Fridae

Melbourne's Swinburne University is offering a course for drag artists which promises to "bring out the beauty queen within."

A week-long adult education course at Melbourne's Swinburne University aims to teach budding drag queens the art of eyebrow shaping, waxing and covering up unsightly beard shadow.

Instructor Michael Schifferle, a make-up artist for the past 10 years and teacher for the past four years, said it was being offered to meet the growing demand within the gay community.

He told news agency AFP: "There is definitely more to being a successful drag queen than simply wearing the right clothes� We are offering those interested the opportunity to gain an understanding of high fashion and theatrical make-up to design an individual look."

The course prospectus reads: "Want to be a glamorous Drag Queen? Bring out the beauty queen within by gaining an understanding of a combination of high fashion and theatrical makeup to design your own individual look. Become proficient in concealing eyebrows and beard shadows and acquire sound technique and product knowledge."

Students prepared to fork out A$245 (US$155) for the course in becoming a "glamorous drag queen" are asked to bring tissues, cotton buds, sponges and make-up remover along to each session.