1. Who is Abhora?
Abhora!
No Arrohba! When people add that last bit it makes me lash out at the
WORLD! Thanks, Facebook, for the kindergarten name policy!
2. When and why did you begin doing drag?
I started doing drag as petty revenge. I wanted to show the world how
quickly I could flourish in it and the world showed me it'd be a little
harder than throwing on a wig and memorizing a bubblegum, Mickey Mouse
bee bop, doing a split, a windmill, and a hi kick ka ka kow.
3. How did you come up with your drag name?
When
I lived in Miami, there was a legendary queen named Adora. She was
funny and bright, and positive and lit up the room. I wanted to do the
same thing, but I knew the way I wanted to go about it was the flip side
of that coin. I chose to show my ugliest sides, but to do so with the
same, overly joyous punch! I miss her!
4. Where does your inspiration come from?
I
take inspiration from John Waters and Divine and I seek out the ugliest
parts of being human. When I find something that truly unnerves me,
that's when I have the biggest success. I put it on myself like a mask
and I explode it to the biggest proportions that I can! A lot of times,
I'll take a trip to Goodwill and find an ugly antique and put it in a
new light. I also love to morph things that are innocent into vulgarity,
blasphemy, and silliness. I also have a lot to say about gender variety
and human rights, but I don't think it's come through in the character
yet.
5. What would you say is the most unique thing you have to offer?
What
sets me apart from other "trash queens" is my dedication to a clashing
higher aesthetic. I think having worked in the demanding field of
costume design and party performing with WILDCHILD WORLD prepared me to
be resourceful, and to never leave myself unprepared. I owe a certain
lot to Sean Fountain, CEO and owner of WILDCHILD WORLD, even if some
feelings got hurt along the way. When I tackle delicate subject matter, I
make sure to do so in a respectful way. I've seen how hard it is to
make art that is powerful without crossing the line into something that
would be, say, be profiteering from tragedy. I think if I didn't donate
every single dollar I was tipped for my PULSE angel number, the day OF
THE TRAGEDY, there would be something very wrong at the core of what
that performance was meant to me. And I wanted to share with my
audience.
As
for my latest performance, where I laid an egg as Jesus Christ, I took a
chance on alienating the largest audience on earth, but it embodied
everything I believe in American culture. I guess I also try as hard as I
can to live purposefully. I'm always afraid of doing a number that
isn't meaningful, or telling a joke that doesn't make the listener
think. I guess I just need to get over that.
6. You referred yourself as a "trash queen". How would you define that?
A "trash" queen is typically a new queen who doesn't have a lot of money
and relies on the sloppiness of their look, to carry some sort of punk
attitude for them. I identify with the genre to an extent. I like the
defiant ugliness in an environment where beauty is the ideal.
7. What are the most common misconceptions about your aesthetic?
I run into the assumption that my drag is weird for weird's sake, I
guess. I'm often told it's a refreshing surprise to talk to me and find
out I'm not a screeching creep like my persona. Everyone thinks my drag
is dumb because it is.
8. How has The Other Show impacted your career or just you as a person?
Being
on cast at The Other Show is a high honor and delight. (Don't tell Edie
I said that!). Being considered up to par with the talent that has been
showcased there is a huge ego boost. BUT, it's also motivating because
you wanna be the BEST.
9. Do you find it more difficult to get gigs as compared to non "trash queens"? Why?
I'm
not the first to be reached out to, but I think that's a feeling most
performers have. I do find that I have to be a lot more polite and
positive in the dressing room because of the outward appearance, being
so abrasive, looking and sounding.
It
was harder in the small town of Asheville to get ANYONE to give me a
chance! The scene was so small and the bars were always so empty, they
didn't want to risk anything on a girl that wasn't a pageant title
winner. But I find booking is 99% asking. You have to get yourself out
there and not wait for somebody else's permission.
10.
Performing alongside the cast of The Other Show, have you ever felt
that you weren't taken seriously? Is your craft appreciated?
