About Bobby Pudrido
Originally from Laredo Texas, Bobby moved to Austin in 2008. In his 20s, the two options of audiences in nightlife spaces were either BIPOC and cis heteronormative or queer and predominantly white.
After coming out as trans in his early 30s, Bobby started taking initiative in his creativity. He found a way to express the beauty of his intersecting identities through drag and grew a passion to create spaces where historically erased and marginalized identities are celebrated and seen.
Since then, Bobby has been nominated for Best of Austin’s Drag Performer and Drag Showcase, created and co-produced shows like Brokeback Cantina and Rhinestone Roots, and produced drag story time events to bring queer joy to folks of all ages.
My drag name is Bobby Pudrido for many reasons and here’s two. For one, Bobby Pulido was a staple of my childhood, the dreamboat of the 956 and south Texas. I like to cosplay as a dreamboat as a way to remind myself I always was one even people treated me as an afterthought. Secondly, the word Podrido means rotten in Spanish. I discovered my love for drag at the tender age of 32 and I deserve to spoil myself rotten with versions of myself I’ve wanted to explore for decades.
I love performing to upbeat songs that speak to my identity as a Latine Tejano king. I started drag as an active member in Austin’s only drag king and gender diverse troupe, called the Boyz of Austin, and have quickly established myself as regularly booked king in Austin. I was then cast in monthly drag shows, one called Clinks at Little Drinks Lounge, one at Lulu’s Austin, where I helped create and produce their very first drag show. I’ve since been nominated for the Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin Drag Performer ‘24 and ‘25, Best Drag Showcase, and have hosted a set of Bushwig, an international drag festival in NY for two consecutive years.
Drag and music has been a way for me explore my gender identity as a trans and non-binary person. My favorite part of doing drag is seeing others enjoy a sense of belonging in my art.