TEAL WE MEET AGAIN

Five years ago when I was shooting Season 2 of Canada’s Drag Race, I got some news that completely shook me and I immediately thought of my GF Alison.

After pulling myself together, I ran to watch our photographer shoot the Queens in their runway looks before filming began. As I turned the corner, I saw the beautiful Suki Doll in a teal dress *gasp*.

Photo courtesy: Crave

If you know me and/or Alison, you know that teal is the colour of cervical cancer. You’d also likely know that before Alison passed, she started a blog called Tealpower Canuck and all of her friends wore teal bracelets in support of her battle.

Since then, I always have at least one item that’s teal on my person, could even be (and often is) my nail polish. Teal is the only nail polish colour I have worn since we lost her. My eye picks out anyone and anything in my line of sight with that colour. But teal is not an everyday colour, so when I saw Suki in this beautiful gown, again, my breath was taken away. And this time, a huge sense of calm washed over me and I felt Alison was giving me the nod that she was ok. I couldn’t shake the feeling that she was with me for the remainder of the day.

When Suki exited the show (way too early, btw) and we had our PR debrief, I shared this story with her. She could not believe it. Even from our first meeting, I felt a connection with her. She was bright, determined, talented and kind — so incredibly kind. Just like Alison. Since then, Suki calls Alison our guardian angel.

Fast forward to 2025: Suki was invited to compete on the Drag Race All Stars version in the Philippines, called #SlaysianRoyal and I was thrilled – I knew she would absolutely slay. In one episode, the Queens were given different coloured cacao leaves to use in their designs. Because Suki is the most skilled designer, she was given a disadvantage of not being able to choose her colour. Instead, she had to work with the colour that was left over. Turns out, it was teal. In Suki’s case, this was certainly not a disadvantage.

She put together the most stunning teal dress (yet again) that was “giving couture” and the judges were gagged! I could NOT have been more proud. She also made a point of telling the judges and audience about Alison and what the colour teal represented. I can’t watch the clip without tearing up. Alison would have been equally as proud to have Suki talking about her and raising awareness on the Filipino stage, and I personally couldn’t be more grateful.

What Suki didn’t know is that Alison was also Filipino. Just as she got sick, Ali had started to plan a trip to the Philippines with her family. She ultimately never made it, but this story makes me think she visited earlier this year while Suki was filming and walking the runway in teal.

Although Alison and Suki never met, they are now intertwined. Perhaps Alison knew that this fall - the 10 year anniversary of her passing - I needed something to help me through and to remind me that she’s still here watching over us. Thank you, Suki, for illuminating this sign. I couldn’t have hoped for anything more.

Missing you today and every day, GF, but feeling your presence and tealness always.

Teal we meet again,

Your GF xo