The Drag Enthusiast: November 2014

Friday, November 28, 2014

Eve Summers: The "last word" isn't important

Eve Summers is a queen from Canada who is very willing to learn new things and perfect her craft. Her influences range from Kathy Griffin to Raven-Symoné but she wishes she could work with Beyoncé. Find out why you should pay attention to her and what makes her different from other queens.

1. Who is Eve Summers?

Eve Summers is a sister, a mother, a great-aunt, a crazy cat lady, and most of all: a shady cunt.

2. When did you start drag and why?

I started going out in drag this February. As for why, well I always wanted to dress and perform like Britney and Christina on stage, and eventually I did see my first drag queen Mahogany J Browne, but it wasn't until I saw RuPauls Drag Race that I realized drag queens were not people who wanted to be women. Then I saw that someone I knew had started doing drag (my friend Jolin Starr,) and I realized that this was something I could actually do.

3. Who is your biggest inspiration?

My biggest inspirations are Kathy Griffin, RuPaul, Tina Fey, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler, Raven, Raven-Symoné, and some established queens from here in Toronto like Ivory Towers, Katinka Kature, Carlotta Carlisle, Brooke Lynne Hytes, Sofonda Cox, Devine Darlin, Scarlett Bobo, and this list could go for several pages and there would still be people I’ve missed, so I am gonna stop now. I’m also inspired by my mother’s pure “I don’t give a fuck” attitude and ridiculous sense of humour.

4. Introvert or extrovert?

I'm definitely an introvert when I'm alone, but when I'm with friends I will come out of my shell, and I'm much more willing to approach people, dance, and have fun. Doing drag has also helped me shake a bit of my introversion. I’ve realized through drag that it’s actually quite fun to provoke people and confuse / scare them.

5. If you could work with anyone, who would it be and why?

Of course it would be Beyoncé. Once I work with Beyoncé I'll be royalty, and I can hurl racial slurs at people on Instagram and plagiarize dress designs (that's a joke.) But seriously I'd love the exposure that would come from that of course… If it’s drag queens, well I would love to work with Raven just to learn from her. I wanna see that bitch do her makeup in person.

6. Do you have a drag family?

I have plenty of sisters! I would love to have a mother but it didn’t happen for me. However I feel like each of my sisters brings something new that I can learn from, and I feel like I bring something that they can learn from as well. I have learned a lot from Helena Poison about makeup, from Barbie Jo Bontemps about performing and having fun on stage, and from Boa about being friendly and approaching people.

7. What is the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you?

I have been lucky enough to receive a lot of great advice from a lot of great queens. But there are some things I just never think of, like for example when Carlotta Carlisle told me to put more pink in my cheeks. It's kind of like "duh" but it's something where you may not realize how important it actually is until someone tells you. I have always been the person to ask for feedback directly from people that I admire. I appreciate the truth because I always want to improve my craft.

8. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I would go to Tokyo, because it's very clean, and I like Japanese guys.

9. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

That's a scary question. Hopefully financially comfortable, in a stable relationship, and with a dog. I'd love to be a famous drag queen, and if I'm not making a good living as a queen by then, I'd probably retire and just focus on my other talents.

10. What is your biggest insecurity?

Tie between my double chin, my backne, and my crippling inability to stop myself from being annoying. Also like any new queen should be, I am insecure about my ability to entertain, and about holding back on stage.

11. What is something that not many people know about you?

I am a huge gaming addict. I love Nintendo and I own a Wii U, 3DS XL, and a DS Lite. I also have a custom gaming PC, a PS Vita, and I'm currently waiting for Kingdom Hearts and FFXV to come out before I bite the bullet on a PS4.

12. Where did you learn to do makeup?

YouTube! I learned so much from so many different YouTube queens. Misty Eyez, Katana Rei, Misty Maven (Petrilude,) Joseph Harwood, and many others... I actually started off doing makeup as a boy every day, and I learned that from watching Gigi Gorgeous way back in 2008-09.

13. What is something that makes you unique compared to others?

I'm sure it's not that unique, but I actually don't smoke ever, I don't do any kind of drugs, and I don't get drunk and rarely have any alcohol.

14. How do you keep a positive attitude?

I try to remember not to respond to negativity directly, to let things go when "the last word" is really not important, and to always give people the benefit of the doubt. Also I find that having pets (2 cats, Mochi and Binks) can make me happy as I get to play with them, and just enjoy the love they give me. I find it odd how even people who are so successful, even some who have won RuPaul’s Drag Race, will only take to social media to respond to negative comments.