My
craft has always been taken very seriously by the cast of The Other
Show. It was refreshing to to have a show director say, "We want you to
maintain your vision, but we have an expectation of excellence" Which
that has kept me going and wanting to push my ideas, instead of scaling
them back. Now, I will say, that some of my ideas were too off the wall
for the audience to grasp, and I can sense a disconnect. Ultimately,
being at The Other Show, the scrutiny is higher, but not to, "HOW MANY
GODDAMN RHINESTONES CAN YOU SHOVE ON A MAXIPAD...". Actually, I kinda
like that idea.
11. What has inspired your signature mug? The shaped teeth and long, pointed nose, for example?
My
face comes primarily from DIVINE. I've pulled inspiration from
illustrators like Camille Rose Garcia and Michael Hussar. The nose was
never intended to be so integral to my look, but it has won me some
individuality and I'll take what I can get.
12. What is your getting ready process like?
My
process has evolved over the years from screaming a lot, to now
screaming very little. I think it's funny how I've started using
something called the Ben Nye "bruise wheel" palette to "beat my face".
Typically, makeup takes about an hour and a half. I've started to vary
the style or look, based on the act.
My
main motif is always blacking out some significant feature of the face;
nose, teeth, neck, and ears. And also distortion is a major key to my
face. I generally want to be the most interesting looking person in the
room, so I pair my outfit with an obtuse headpiece.
13. What has been the most successful experience you've ever had as a drag entertainer?
I'd
say that it's simply that I have gotten to work with my best friends.
My favorite night is the one where I went BACK to Asheville, where I
started, and I did a show with my SISTER, Priscilla Chambers, whom I
started with, but, ironically, only performed alongside ONCE, because I
was unbookable for a long time where she performed and she was banned
and I took her place, all the week after our first show together.
We
performed her curated night at the ODDITORIUM, which was my favorite
bar back then because I used to do standup drag. It was very full circle
for me. I even founf great onstage chemistry with a fellow performer I
never really considered my friend. My friends are my greatest success.
14. Is there anything you'd like for people to know about you or just about drag in general?
I want people to know as little about me, except that I am truly sorry if you get in my way and get hurt!
15. Have you ever had interest in being a part of Dragula? Why?
HAHAHAHAHA
Being apart of the Boulet Brothers' franchise has been my goal from
essentially the start! I wasn't an established performer during the live
campaign of the Dragula competitions and this Saturday, at Drag Con, it
will be my FIRST! I want to turn it OUT HENNY.
16. Where do you see yourself and your career in 5 years from now?
Sadly,
I don't see this going as far as 5 years. I really need to start
focusing on my illustration career, and once I get back to it. I got
started on drag a little late, I feel. At 24 is when I feel a lot of THE
CASUAL LOT of them start to retire, but that's when I STARTED!
17. What is the most encouraging or discouraging thing you've ever experienced during a show?
Most
easily, I was moved by the solidarity during my Pulse tribute number. I
felt like we, the audience and I, were in sync and it was powerful.
The
discouraging bits are are often me misreading the audience, and when
there is a disconnect. I'm often disappointed when my message is not
fully actualized or the interpretation is not something I'd intended,
which is ultimately my fault.
18. Have you ever traveled for a gig? Where would be your dream place to perform be?
I've
traveled as far as 1 or 2 states away, but I hope to make connections
in Chicago, New York, Berlin, London, Panama City... Dreams.
19. You're an artist in many ways. I've seen some of your artwork. What inspires you to draw?
I
haven't really been inspired to draw anything serious in a long time.
My other art forms are begging for some attention into drag because it
feels right. But when I used to draw, it would, more or less, be of my
friends.
20. When people hear "Abhorra" what do you hope people think about or say in response to it?
I
would hope people get excited, a little apprehensive, and I love when
people laugh. So, yeah, I hope people will be excited to see me, and
also afraid for their lives!
Follow Abhorra:
Instagram: @theabhora
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abhorrra/
Society6: society6.com/abhorraPhotographs taken by:
Jon Dean and Aubrey Longly-cook
The Drag Enthusiast:
Twitter: @dragenthusiast
Instagram: @dragenthusiast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dragenthusiast
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