Notes from the editors
! Premiere Issue 1 February 7, 2014
Oh my goodness its finally here i cant believe it and can hardly contain myself! Im so excited to be bringing you into the Premiere world, this is going to be such a fun trip into our community. But before this happens I have to stress how important it is for a community to get involved with one another, to appreciate each others glamour and pizzaz. This publication as long as its going will be about the people, those people you see or dont see everyday. Those people you've always wondered a little more about. Those people who are just people but bring a whole other meaning into the world that others just havent "scene" yet. Thats our goal here, to make YOU the PEOPLE to be "SCENE." Lets highlight the beauty of you as an artist, dancer, musician, performer, actor, photographer, person, whatever it may be. Its your turn for the camera darlings, everybody is given their 15 minutes eventually, how about now? You as a reader of this publication is to contact me, Bruce Ross, with yourself or a friend you think deserves to be highlighted and brought to light.
#PremierePDX in someones comments and we are there no matter if its Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Look at me rambling..Enjoy the publication!
Love, Bruce Ross Editor-in-Chief
I'm very excited to finally help create something that is not only something that I have been dreaming about for a while, but something that we all have been dreaming about, and what Portland has been needing for a while now. I've always wanted to help all the talented and 'fabulous' people of our community achieve not only greatness with themselves, but to create a place for us to be reminded and inform others of that greatness, and that is what I would like to call "P R E M I E R E."
I was always told when I first started becoming a part of the "gay scene" back when I turned 18, that "There's a Hollywood in every city, and you can always find it in the gay community," and they were not lying when they said it. I'm not talking about the 'fame' or reputation one may acquire that gives it a Hollywood scene, but the amount of talent, creativity, glamour, and the ability to be fabulous that surrounds you the moment you enter the doors into 'the scene'. What I've always wanted to do is find a way to put exactly what goes on in the scene and in the clubs and put it all in one place for everyone to look at, and to be a part of.
Preparing for the very first issue of "Premiere" has been very exciting, especially seeing how much all of you have supported and helped us get "Premiere" o the ground and giving it a premiere of its own. I encountered nothing but kindness, generosity, and the WANT to get involved from all of the people we have approached and for that I say thank you to everyone, even our readers, for making this publication possible.
Portland has a tremendous amount of talented and dedicated individuals, and the numbers seem to only be rising. "Premiere" knows you all are out there and we want you to go out and LIVE and CREATE your fantasy.....and in the meantime.....we'll be telling everyone about it!
Joshua DePoorter Creative Director
Coffee Table of Pagan Holladay Contents "Ask Bolivia"
Jeremy Abe "Bye, Bye Barbie" Shane Koehler "Behold the one true Supreme" Kimber Shade Joshua Mann Carla Rossi #PremierePDX !
PAGAN HOLLADAY For anybody who's anything like everybody, then you definitely do not look forward to Hump Day. It is always the slowest day of the week, with usually nothing going on. Although, some people like to look at things as if they're half full. They think to themselves that they only have 2 more days until it is the weekend, they're halfway there. But thanks to Pagen Holiday, we now have at least one Wednesday to look forward to, and thats the last Wednesday of every month.!
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We aren't talking about your regular drag show, but better yet, a variety show displaying all sorts of talent. You can see things range from drag queen performances, to live singing, and anything under the sun. And thats how Pagen Holiday likes it.!
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I had a chance to get a quick glance into Pagen's vision, and what I saw I could tell that it is only just the beginning. She says with quite enthusiasm that she wanted to create a monthly showcase that would be free to attend, enjoyable, and high quality. Deciding to put the show together because she wanted there to be a place of opportunity for people who don't necessarily have the outlets that they need and to help find amateur performers and veterans a like.!
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She encourages creativity, freedom of expression, and even a little bit of urinating on stage, if thats your thing of course. You're going to see different faces each month, along with similiar faces like Zora Phoenix, Tod Alan, and Valerie DeVille who are regulars of the show, which has a different name each month, the last being "Magic TIme Machine." Each month is completly different and loosely themed, allowing all talent to do what they want. Sometimes the talent can get a little enthusiastic and drink a little too much and accidently throw up on another queen like Valerie DeVille did one month.!
"That was abnormal for her I would say," says Pagen while continuing on saying, "She was feeling a bit enthusiastic that evening, but don't expect to see that from her again, but you never know who it's gonna be."!
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All in all, the variety showcase was amazing. Pagen definitely achieved what she wanted to do by inspiring others and have people who view the show with motivation to do something, anything. But most importantly, Imagination. THAT is what she wants to bring back into the world, the ability to imagine.!
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So make sure you stop by and catch the nest monthly show every last Wednesday of every month at Scandals, downtown Portland, starting at 9:30pm.!
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-Joshua DePoorter Check out her "Digital Drag" on the following page.
PAGAN HOLLADAY CONT.