15. If you could have any super power, what would you pick and why?

Transformation like Mistique from X-Men. I don’t think that even needs explanation coming from a drag queen!

Contact Eve Summers:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXOCp6Ny5xVSkgGuXOVIouA

Instagram: @evesummersxo

Twitter: @evesummersxo

Tumblr: http://2555days.tumblr.com/

Facebook: https://facebook.com/?_rdr#~!/evesummersxo?fref=ts

The Drag Enthusiast

Twitter: @DragEnthusiast

Tumblr: dragenthusiast.tumblr.com

Instagram: @ragingdragaholic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dragenthusiast

Monday, November 24, 2014

Farrah Mones: Burlesque and Video Games

Farrah Mones is from the Seattle area. She's only 18 years old and she's still learning but she always seems to stay down to earth and has always been very approachable. Her drag isn't the typical modern drag because she loves to do Burlesque songs with her own modern twist.

1. Describe your drag persona.

Well, my drag persona is a mix of classic and vintage performance with a modern aesthetic. It's also a good mix of my twin and also who I would be as a woman onstage.

2. Who or what inspires you the most?

I think a lot of my character inspiration would be from my twin brother. My drag mentor inspires me the most. He's a performer who's been around for a long time and he knows his way around the ropes. He's been all around the country doing drag...he does old school drag. He really likes to focus more on performance instead of being so modern and predictable. His name is Mark Finley and he's Seattle based.

3. Where did you get your drag name from?

From sitting down and I was trying to think of who I wanted to be onstage. I wanted to be someone who could attract everybody, obviously. I wanted to be someone that you could feel like you've known through your whole life. I was also studying chemistry in school and just the biology of people who are kind of naturally attracted to each other. I was studying pheromones and that's how I came up with "Farrah Mones". She's someone who can appeal to everybody and you can feel natural being around.

4. Do you think Rupaul's Drag Race has improved the drag community and ruined it and why?

Well if it wasn't for drag race, I probably wouldn't have been introduced to drag. But I can certainly see the negative effect that it has...it's given drag a lot of publicity and a lot of people think that just anyone can do drag. They do it and they call themselves a "Queen". It's not necessarily true that everyone can just go onstage and be a performer. Drag isn't meant for everybody. I encourage everyone to try drag but Drag Race has just given people the mentality that everyone can do drag and that being a bitch is the key component to being a drag queen and that's totally not true. I think it works for some people and it depends on what you take from the show.

5. What is your biggest insecurity?

I think my biggest insecurity right now would probably be my age. Being in Seattle there isn't many opportunities in drag for people who are under 21 and I'm only 18. Being at my level of drag that I'm confidently at right now, it makes me want to be onstage more often. Whenever I do competitions or whenever I just go onstage to perform, my age is something that makes me a little nervous because I feel like I'm not going to be up to the other people's expectations. Once I stop focusing on that I have more fun and drag becomes more enjoyable.

6. Do you have a most embarrassing moment?

Yes and I think it's something every drag queen experiences onstage at least once. But I was doing a competition in Seattle this past summer and I made it all the way to the semi-finals in a celebrity impersonation competition. Like every other week the judges would have to keep switching my character which is kind of weird because not everyone else in the competition was doing that but the judges wanted to see something different out of me. When the semi-finals came I had switched to Christina Aguilera who I had never really been a fan of before, but after watching "Burlesque" I learned that style of performance. So my mentor in the competition and I decided it would be a good idea for me to impersonate Christina in "Burlesque". I ended up getting onstage and I forgot half the words to the song which was completely embarrassing because the judges obviously called me out on it. It made me feel really basic.

7. Who is your favorite drag queen?

Probably my drag mentor, Mark Finley because nobody does his type of drag anymore. He's an older queen and he sticks to what he was doing back in the day. So it's definitely him. If I had to pick a more modern queen it would probably be The Markos Sisters. It's 3 drag queens in Seattle who are all amazing in their own individual ways and they're a tight knit sisterhood. Their names are Kaleena Markos, Minerva Markos, and Cherry Markos and all 3 of them are unique in their own ways but fierce no matter what. If you could mold all 3 of them into one queen it would definitely be the mega queen.

