the disturbing part is that the public-facing persona account is referred to as the “real” one

Neoliberal subjectivity.

RuPaul’s Drag Race avoids union rules by declaring what the queens do on the show is “not a performance” but instead constitutes “appearing as myself” https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2018/05/rupauls-drag-race-contestant-contract/