"My "digital drag" practice was something I started when I first began attempting the art of drag, and it reflects all of Pagan's bustling inspiration. It has evolved with me as my craft has improved, and I very much think of this as a parallel side of Pagan; almost like an identical twin. When I think of drag, I think of tremendous imagination, and this artistic practice capitalizes on the ability to be unrestricted by the limitations of "real" clothing or female impersonation. I use the tools of graphic design and illustration and combine them with my craft to simultaneously inspire myself and others in unique and surprising ways, beyond the realms of conventional drag."
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Unicorn Rainbows
"This image is perhaps my favorite because it most closely represents my heart. I try to fill my life and my mind with vivid color, whimsical fancies, and fun. Even though I come across as somber and socially awkward more often than not, my mind is always filled with curiosity and joy, and I find pleasure in being able to express that visually. The element of playfulness expressed in this image is more so a self-portrait of Aldo (my guy name) as worn by Pagan."
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Tokyo Candies Tribute
"A lot of my drag is inspired by graphic design, videogames, cartoons, candy, and other such fun and lively things. I decided to create this image as a tribute to one of my favorite illustrators today, Rubens Cantuni of tokyocandies.com. His graphic style speaks very loudly to my personal aesthetic, and I love how playful, young, and devious his art can be. This image is my attempt at paying homage to another similarly funky artist that I respect and adore."
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Solar Flair
"This silly little image is something I came up with when deliberating on global warming, one hot afternoon. As an artist, my personal philosophy is a firm belief that art will save the world (at least one day), because inspiration is the lifeblood of imagination... and imagination is what changes the world. I feel as though this image reflects my philosophy pretty directly, even if it is a bit tongue-in-cheek. Pagan Holladay is a queen of cosmic proportions, and the strength in her art is its ability to stimulate and inspire."
Ask Bolivia !
Premiere had a lovely sit down interview last weekend to discuss a potential new column with Bolivia. I’m sure a lot of you know her but for those who don’t she’s been working at CC Slaughters for nearly ten years, a fantastic person in the community whose been doing drag for the last twenty years in Portland, starting out where a lot of us are familiar with, an underage nightclub named “The Escape.” People recognize Bolivia for her amazing performances from I Love Lucy to Reba, people even dub hers as the “Sidewalk Psychologist” meaning she’ll always have an ear, and even will stop and "step in your shoes" to get an idea of what your trying to come across. Sometimes putting you in your place if your the one acting like a moron. With that being said i asked her if she wanted to be a part of an “Ask Bolivia” column. She accepted, we threw a couple silly questions and she took it in stride answering seriously but even throwing in her humor that we know so well. Premiere is very excited to see some questions come her way. Message us on our Facebook Page(www.facebook.com/PremierePDX) all questions will be strictly confidential only looked at by me Bruce Ross. Hell, throw some funnies at her and see what she replies with.
Bartender's Log! It is star date 12-21-2013 aboard the starship CC Slaughters in Portland, OR, and my night has been... you don't want to know. I've recorded it anyway.!
!9:00pm - Just started shift. Pleasant, docile. Nothing
too stressful. But why do they always start with Rihanna?
!9:10pm - Still quiet. And he follows Rihanna with Lady Gaga. What is the world coming to? And why does this city always wait until later to go out?...
!9:11pm - A customer? No, just walking through. Asshole didn't even respond when I said hello. !9:15pm - love watching two tragic souls making out this early in the night. Where are my sunglasses? !9:30pm - Whoa, that guy is really, really cute! !9:31pm - Aw shit, cute guy is walking up to the bar... !9:32pm - 'The bathroom is over there.' (Damn.) 9:45pm - Some dude just gave me a $5 tip for one drink! Will remember Big Tipper's face for the future.
!9:50pm - Tell coworker about really, really cute guy. Keep watch out. Mama is on the hunt. !9:55pm - Crowd is building for the special. Lots of people getting in line. Love the energy. Hi, I'm Jeremy Abe. ! !10:00pm - The line starts, and this girl orders a mojito. A mojito?! You know how long this drink takes to I've been bartending in Portland make?? !10:01pm - Remember, the customer gets the drink for 2 1/2 years. You can find me at ! they want, so make it with a smile. CC Slaughters Rainbow Room: !10:02pm - the crowd looks like 'a pack of ravenous, Mon/Tues from 8-30pm til close thirsty wolves who haven't drank for days. (Yes, until the bitter end at 2am, no !10:03pm - Mojito finished. Next! matter what). !10:04pm - You've been waiting in line for four minutes Friday 3-9pm, Photographer: ! Brendan ! Coughlin
Sat from 3-9pm, Sun from 3-8pm
and you still dont know what you want? There is no God.
favorite parts of the job are mixing new flavors, making the cocktail you want to drink, and getting to know people. The following isn't necessarily my own personal sentiments, but an amalgamation of my own experiences mixed with stories from other bartenders I know. Please enjoy!
knows how to order, which makes it possible for me to churn out cocktails while still serving up witty banter.
