SBG 160: Drop Dead Gorgeous with Olivia Levine

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Welcome back to Lez Hang Out, the podcast that is just too good to be true.

This week, Leigh (@lshfoster) and Ellie (@elliebrigida) hang out with queer actor, writer, and comedian Olivia Levine (@olivialevine19) to talk about why the 1999 cult classic Drop Dead Gorgeous, Should’ve Been Gay. If you’re unfamiliar with the plot, it focuses on a small town beauty pageant that turns deadly for the contestants. As with many movies from the 90s, there are a lot of things in the script that just do not hold up in 2026. We still enjoyed this movie overall, but please be aware there is a period-typical amount of ableism, racism, and homophobia. 

One thing that Drop Dead Gorgeous does get right is the casting. This cast is STACKED. If you’re a millennial like us, you’ll recognize so many people in this movie, including Kirsten Dunst, Kirstie Alley, Denise Richards, Brittany Murphy, and Amy Adams. The acting is impeccable and the characters are delightfully unhinged in the campiest of ways. Being an SBG, the characters aren’t openly queer, but we can honestly say we do not think there is a single straight character in this movie. Unfortunately, interpreting these characters as queer means there is quite a bit of BYG (bury your gays) trope throughout. For a romcom, there is a shocking amount of murders, but they are done in really over the top, comical ways (so it isn’t scary to watch!). 

We know one thing for sure, Drop Dead Gorgeous Should’ve Been Gay.

Check out Olivia’s monthly comedy show “Strapped” at the legendary Stonewall Inn in NYC. Keep an eye out for upcoming dates and locations for Olivia’s solo comedy show “Unstuck”, which focuses on the intersection of OCD, anxiety and queerness. 

Give us your own answers to our Q & Gay on Instagram and follow along on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and BlueSky @lezhangoutpod. Email us @lezhangoutpod@gmail.com. Connect with us individually: Ellie Brigida (@elliebrigida). Leigh Holmes Foster (@lshfoster).

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