Mind you, I’d been exposed to drag queens and female impersonators for a number of years living in Bangkok. I’d been to the world famous Alcazar show in Pattaya several times and always thought the “women” were gorgeous and the illusion was phenomenal. But my first experience with a king was less than inspiring.
It wasn’t until several years later that I saw another drag king. It was at Tucson Pride, and we had just seen Ajia Simone come out and wow the crowd. The next entertainer was a drag king. I do remember this one’s name; Mister Fister. I watched him up there, in a pair of coveralls doing Cake’s ‘Drive.’ I leaned over to my then-different-than-the-first-girlfriend and said, “I could do that!” The seed was planted.
I talked about it with my girlfriend on numerous occasions; the type of numbers I would do, costumes I could wear, etc. Reading ‘Tipping the Velvet’ and watching the movie later, only made that seed grow faster. At this point, I had no idea how far one could go with drag. I didn’t know there were titles, pageants, all that jazz. For me, it looked like a way for me to get back on stage and express the creativity that was threatening to boil over. However, nothing came of it at that time. It was placed on the backburner, just like so many other ideas. Backburnered, but not forgotten.
My very first performance was a fundraiser at a building that held art and music classes in downtown Tucson. My song was ‘Dance Dance’ by Fall Out Boy and I looked like a hot mess. However, in my defense, I was kind of trying to figure all this out on my own. I knew I needed spirit gum and facial hair, but I’d never worked with spirit gum before and no one mentioned how messy it could be, especially when it got on your fingers and you’re trying to pick up facial hair. Ugh. I was bound with duct tape. LOTS of duct tape. Again, no one showed me how to do it, so I figured as long as I could get my boobs to flatten, I’d figure out the rest later. I wasn’t wearing any makeup and my “costume” was what I could find in my closet. However, that being said, I knew my words, knew that my performance was at least interesting, and even managed to throw in some dance moves.
My second show was at the now defunct Heart V. I did ‘Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’ and was *supposed* to do ‘Light My Candle’ but my duet partner bailed on me not 30 minutes before we were supposed to be on stage. My facial hair had improved from the first time, I had a binder, and my outfit was a little more interesting. I was improving and it showed!
I was sad to leave Dragstar, but it needed to happen. I still miss some of them.
In the 7 or so years I’ve been doing drag, I have grown so much as an entertainer. I’ve done things I never even imagined possible when that first spark was lit almost a decade ago. I’ve traveled, won titles, met incredible people who inspire me, and have gained a chosen family that I couldn’t imagine NOT having in my corner.
We all had to start somewhere. Some of us were lucky enough to have a drag-parent to help guide us along the way, some of us had to wing it. But it’s more than the costumes, the makeup and the binding… it’s about learning, growing and raising that bar.
This is an on-going process, one that I will continue to work on until the day I decide it’s time to step back from drag. Until then, I’m thankful for every second of this roller coaster and for all the people who have helped me along the way – those I still talk to and those I’ve lost touch with. You are all a part of the entertainer I am today, and I thank you.