!My
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!10:05pm - People in my line leave to do a quicker bartender. It's not my fault. FML. !10:06pm - Big Tipper from earlier shows up on the side for another cocktail. Go to him first. !10:10pm - Rhythm finally found. The crowd of regulars !10:15pm - No problems! I love seeing these people every weekend. This is why I love my job! !10:19pm - Girl in sparkly, silver dress orders one whiskey sour and closes out. Line waits for her credit card to process. I can feel their hate freeze my soul. And hopefully hers.
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!10:21pm - Customer ordered a vodka cran. Then a vodka ! 12:03am - You won't like what I drink, what do you soda. Then another vodka soda. And also a rum and want? coke. And three shots of Fireball. Order took 5 minutes. !10:26pm - Customer ordered a vodka soda, vodka cran, !12:04am - No seriously, you wont like it. What do you normally drink? screwdriver, gin and tonic, and four shots of !12:05am - I told you, you wouldn't like scotch. Rumpleminze. Served in 2 minutes because I can mutlitask and not wait for individual orders. !10:28pm - Back in the groove. You need water? Done! !12:06am - You ordered it against my recommendation. Why would it be on the house? Same round as before? Your wish is my command. Sex in !12:10am - The last person just asked the same the back room? Please don't ask that. !10:29pm - Line is crazy long but Big Tipper shows up question. Please take my advice. !12:11am - Oh, you enjoy a nicely aged scotch! Let me again. Help him first. People look unhappy, but tips buy service. !10:32pm - Girl in sparkly silver dress orders another recommend... 12:12am - There is hope for humanity. whiskey sour and closes her card. Again. The crowd stares !12:30am - I have drunk so much water my bladder is impatiently. I cringe at their aggression knowing I am moving as fast as possible. if I dont get a bathroom break. !10:37pm - Girl throws her practically porn-star status tits going !12:33amto explode - About to pee in a garbage can. Where is on the bar. I assume for better service. You know where that f*cking barback? you are, right? !12:34am - Made it in the nick of time.. !10:40pm - What time is it? I feel like it's midnight. !12:36am - I'm gone for two minutes and security has to 10:50pm - The line is suddenly over-crowded. The special manhandle some jackass out of here? Typical. must be over soon. I haven't looked at a clock since what !12:45am - They're still talking about him being thrown feels like yesterday. !10:55pm - Girl in the sparkly dress is back for another out. Dude, you're drunk, and the police saw everything. Your 'witnesses' are also drunk. Not gonna whiskey sour. And to close her card. Again. The line stand up in a court of law. behind her waits. Again. I smile and wish her a good !12:50am - I could use a drink. Or a Vicodin. night, secretly wishing her the pain of a thousand deaths, only because the crowd behind her thinks their wait is my fault.
!10:57pm - Im running as fast as I can to serve as many people before the end of the special. Body hurts, shut out the pain. Go, go, go!
!11:00pm - Special over, but noticed the people already in line. Going to honor that and extend the special to those already waiting.
!11:10pm - That dude is dancing like he doesn't care. I live for moments like these. Oh, plus he looks wasted. !11:20pm - Wasted-looking dude approaching the bar. Please don't ask for more. Legally shouldn't serve this guy. Gonna suck having to cut him off. I hate doing this...
!11:21pm - Oh thank God, he only wanted water.
11:25pm - Puker in the bathroom. Learn how to handle your liquor, people!
!11:30pm - Is it over yet? !11:45pm - Really, really cute guy is back! ...and really, really drunk. Can barely stand up straight. Rethinking his cute status.
1:00am - Strange lull in the crowd tonight. Must be the weather. Or the economy. Or the strippers down the street.
!1:30am - People are coming back. Strippers must not have been that good. !1:45am - Almost done. Almost done. Almost.... (smile) of course you can have a shot of (gulp) well tequila. !1:46am - I know you didnt ask for salt or lime. Trust me. You'll need both. !1:47am - I'm calling you a cab. Drink this water. !1:55am - Long Island iced tea? I'm sorry, we stopped
serving doubles and college drinks at midnight. But here's a delicious Pomegranate Press.
!1:56am - I don't know why this guy is throwing me
attitude wanting a Long Island. It's not going to make me want to serve him. At all. Keep smiling. . 1:57am - Keep smiling.
!1:58am - He's yelling obscenities about my parents
threatening to sue the bar....oh hell no. It's time to !12:00am - Bar is clearing out, can finally pause to grab a and get the f*ck out! !2:00am - Locked doors, time to clean house. Going to drink of water. !12:02am - Nope, just kidding. The crowd amasses looking hibernate until next weekend... murderous for more booze.
