Coco Hendricks, a 25-year-old drag performer from the northern areas of Gqeberha, is set to compete in the Mr & Miss Sovereign Western Cape pageant this November, bringing with her a story of extraordinary resilience and unwavering determination to amplify the voices of South Africa’s most vulnerable communities.
Growing up in the gun-ridden neighbourhood of Bethelsdorp, Hendricks discovered her creative foundation at Triomf Primary School, where she became one of the first boy drum majorettes.
“I think that set the foundation for my creativity,” Hendricks recalled. “I was really involved in theatre and drama, so that is where all the creativity came from.”
Her journey into pageantry, however, has been marked by significant challenges. Whilst working at a cosmetics store, Hendricks reportedly faced workplace discrimination, highlighting the complex realities encountered by transgender individuals in South Africa.
Required to dress femininely for work but asked to use male facilities, she was allegedly escorted out of workplace bathrooms twice – one of many barriers faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, she added.
The turning point came five years ago when Hendricks was diagnosed with a serious brain infection that caused migraine-induced seizures.
“After the diagnosis, I was like, YOLO (You Only Live Once) and that was a huge scare for me – that I could die at any time,” she explained. The life-threatening diagnosis prompted her resignation from work and eventual move to Cape Town in February, where she has pursued pageantry as both a personal expression and an advocacy platform.
“What I always do with pageantry is not to win but to leave a mark, to be memorable, and to make those who feel unseen be seen,” Hendricks stated, articulating a philosophy that extends far beyond competition. Since entering the pageant circuit in 2019 with Miss Gay Eastern Cape, Hendricks has consistently been placed as first runner-up in major competitions.
Her participation in events like Miss Men In Drag and Battle of the Sexes 2020 has firmly established her within the close-knit drag community, where success often serves as a stepping stone to prestigious national competitions such as Miss Drag SA in Johannesburg.
The path to pageantry excellence requires considerable financial investment, however and Hendricks has largely self-funded her participation whilst navigating employment challenges.
Additional obstacles emerged earlier this year when hormone treatment and other medications for transgender women were restricted due to US policy changes, temporarily halting her transition journey.
“Even through it all, I’m still going to do what I intend to,” Hendricks maintained, embodying the resilience that has defined her approach to both personal and professional challenges.
Her advocacy extends beyond individual achievement to broader community representation.
Growing up in areas plagued by gangsterism and violence, Hendricks has been robbed multiple times but refuses to be silenced.
“It’s always been a fight moment and never a flight moment,” she explained. “If I can stand up on stage, then anyone else should be able to and I kind of represent a minority that doesn’t speak out.”
This representation feels particularly crucial, given what Hendricks described as inadequate support for the queer community. Her platform aims to challenge these limitations whilst creating visibility for those who might otherwise remain marginalised.
As pageant season intensifies across the Western Cape – with local competitions in Overbaakens and Walmer paving the way for major events – Hendricks, prepares for her departure to Cape Town on 26 September. The Mr & Miss Sovereign Western Cape competition, scheduled for 1 November, represents not merely personal ambition but also an opportunity to advocate for broader social change.
“With us, we say drag is an armour because what you put on is how you show up to the world,” Hendricks reflected, capturing both the transformative power of performance and the protective strength required to navigate a world that often fails to recognise or support LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Those wishing to support Hendricks’ fundraising efforts for pageant participation costs, which include transport fees, outfits, hair and beauty expenses, may contact her via WhatsApp at 073 125 9947 or email cocohendricks007@gmail.com.
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