8. What is your favorite song to perform to? Any specific reason why?

If I had to pick one it would be "Mein Herr" from Liza Minelli in Caberet. It's from a classic movie but I got to do my modern twist on it all and it's super fun and campy. I love the old Burlesque style. Also my costume was amazing.

9. If you had the power to completely rid the world of one thing, what would it be and why?

Probably traffic because I hate sitting in an hour of traffic everyday to get to Seattle when I only live 10 minutes away.

10. What is your coming out story?

I was in 8th grade when I realized who I actually was and I had this plan because I lived in a really conservative family. My dad was always really vocal about how he just completely hated gay people. So I had this plan where I was going to wait until I turned 16 to see if it was a phase or not and then I was going to come out if I had a job and a car just in case I had to move out. My twin totally ruined that by outing me to my parents and it was really weird. I came out to people at school and my twin told my parents so everybody kind of found out all at once. I lived in a very conservative area too so I lost all my friends and my dad reacted exactly how I thought he would. He wasn't happy and it took him a long time to calm down from it. He realized though that having a gay son isn't the worst thing in the world. There was one time where he told me and my brother that we could become anything in life as long as we weren't gay. Basically we could be a serial killer, we could drop out of high school, we could become a drug addict but as long as we weren't gay he would still love us. It made it super difficult for me to even want to open up to him. After the cat was out of the bag it tore the family apart for a while which is kind of ridiculous because I was just in 8th grade and I didn't mean any harm. I apparently had done this horrible thing by being myself. So it took a while but things eventually chilled out and I think my dad saw me as more of an individual afterwards.

11. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years I hope to see myself being happy and hopefully being able to travel the world doing what I love which is just entertaining people and making them happy. If I were to stay local with my drag, I would say in 10 years that I would be pursuing my professional career as a psychologist because that's what I want my real career to be. But in my fantasy world I certainly want to become a worldwide drag entertainer and to help people out and encourage them to do what they want to do in life.

12. What is something that no one knows about you?

Oh my gosh, I don't even know. I'm such a blabber mouth and I tell everybody everything about myself. I would say that no one knows that I want to be Miley Cyrus but I just remembered that I tell everyone that. A lot of people don't know that I'm a video game addict. People think I'm a prissy think gay guy but I am obsessed with video games and I'm a really big nerd.

13. What else are you passionate about besides drag?

I would have to say my boyfriend. Haha. Anyways, I'm really passionate about civil rights because everyone should have the opportunity todo what they want. I'm passionate about making sure that everyone has their voice heard because I know what it's like to not have your voice heard and it sucks. So I make an effort to be passionate about other people's rights.

14. What does drag mean to you?

Drag is everything to me. It's saved me on so many different occasions. If I never discovered drag I know I wouldn't be anywhere close to where I am in life right now. It's really my entire world. It occupies a lot of my time and a lot of my mind. Drag means to me to be your most free and open self in front of people no matter what they're going to think.

15. If you could have any superpower, what would you pick and why?

My superpower would be shake shifting so I could get into drag in 3 seconds compared to having to take 4 hours to get ready.

Stalk Farrah Mones:

Instagram: @farrah_mones

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=603332136

The Drag Enthusiast:

Twitter: @DragEnthusiast

Tumblr: dragenthusiast.tumblr.com

Instagram: @ragingdragaholic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dragenthusiast

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Cupcake Canne: Yes You Canne!

Cupcake Canne is a performer in West Hollywood, California who sure lives up to her name. Sweet as a cupcake but also very driven, she continues to put on a fabulous show when she's onstage and also stays true to herself when the curtains close.

Photo by Miss Missy Photography

1. Describe your drag persona.

My drag persona is really just and more ballsy version of myself. Everything that is off limits to my boy-self is fair game for Cupcake. If you're referring to my style then I'd say I'm attracted to vintage pinup stuff with a bit a rock'n roll and of course anything Mugler!

2. What is your favorite song to perform to?

I'm not sure I have a favorite song to perform to. Whatever it is it has to be something that I feel. That's the only way I can take the crowd on a journey with me!

3. When did you start doing drag?

I started doing drag about a year and a half ago. Not long really. I've been a dancer and performer since I was 9yrs old though.

4. Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert?

I think I'm both if that's allowed? Depends really on the situation I'm in. I'm kinda shy around people I don't know.

5. What is your favorite/least favorite thing about the drag community?

I would say my favorite thing about drag is the feeling that I get when I know I've made a room full of people happy. My least favorite thing about the drag community would have to be all of the cattiness and bitchiness towards each other. We are all still men and we should act like men, not teenage girls!