Bye, Bye Barbie Throughout my three years in the Portland drag scene, I've experienced a wide variety of people, relationships, drama and a whole lot of self discovery. My journey took me all over from a VIP nightclub in Riverside, California performing along side big names such as Morgan McMicheals, Sonique, and Raven to smaller shows in Denver, Colorado performing next to the equally as talented, lesser known queens such as Volta Charge and Brittany McMicheals. I had a home at Hamburger Mary's Portland for a short while there I grew to be part of the closest thing I have had to a drag family. Hosting shows with Godiva DeVyne and Honey Bea Hart, bucking and twirling along side Jayla Rose, and my first attempt at drag parenting the one and only Aliyah Nicole.
Some of my endeavors were extremely successful. Not everyone always agreed with the McQueen way of doing things but nonetheless, I believed, and that's all that really mattered.
After being crowned Miss Gay Pride in 2012, I saw a whole other side to the Portland drag scene. I met a few great people who backed me through thick and thin and kept reminding me that my vision was real and that there were people out there responding in a positive way. But there is also a side of the scene that is heavily driven by anger, jealousy and low self esteem.
"I believed, and that's all that really mattered."
Many may not agree when I say this, but I do try and find the best in everyone and I don't mean to piss people o. I do drag for none other than myself and my supporters. Often times it is hard to stay focused on the positive things in life when you have those evil ones hanging onto your every move.
I always get asked, who is Allie McQueen and why is she the way she is?
The truth is, I honestly still don't know.
I try and show respect to everyone even when I'm pushed too far, and I try to be sure to admit fault when I am wrong. I hope the people who have gotten to know Allie, know my heart is in the right place. But, I am still human.
Many times I feel people forget that underneath Allie McQueen's big blowup doll lips, blonde hair, and confidant demeanor lies a real person.
My name is Dustin Lloyd Miller. I grew up like many of you in a small town where I just didn't quite fit in. I created Allie because my whole life I felt as though I just couldn't tell my story by myself. Some things just didn't make sense coming from the Alaskan grown, son of a hardware store owner. Allie gave me a vessel, she helped me connect in a way with many others who have been through family drama, heartbreak, bullying, health problems, whatever your own person story was, Allie helped me to reach inside some of you and show you that you aren't alone in this crazy thing we call life.
"To the people who still have animosity towards me, I love you."
As I have said before, not everyone reading this is going to take this the way I intend. To those of you who are listening though, I thank you.
I am still learning something new every single day about both Dustin and Allie and I am sure that I will fall a time or two in the future, as will most of you. The thing that makes us dierent, is the fact that we get back up regardless.
To the people I connected with in Portland, I wish you all the best of luck in absolutely everything you set your mind to. To the people who still have animosity towards me, I love you.
If I can leave any advice to you up and coming queens (yes I'm talking about you Edie Del Mod, Classiana Hilton and Lulu Luscious), stay strong! Dig deep inside yourself and find that little spark that lights YOUR fire and don't let ANYONE blow that shit out! Every single one of us is beautiful in our own way. We may not all wear gowns, or give you campy comedic performances. We may not
all be skinny, or dress like a complete skank bags. But that's exactly what makes drag so much fun. We ALL have a chance to tell OUR story and even if nobody else understands your art, there is that one person in the back of the bar, you probably didn't see her when you walked in, but she looks up to you. Inspire her, give her a reason to go home and practice her makeup. Give her a reason to put on her heels and feel that feeling we all have when we are performing our favorite song. Inspire people to be themselves and hopefully one day, they can inspire someone as well.
We had our ups and downs, but Portland and the people in it will hold a place in my pretty pink heart forever. Xxxo. Allie McQueen
Shane Koehler I'm a self taught artist originally from Michigan. For several years I have worked with youth, volunteers and the general public teaching environmental awareness around the country. My job has been to provide others with experiences in nature that strengthen personal connections to the environment, self and community. To help enforce these moments of experiential learning I like to collaborate on community art. Environmentally charged art is especially powerful because it gives nature a voice and can immediately shed light on problems we are causing. With ways to create positive change and gives us a sense of place. With my art work, whether its community based or fine art I strive to make a difference in the lives of those who view it.
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I aspire to enforce the idea of connectivity by weaving together a collage of wildlife that relies on every organism for survival. A healthy world equals healthy ecosystems, habitats, organisms and is made possible by making healthy choices. Also, I strongly believe that the beauty of nature is a powerful tool for change and I hope to show that in each of my paintings.
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Editors Note: On the following pages are some beautiful pieces that Shane has created, along with some commisoned work as well. If you like what you see PLEASE contact him! He has such gorgeous work, and we definetly cant wait to see what he comes up with next.
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Shane Koehler continued..
"Green Natives"
"Night Lights"
"Protection"
"Curious"
Premiere Exclusive: "Behold the one true Supreme" By Bruce Ross #YesIMadeACovenReference #YoureWelcome #DragOven
Welcome to the first interview of Premiere magazine, I kindly asked Ecstasy what Dragathon was all about, finally after poking and prodding she finally gave me this: ! !
