Mum criticised for letting gender-neutral child, 8, become a drag queen

A defiant mum has hit back at critics who have accused her of child abuse for letting her gender-neutral eight-year-old become a drag queen.

First introduced to the gender-bending performance art at just two years old after watching RuPaul's Drag Race – which is currently airing its 12th series, and sees fierce queens compete for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar – Mill Blackburn was instantly hooked.

The youngster, who is non-binary – identifying as neither male nor female – and uses the pronouns 'they' and 'them,' introduced their own drag persona in August 2019. Taking to the stage at Denver's Dragutante – a festival celebrating self-expression through drag – to lip sync to a track by singer Lizzo as their sassy alter-ego Salt Qween, Mill brought the house down, with older drag mentors insisting the starlet perform in their fortnightly shows.

With Salt Qween's career taking off, life for Mill has now become a whirlwind of colourful wigs, sparking sequins and gruelling weekly rehearsal runs.

Mill's mum Manige Blackburn, 34, is more than supportive, but not everyone has been as kind, with some critics even accusing her of child abuse.

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