Add flamboyance, subtract the dullness of your average math class, and you get the joys of math presented by Filipino Drag queen, Kyne Santos.
I recall being in my 9th-grade math class, trembling in fear of being called on by my teacher to solve a trigonometry problem on the board. It wasn’t because I was shy or I hated getting my hands dirty with marker stains; I was terrible at math. Just abysmal. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreaded math class and loathed numbers. Sometimes I think, maybe it’s why I became a writer.
But all jokes aside, it really is difficult to embrace the complicated world of mathematics.
From finding it hard to do long division to actual math anxiety, people have their different ways of being frustrated with it. In extreme cases, people are afflicted by dyscalculia, a learning disorder similar to dyslexia, which, according to the Cleveland Clinic, “affects a person’s ability to understand number-based information and math.”
It was in late 2023 that I came across Kyne Santos, a Filipino drag queen, on my TikTok “For You” page. At first, I dismissed her videos because, well, they were about math. But the algorithm somehow kept bringing them back and, before I knew it, I was hooked.
@onlinekyne Magic with Möbius Strips! 🔁 #math #mathtiktok #dragqueen ♬ original sound – Kyne
WHO IS KYNE, THE MATH QUEEN?
In case your TikTok algorithm hasn’t brought the wonder that is Kyne to your for you page, allow me to introduce the Math Queen to you.
Kyne Santos is a Filipino drag queen based in Canada. She is known mainly for posting TikToks where she discusses an array of topics in mathematics including but not limited to: algebra, calculus, theories, and even some science and Filipino history here and there.
According to a Vice article, Kyne was born here in Manila and moved to Canada at only five years old. She then went on to study math at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. The 26-year-old drag queen began her drag journey in the pre-pandemic era by uploading videos of sewing tutorials for drag outfits and wigs.
She then joined Season 1 of Canada’s Drag Race. Despite being eliminated by the second episode, Kyne’s career has blossomed as beautifully as her wigs.
So, what makes Kyne different from our high school math and science teachers? Well, hold on to your hats. Kyne does the TikToks in a complete drag ensemble, with colorful wigs, fabulous outfits, and full glam makeup. Not only does she keep the audience hooked with drag show looks, but she also teaches complex topics and makes them digestible for people like me, who struggle to find joy in math.
@onlinekyne The Voyager Golden Record: humanity’s message in a bottle! What pictures and songs would you have sent? #math #nasa #voyagergoldenrecord ♬ original sound – Kyne
SPRINKLING MATH IN GLITTER
Aside from uploading educational and fabulous videos on TikTok, Kyne also published her first book, “Math in Drag,” in March of this year. According to Kyne’s website, the book “educates us about both mathematical mysteries and the world of drag through her unique perspective.”
Not only that, the Filipino icon also has a podcast, “Think Queen with Kyne,” wherein she discusses science and math with different guests in 30-40 minute episodes. If you find yourself binging her TikTok videos and can’t get enough, then her book and podcast are perfect for you.
HOW DOES SHE DO IT?
The question begs to be asked: how does she do it? How does Kyne Santos manage to keep the audience hooked while teaching topics that we would otherwise be snoozing in class at? The answer: finesse. And time.
While regular math and science classes typically last for an hour or more and are taught by stuffy teachers who will yell at you if you get a question wrong, (definitely not a shout-out to my old science and math teachers) Kyne manages to teach us topics ranging from what a vector is to the invention of zero with incredible finesse using her drag looks, eye-catching editing, and being consistent with the short-form type of content.
And since Gen Z is popularly known for short attention spans, Kyne got us with his flavorful mastery of mathematics.
@onlinekyne #repost ♬ original sound – Kyne
WHAT’S NEXT?
After being in Drag Race Canada, publishing a book, going on a book tour, creating a podcast, and being included in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in Toronto, you would think Kyne would just sit on a grassy field like Thanos at the beginning of Avengers: Endgame. But fortunately for us, she is not up to that lifestyle. Kyne continues to create educational content on TikTok to make math easy and fun for us. So, we are in no danger of running out of math in drag content.
If you, like me, struggle with numbers and combining those numbers with letters, Kyne is the perfect queen for you. No need for you to add four plus four to know that she ate with everything she has accomplished thus far.
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