"Dragathon started the last Thursday in September at the amazing Funhouse Lounge in SE Portland..The event was created by my manager and I during a meeting where we chatted about fun things missing in our community since the closing of a few venues one of the first being was Drag Race, from Red Cap Garage..But we wanted to add Ecstasy's crazy touch to it and call it something different but staying within the theme of race.. So we sat for a week thinking up different names and it popped in my head marathon.. add drag queens and it became Dragathon."!
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Simple enough, and quite frankly has been such a blast Thursday nights. Right now she's working on Portland Idol with CJ Mickens and Auditions start February 27th, so contact CJ Mickens right away if you'd like to be a part of that...!
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And now for our Queens....
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So fair warning my dears, schedules are a b**ch sometimes. Especially if you want to interview three queens with three very different schedules, when it comes to a dilemma like that thank goodness we have Facebook. All these questions were typed and sent to all three queens and are being presented if all three were there for an easy reference for you, the reader, to reference what the other queens said with the same question. ! Also there were some anonymous questions asked to specific queens towards the end.! Enough rambling already, let's begin!! !
Classiana Hilton!
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Valerie Deville!
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Lulu Lusciouss!
Q: What is it like growing up a drag queen in Portland? !
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Classiana Hilton: "Amazing! Portland is probably one of the best places to grow as a drag queen in your youth because we have The Escape Nightclub. If it wasn't for that place i'd probably not even be doing drag or just starting out and looking like, well, we know."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Well I didn’t really grow up here, my drag was born in Seattle. But I will say the Portland Scene can be tough, but as long as you stay true to who you are, people will come around."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Many people are surprised, often telling me, “Lulu Luscious! You came out of nowhere!” And a little fun fact about me that some people don’t know is that I was actually born and raised here in Portland! I went to Parkrose High School until 2007, when I graduated, and then I attended the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma until 2011. I then moved to Canada and delved into the corporate lifestyle. My family thinks I had a mental “breakdown,” when I quit all my corporate jobs in May of 2013, but I call it a mental “breakthrough!” ! Moving forth confidently into drag as a profession was the best thing that I have ever done! I have grown so much from it and I look so very forward to being more and more involved with the Portland community at-large!"!
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Q: Did you ever wear your mother’s clothes when growing up? !
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Classiana Hilton: "Guilty, but I think most drag queens are. There are multiple photo's of me growing up where the queen is already showing."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Hell yes! Her heels, but her style was nowhere near my standards so I often would go to my Grandmas to play in her fur coats…go figure."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Nope! But my sister’s accessories were fair game! I actually learned very fast that “Covergirl don’t Cover BOY,” because when I started drag I thought I could be economical, so I used my sister’s biological women makeup. It was TRAGIC! I only was able to turn it into MAGIC when I went on a shopping spree at Hollywood Lights, Inc! ! I’m working on getting Ben Nye to sponsor Lulu Luscious —or perhaps I could compete for it on a TV show or something…"!
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Q: When was the first time you did drag? And describe to me what it felt like. !
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Classiana Hilton: "I first did drag when I was about 16, I've always been very shy so this was my first real time really putting myself out there and it was such a surreal thing for me to be doing. and from that day I was hooked."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "First time would have to have been when I was 21 and was Cruella for Halloween. It was amazing and I didn’t want it to ever end."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "The first time I ever did drag was in college. Since I was the President at the University of Puget Sound, I was asked to participate in our Annual GLBTQ Drag Show as the “celebrity” feature.! I was so nervous, but having always had the “over-the-top” personality that now is able to thrive in Lulu Luscious, I solicited the aid of both of our University-grade Dance Team Captains to be my back-up dancers. My routine was very dance heavy and high-energy. To be truthful though, I totally didn’t even “DO” makeup! I drew black eye-liner haphazardly around my eyes, put lipstick on like a 8 year-old and I used a chiffon bow in place of a wig! ! I think of it now and chuckle sometimes, because I didn’t internalize ANY of the beautification aspects that I now practice daily for Lulu Luscious! Like a Pokémon, she has evolved!!!"!
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Q: How did you come about your name and what were your inspirations that make your drag persona? !
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Classiana Hilton: "In the time I started doing drag, It was probably one of the not to cutest times in my life when I was experimenting with "prescription drugs" and me and my best friend at the time had a code word of doing lines and calling it "Classy" so I just added "ana" to the end and she was born. And Hilton of course, because of my idol Paris."! ! ! ! !