6. What is your secret to success?

I think for anyone you should always be someone that people want to work with. You could have talent but if you are nasty to work with then people will not want to be around you. I don't know if that's a secret really...

Photo by Miss Missy Photography

7. What is the biggest lesson you've learned regarding your drag career?

Don't fuck it up!

8. where did you learn how to do makeup?

I'm self taught with my painting skills! Watching tutorials, studying pictures or friends that tell me I look stupid help a lot!

9. Do you have a drag family?

I have a drag mother or mentor, Ethylina Canne of Palm Springs. She's one of my dearest friends, She inspired me to do drag! It's hard to be in a bad mood when I'm around her! She has an infectious laugh. It's gross really... She's gross and I love her!

Photo by Miss Missy Photography

10. What is the best advice you could give someone who is interested in becoming a drag queen?

I would say never compare yourself to other queens. Always try to be a better version of yourself!

11. If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I would want the power to change my powers into any powers I wanted. Power power power! Did I say power enough?

Cupcake Canne with Lacey Noel

12. At the Marco Marco fashion show, you went down the runway doing ballet. How long have you been doing ballet?

I actually walked in the Walter Mendez show in LA fashion week. It was an amazing experience and kind of a little gay boys dream come true! I've been a dancer since the age of 9.

13. What is your most embarrassing moment?

I actually fell during a performance in a duet with my late friend Killer. It was at the Eagle while we were doing S&M by Rihanna and Britney. I fell not once but twice in a row... It was one of those moments where everything seem to happen in slow motion.

Photo by Miss Missy Photography

14. What was your favorite subject in school and why?

I don't remember...

15. In your opinion, what is your best quality?

I think it's my ability to feel. My strong sensitivity, if that makes sense. It's makes me a better person as well as a better artist.

Photo by Miss Missy Photography

Follow Cupcake Canne here:

Twitter: @cupcakecanne

Instagram: @cupcakecanne

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Yescupcakecanne

The Drag Enthusiast:

Twitter: @DragEnthusiast

Tumblr: dragenthusiast.tumblr.com

Instagram: @ragingdragaholic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dragenthusiast

Follow Lacey Noel:

Twitter: @LaceyNoel27

Instagram: @misslaceynoel

Tumblr: itsmisslaceynoel.tumblr.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lacey-Noel/287664421285749

Follow Miss Missy Photography:

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Twitter: @misssmissy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miss-Missy-Photography/111354342233896

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Veronica Pop: What's Poppin'?!

If you want a dose of funny mixed with a dose of beauty and a dash of sickening dance moves...Veronica Pop is your queen! But always remember...she's innocent...she promises!

1. Describe your drag persona.

Veronica will sleep with your boyfriend and then fuck your brother and then hang out with your mother and call your sister, asking for a dollar and a ride back home. Veronica Pop is fully aware of whats poppin' in pop culture.

She knows every Top 40 song and what Kim Kardashian had for lunch that day.

Ms Pop has elements of old drag mixed in with sex kitten with a taste of old school hookers.

2. In your opinion, what is your biggest accomplishment?

Telling my parents about Veronica Pop.

3. What has been your biggest obstacle?

I go through random phases in my life where I want to quit drag and just be a basic gay boy but I have such an amazing group of friends that remind me everyday how awesome and talented I am. I don't know where I would be without Zach, Steve, Jossy, or April Showers.

4. When did you start doing drag?

I started doing drag like every other queen, HALLOWEEN!

It was a costume party so I went as Ms Britney Spears 2007 era.

5. Where do you get your inspiration from?

Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Tumblr, & just life in general.

6. What is your opinion on the Facebook real name policy?

Thank god, I didn't get caught up on that policy but I think its extremely uncalled for and disrespectful for FB to make such a policy. I had 2 of my best friends get forced by FB to change their names and they weren't happy about it. I'm glad Sister Roma did what she did.

7. Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

Britney Spears.

I never really cared for her before her breakdown in 2007 but after all that stuff happened, she seemed real to me.

Just the fact that she had such a public meltdown but yet still comes out on stage and performs is truly amazing.

I know if I had a huge meltdown,I wouldn't leave my room for years.

8. If you could work with anyone, who would it be and why?

I would LOVE to work with Tatiana from Drag Race, Season 2, I love how her style is very current & her look is super FISH!