Boy, 11, reveals wearing drag helps him with his confidence

An 11-year-old boy admitted live on Loose Women that wearing drag gives him confidence.

Leo Noakes sashayed into the ITV studio wearing fishnet tights and high heels as he transformed into his alter ego Violet Vixen and told the panel that he feels “more like himself” when he is in drag.

His mother Leanne said that her son’s interest in drag is not about wanting to change his gender but helps with his confidence.

She said: “From my ignorance I assumed that that’s what he wanted. It’s not at all.

“But actually, he’s really open anyway, he really clearly just says, ‘I’m a boy, I like being a boy, just because I’ve got a penis doesn’t mean I can’t wear a dress’.

“He just wants to show everyone its ok to be different. That’s what he taught me.”

Leo added: “It gives you more confidence you just feel more like yourself.”

11-year-old Leo has transformed himself into his alter-ego Violet Vixen… pic.twitter.com/vxUgni4JAG

— Loose Women (@loosewomen) August 8, 2018

His mother went on to say his passion started when he was just a toddler when he borrowed his sister’s clothes.

She said: “He’s always been flamboyant, and a big character and he’s always been wanting to dress in high heels and dresses and things.

“When he was about six people started to say he should have grown out of it by then.

“I brushed it off at first but it wasn’t until a few months after that and it was stewing a little bit, I thought it was time to knock it on the head.”

At first, she tried to encourage him to have more “masculine interests” and he developed an interest in cars but when he searched for drag racing online, Leo found RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Leo was bullied at school because of his love for drag but his mother revealed the answer he would give to people who criticised him.

She said: “He says why spend time giving hate to people who aren’t harming people and aren’t doing anything wrong, when you could embrace it and have fun with them?

“He had the bullying at school, but the more bullying he got the more he did it.”

Drag Race star and Celebrity Big Brother winner Courtney Act recorded a message to Leo telling him how proud she was.

Big thanks to @courtneyact for sending such a positive message to Leo/Violet Vixen on the show today. 💜 pic.twitter.com/fDIeR6SUsc

— Loose Women (@loosewomen) August 8, 2018