Valerie Deville: "Well the DeVille was easy. I grew up worshiping the Disney Villains, so much that my apartment actually looks like an episode from “Disney Hoarders”. The first name was a toss up between Veruca and Valerie; Veruca from Willy Wonka and Valerie from 90210, the original. I decided on Valerie because she immortalized the vixen I always wanted to be…the girl you love to hate or hate to love. My persona is a mixture of naughty, spoiled little girl spliced with a wicked and fabulous sex kitten. Ultimatley she is a combination of my favorite pop culture characters such as Karen Walker, Angelica Pickles, Miss Coco Peru and Norma Desmond. "!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "The term “Boy-Drag” sounds boring to me, so I’ve coined the term, “Boy-ter,” which sounds more fabulous. It pretty much means that you’re not better, just more boy: “Boyter!”When I am my boy-ter self, my name is James Luu. Growing up, I was bullied and often felt less than others because I always knew I was gay and society told me it wasn’t okay to be this way (this was 2002, Friends, and man, I am so happy that times are-a-changin’!). ! Over time, I grew into my own self and became aggressively overachieving in all things that I partook in. I guess it was a way for me to validate myself. When someone would call me a “faggot,” I’d have my perfect grades to fall on. When someone would physically bully me, I would by overachieve even more in extracurricular activities. Being so-called “better” or more involved than others in the community helped me sleep at night, so I did it well. ! Eventually, practice made me so good at it that working hard to out-do others became habit. People were referring to me by my full name: “James Luu!” and there was definitely a ring to it! ! I took it with as a complimentary powerhouse gesture (and it definitely reflected my “craziness!”). When I decided to do drag, I wanted to take a portion of that self-pride and confidence over, so Lulu is essentially a feminized version of “LuuLuu.” The Luscious was a fun alliteration that eventually would define Lulu more than I could ever plan for! I strive to be Luscious when I’m Lulu, but always on my own terms. Of course, being pretty is fun and I throw it in when I can; but to me, being “Luscious” is about presenting the whole package: beauty, kindness, compassion, work-ethic, talent, perfectionism, spontaneity. It’s a mindset and I’m always setting higher expectations for myself to out-do my own “Luscious-ness!”"!
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Q: What's the one thing you love the most when doing drag? !
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Classiana Hilton: "I love the things you can get away with. You can say whatever you want, really do anything you want, and you can get as shit face drunk as you want at the bars and no one really seems to care simply because youre a drag queen. But honestly I love every aspect of drag; Make-up, performing, etc."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Making people laugh. I live for it."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "This is probably the most difficult question for me to answer in this whole einterview. The reason is because I can’t really explain why I love drag so much. It just does something for me and in the words of Tim McGraw, “it sends a shock right through me and I can’t get enough!” I do drag in two different capacities: they are performances out on the town and Passion Parties. ! When I’m performing out on the town, I love being on stage and entertaining everyone around me. I love meeting and making sister-ships and brother-ships with fellow movers-and-shakers in the community. I love just walking around and meeting people and being the center of attention positively. I work the crowd because it helps me feel good, to say the least. When I was younger
and I was bullied, I always felt down. As Lulu Luscious, I feel like I’m able to seize control of the situation around me and be the center of attention in a healthy, feel-good way. It’s as simple as that and I absolutely love genuinely interacting with people.! I also consider myself to be very lucky, because I am able to do anywhere from 2-5 Passion Parties each week! This is a time when I turn into Lulu, but for a different purpose; and NO, it’s NOT JUST to sell adult novelties and make money!!!! I genuinely enjoy going to these in-home shopping experiences for women and providing what I call “edu-tainment” in a safe environment makes me happy. By introducing more sexually adventurous ideas and products through the parties I host, I am truly able to change the way some women lead their lives: sexually AND overall! I also have the rare opportunity to consult with these women when I work with them on their “Passion Prescriptions” and more often than not, the women I’ve befriended at my Passion Parties are able to share with me some really deep and personal things. I take this knowledge and am able to “spice up their love lives” and it means the world to me! Even though I’ve merged my passion and business skills into an unorthodox profession, my clients love me, I love what I do, and I could never imagine myself going back into a suit-and-tie office again!"!
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Q: What made you want to participate in Dragathon? !
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Classiana Hilton: "Because i wasnt really known in the bar drag scene yet, few knew me from the escape from being Rosebud and Miss Jr. Gay Pride and the times I performed at Embers, But they hadnt really seen the stuff I can do and my creativity I can do when it comes to Theme looks that I learned from my Escape days.."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: " After Mary’s closed I was a queen without a show. Ecstacy reached out to me at the end of the summer about it, and once I saw $1000 I was in haha."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "I wanted to participate in Dragathon because I wanted to challenge and train myself as a drag queen; DRAG BOOTCAMP, I guess you could call it... I tried very hard to exceed the judges’ expectations each week and as a result, I think the audience members got a kick out of it, too! ! For instance, when Latrice Royale came to town, I painted my whole body blue and portrayed Mistique from X-Men. I then peeled the latex off my face, converting from Mistique to Lulu in less than 10 minutes. I topped that the next week by bringing a live reptile onto the stage when I did Britney’s “Slave for You” performance. I topped THAT by becoming a Lioness Queen myself the next week. Then, I werQ’ed my business savvy skills to get sponsorship for a full-on $1,000+ Las Vegas Showgirls costume. I never gave myself boundaries and I think Lulu Luscious has grown from it greatly as an Entertainer!"!
