“Be who you want to be. That’s the reason I said yes to this”.
Armin van Buuren appeared in drag as a surprise guest on Dutch TV show Make Up Your Mind over the weekend, sharing a message of positivity with viewers and fans around the world.
The legendary Dutch trance producer featured as the one-time ‘Mystery Queen’ on Saturday night’s edition of the RTL4 programme, which invites a group of celebrities to step out in drag and compete with each other via a panel of judges.
In a video message shared ahead of the show, Armin, “not in my usual outfit”, said: “I want to make a statement and invite everybody to party worldwide, but be who you want to be. Feel free, feel safe, and look after each other.”
Expanding on those words in an Instagram story, the A State Of Trance founder said: “For me, this wasn’t just about dressing up or surprising people. It was about supporting something I genuinely believe in: everyone should feel safe to be themselves.
“I know that talking about subjects like this can feel like a taboo, but I also believe that sometimes you should speak up for something you feel is right. Music and dance have always been about freedom, expression and bringing people together, and I want everyone to be themselves and feel safe on dance floors worldwide. I’m proud to have taken part in this and hopefully remind you that it’s okay to be exactly who you want to be.”
The Dutch star has had a busy 2026 already, with his residency at [UNVRS] Ibiza ongoing until 5th October, including a weekly vinyl-only set.
