Runway Drag: Becca Baroni crowned champion of Brazil’s first airport lip sync battle

• The duels took place in the food court area of Salvador Airport
• Seven drag queens participated in the 1st lip sync battle at a Brazilian airport

Salvador Bahia Airport, a member of the VINCI Airports network, celebrated this Friday (4) the first lip sync battle ever held in a Brazilian airport, the Runway Drag. After several rounds of performances, Becca Baroni was crowned champion. The event brought together guests, passengers, and visitors, and represents a milestone in valuing drag art and Bahia’s LGBTQIA+ culture.

“Thank you so much to Salvador Airport for the opportunity to showcase our work, what we do best, which we usually present in bars late at night. It is extremely gratifying to be able to perform a drag lip sync during the day in a space with such a diverse audience as Salvador Airport,” said champion Becca Baroni during the event.

Curated by journalist Genilson Coutinho, seven Bahian drag queens faced each other in lip sync duels. They were: Ariel Baldini, Hebbie Lauper, Lana Vergara, Lola Apple, Sfat Auermann, and Weel. The competition, held in the food court area, transformed the airport into a stage for diversity, creativity, and artistic expression. The show was hosted by Rainha Loulou, a drag queen and artist with more than two decades of experience in theater, film, and television.

The judging panel was composed of prominent names in the cultural and human rights scene: Lunna Montty, nationally recognized DJ and performer; Luísa Silva, legal advisor at the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Bahia in defense of LGBTI+ rights; and Devisson Esquivel, drag actor and creator of the character Saratyelly Koslowysky. DJ Milla Brianezi was responsible for entertaining the audience with the lip sync battle set.

“This event is a milestone that crowns the work we have been developing in recent years to make the airport an increasingly diverse, human, and representative environment. By promoting Runway Drag, we show that it is possible to transform the airport space into a territory of celebration, affection, and recognition for all. This achievement adds to the LGBT+ Diversity Seal that we have held for two years,” highlighted Daniela Franco, Communication Manager of Salvador Bahia Airport.

About Salvador Bahia Airport

Located in the capital of the state of Bahia, Salvador Bahia Airport is VINCI Airports’ first concession in Brazil, which began operations on January 2, 2018. Since then, Salvador Airport has incorporated global operational standards, seeking to offer more efficiency, safety, and an improved travel experience for its passengers. With an investment of R$ 700 million in modernization and terminal expansion, the airport increased its capacity by 50%, serving up to 15 million passengers per year. In addition, it was recognized with the Ethnic-Racial Diversity Seal by the Municipal Secretariat for Reparations of Salvador for its initiatives to combat institutional racism. Salvador Bahia Airport also stands out as the “Most Sustainable Airport in Brazil,” leading environmental preservation initiatives.

About VINCI Airports

VINCI Airports, the world leader in private airport operations, manages more than 70 airports in 14 countries. Thanks to its expertise as a global integrator, VINCI Airports develops, finances, builds, and operates airports, leveraging its investment capacity and know-how to optimize operational performance, modernize infrastructure, manage operations, and drive environmental transition. VINCI Airports was the first airport operator to commit to an international environmental strategy in 2016, aiming to achieve net zero emissions across its entire network by 2050.