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Q: What do you think of some of the drag queens that have been in the competition? Speak freely. !
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Classiana Hilton: "I think they're all talented and everyone has grown from this experience for sure, but "some" seem to think their talent can be shown by packing the house and using any and every possible resource to make them look good, but in reality they can't stand on their own and only the strong can do that."! ! ! ! !
Valerie Deville: " Freely my ass! Honestly each one is a star on the rise, some are just farther along in the character or performances than others. Lulu, Marla and Katrina all are new and figuring out their characters and what really works for them. Classiana, Jackie and Violet are all season queens and bring something different to the table which I never could. All the queens though are very nice. Well all except one but I don’t want to call myself out *wink*"!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "None of them are like me! And that’s not SHADE, that’s just the truth! For better or for worse, I love Portland because we have a melting pot of performers that fall in between every which part of the spectrum. For instance, I could NEVER be on the same level as Violet Bleeding Hart; Homegurl sings LIVE in boy AND girl octaves and could EASILY take Nick Pitera for his money! I’m not ranked in the same category as Marla Singer, the selfproclaimed “faux-queen.” I would be crazy to compare myself to Queens like Classiana or Valerie! We just aren’t wired the same and don’t do the same things! And Katrina Chaos is a straight man whose story is so interesting, I hope the world gets to hear it! We all have different “schticks,” and it’s neat that we all share our love for entertaining without crossing bounds—well, I guess we’re all competing for the same prize, huh?"!
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Q: What's your favorite thing about Dragathon? !
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Classiana Hilton: "Growing up in The Escape, they had themes every weekend and when I was Rosebud I was required to be in theme every weekend so I really do think of myself as a Theme queen. So the theme looks were definitely my favorite, It made me feeling like I was back at the club. I always tried to take the non-obvious route like I knew all the other girls would, Like with the Twisted Disney theme while all the other girls came out as Disney characters that represent people, I came out as a dead gutted Bambi"! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "The family we built amongst the girls and actually being on top for once! I always seem to land in the middle in competitions so I feel I finally did something right!"!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "My favorite thing about Dragathon is that no one got eliminated from week-toweek. I really enjoyed this because each week, all my fellow “cast members” were able to come and share their art without holding back for the “fear of being eliminated…"!
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Q: What's the toughest part of the competition?!
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Classiana Hilton: "Definitely getting critiqued by the judges. At first I would feel like the people judging me had no business telling me what was wrong. But i quickly got over that. Guest judges were a little of a bother to me too, because I didnt know them personally & there was one instance where they all were really coming for me and I almost lost it and had to walk off stage before they were done."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Seeing the sadness on the faces of the others when the judges are “harsh”. I hate hearing awful things about my art, so I know how painful it can be bein judged in an open forum like Dragathon. But in the end it makes us all stronger and better Queens."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "On that same note though, toughest part of the competition was that NO ONE GOT ELIMINATED! Don’t get me wrong: Since we all knew we were coming back every week, it allowed us to be civil and supportive to one another backstage. I loved camaraderie and kindness aspect of things! HOWEVER, I truly believe that if one of us were weeded out each week of the competition, the show would have been NECK-TO-NECK FIERCE EVERY WEEK! I’m a firm believer that competition breeds competence, and it would have been so amazing to see myself grow EVEN MORE because my competitors had the fire burning their asses each week and were bringing it as hard as I did. Let’s be honest, some of us “cruised” certain weeks and it was because this competition was SO LENGTHY! I still brought it every week! I auditioned the last week of September and this final show is happening on February 6th. Seriously? Do the math; it’s longer than a semester of college classes! "!
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Q: Do you feel like you've brought your best?!
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Classiana Hilton: "I definitely do, I think I really pushed myself and have proven who I am as a drag queen. I really brought so many different looks and styles of drag in both my looks and performances."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Hell yes! I did Portland Drag Race a few years ago so I knew how this would go down, and I was ready to give them glampy (glamour/campy) Queen every week. I came to win that competition, not learn how to be a drag queen."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Yes. I truly feel I brought it EVERY WEEK, outdoing myself. Because no one was ever eliminated, that’s what it turned into... We weren’t competing against each other. We were all competing against OURSELVES! And that’s the beauty of this competition.! I think that my performance and the audience reactions in Drag-a-thon are indicative of that! When given a theme for each week, I didn’t only just do the look to be obligatory of the competition; rather, I took whatever the theme was and made it my bitch; truly my own! I am so proud of this because there were weeks where I was working on my look every day from the time we got the theme to the night of performance seven days later. I am so happy to have incorporated a Burmese Python, full-on-self-body-paint, special FX, fully-realized animal costumes, airbrush art, wig reveals, on-stage outfit changes, live-singing, a self-written parody song, a lyrical display, death drops and so much more to Drag-a-thon."!
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Q: Besides yourself, who do you think could win?!
