’ mother Jessica appeared with her son via a live link from Montreal on the ITV daytime show This Morning, her parenting skills were called into question by viewers.
Jessica, who helps Nemis with his make-up, was blasted for allowing her son to take part in the adult entertainment.
‘Disgusting that children that young are being sexualised by their parents, it’s not right!’ fumed one shocked viewer.
Jessica and her son Nemis, dressed as Lactatia, appeared on This Morning via a live link from Montreal
Jessica spoke about Nemis’ passion of dressing up as a drag queen and that he’s been dressing up since he was three
But viewers watching the segment thought that by allowing her son to take part in the adult entertainment that Jessica was ‘sexualising’ her him
‘Not sure how much that little boy is expressing himself or living out his mum’s frustrated ambitions,’ questioned another.
‘Something seems to be so wrong about 8 years old drag artist!!! Does anybody agree? He just is too young!!!’ said one upset viewer.
While some defended Nemis’ decision to follow his passion, which began when he was aged seven, others were more concerned that it was his mother’s wish rather than his.
‘”Help them pursue it”… aka push them into being your entertainer/plaything,’ suggested one.
‘I have no problem with him being a drag queen…..but the mum seems more excited than the child,’ added another.
Nemis – who performs as Lactatia – said he wanted to be a drag queen ‘forever’ and he his mother said she will support him ‘100 per cent’ of the way as he follows his dreams.
She said it was extremely important for her to allow her children to ‘tap into their creative side’ and said of his talents: ‘I thought it was the most fantastic thing. It’s fun for me and fun for him.’
While some supported Nemis’ hobby and encouraged him to be who he wanted, others thought that Jessica was ‘pushing’ him into being an entertainer
Nemis previously revealed in a video on Elle.com that he has been ‘wearing my sister’s tutus since I was like three or four.’
‘I think I’ve had Lactatia inside of me since I was born,’ he adds. ‘And that’s why I love that song Born This Way.’
He added that dressing in drag, ‘makes me feel very happy, like I am accepted.’
Nemis’ mother Jessica explained that her little boy was asking for her to put make-up on him from the age of two – and he just grew to love the art of it.
‘We just want our kids to express themselves however they see fit,’ she says. ‘As long as they are respectful and nice people, then I really don’t care!’
This Morning presenters Holly and Phil spoke with the mother and son asking him when he first discovered his love for dressing up
But then there was a turning point soon after Nemis turned seven – when he was introduced to Ru Paul’s Drag Race for the first time.
‘I love them because they do what they want to do and they aren’t afraid to do it,’ he says of the queens.
Soon enough, the confident eight-year-old was taking vogueing lessons and cultivating his stage persona: Lactatia.
It was Nemis’ 14-year-old sister, Kashmyr Luna Higgins, who came up with the name. His mom Jessica also helps him with the make-up.
This Morning airs weekdays at 10.30am on ITV