Thomas Dekker participated in Make Up Your Mind. For this television program, which can be seen on RTL 4, the former professional was transformed into a drag queen. Dekker reflects on the experience on his Instagram.
In Make Up Your Mind, famous Dutch people compete against each other while they have been transformed into drag queens. In several rounds, two panels - competing against each other - try to guess which famous man (or woman) is behind the creation. Hints are also given. For example, Dekker had a water bottle around his neck and wore the name 'La Prima Donna', as a reference to the patron saint of cyclists.
The transformation into 'a completely different person' showed Dekker how valuable this can be for people, he writes on Instagram. "Being able to be someone else for a moment and enter a different world. As a cyclist I recognize the feeling. As soon as I put on my outfit and get on the bike, I leave everything behind and feel free, in a different world. It's like there's another person on the bike."
Dekker also says that he loved being made up. "I'll continue with my heels, but in the living room. I hope people see that Make Up Your Mind is more than a show. It's about letting people be who they are. Without judgement. As a Dutch person, I have always been proud of how tolerant we are. In recent years it has become apparent that this is not always the case. Not on the street, not in sports and so on. People, be kind and judge less quickly. Or actually not at all. Ultimately, we all want to live life the way we want to."