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Classiana Hilton: "Well Who do I think will win and who I want to win are two completely different things. I Expect Lulu to win, because she has a degree in ass kissing apparently and somehow got people into her delusion to pack the house. But if I do not win, Team Valerie."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: " I don’t know how to answer this since clearly there is no other option. But I would say Violet Bleeding Hart or Classiana Hilton. Each brought amazing performances and looks CONSISTENT, which I admire."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "If I don’t win the crown, I truly hope Katrina Chaos takes it—ALL T, NO SHADE! The reason for this is because her story is SO EXTREMELY UNIQUE! Did you know she’s a STRAIGHT MAN? Did you know that she used to work as a cast member in the Disney Program? She’s so passionate about drag (enough to do it weekly for 4 months!!) and she’s also a super kind and nice person, in general! I think I’ve got a really good chance of being crowned the winner of Drag-a-thon, because I have consistently given it my all and topped myself; however, if they are judging on improvement, Katrina might be the one who has garnered more dramatic point increases from week-to-week! And if that’s the case, I honestly would be genuinely so happy for her, because I think everyone should hear her story. It’s a very special and inspiring one! "!
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Q: We're you ever intoxicated during your performances? !
Classiana Hilton: "Most definitely."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "No comment."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "I’m usually very professional when I go out, just in case I need to book a Passion Party (*wink, wink), so I always manage my alcohol intake. However, there was one Drag-a-thon night where I needed the liquid courage. It was the first night that I ever sang live! I performed a Parody of Mimi Imfurst’s Parody of Adele’s “Someone Like You” (see how Inception-esque that was right there?). Since I changed the lyrics of Mimi’s song to shamelessly plug my Passion Parties business, I was so nervous—so, I drank a lot!!! The liquid courage helped me get through the song, but if you watch my YouTube video, I totally missed some words, sang off pitch, and sped up some parts of the song, just for the fun of it. And by “just for the fun of it,” I actually mean “I was truly so drunk and nervous that I forgot the lyrics and singing cues on stage.” **Seriously, find me on YouTube and watch my videos!! And please don’t forget to “SUBSCRIBE!” ;) Regardless, I pushed through and I’m so thankful I did it with such a supportive Drag-a-thon audience. When it boils down to it, I know that Lulu Luscious’ drag journey is just that: a Journey. I grew from the experience and even though my voice still isn’t as great as some others out there, I’m now unafraid to venture into things like singing to a Ukulele or alongside a live guitarist. What’s the saying? “Sing like nobody’s listening?” ! … Except I’m a man… in a dress… on stage at a venue… invasively singing off-pitch and live to the crowd… at an event that I’ve persuaded everyone to attend by means of social media Naziism (as Carla Rossi puts it!)… ;) Can we get any crazier than that, Portland!?"!
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Q: Have any tea to spill? Things you've might have heard? Delicious things that we all secretly crave to hear or read about? !
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Classiana Hilton: "Theres talk of things, but I'm going to keep them to myself for now."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: " Not to be written. But yes honey, I have a shit ton of the good Tea. And remember, my Tea is always served ice cold *wink*"!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "People may want me to get into the drama of it all, but to be truthful; it doesn’t interest me in any way! In fact, when confronted with drama or shade, I’m often known for walking away because my motto is: if it takes up my time, it better get me a Passion Party booking! Now, you might say, “Lulu why are you giving me this ‘be the bigger person’ bullshit” but I’m not! And I’ll explain to you why! We have a philosophy that I teach all my Passion Parties team members. You ALWAYS spread positivity and kindness above all else and the reason for that is because EVERYONE you meet 24/7 is a potential customer! If I spoke negatively on Facebook or was mean to someone at a bar, that might come back to bite me in the ass! What if a client who intends to have a Passion Party saw me being rude at said bar and decides against booking me? WHAT IF a potential Passion Parties Hostess was perusing my public Facebook page and saw that I spread negativity on my profile and doesn’t book me because for fear I would talk bad about her? I wouldn’t have a business! So, in short, when I go out, I’m always my bubbly Lulu self and having spontaneous fun, but I’m also always conscientious about being professional, because I’ve gotta pay my bills. And when I’m arguing with someone, it is time spent NOT making good connections and spreading the love. :)"!
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Q: Outside of Drag, what would people normally see you doing on a weeknight? !
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Classiana Hilton: "If I'm out doing anything, It's drinking most likely with friends, which is exactly what Classy does so there really isnt any difference"! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Sitting on my ass watching TV. I am a fabulous Trophy husband so I have a lot of work daily to accomplish, you understand."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "I’m almost ALWAYS in drag now at a Passion Party. And since it’s my full-time job, when I’m James Luu!, I’m usually placing orders or making Passion Parties service calls to re-stock people’s lotions, potions, lubes and toys! I will say that I’m big on “ME-TIME,” so Netflix and tubeplus are my vices!! I will skip a TV show for months and binge watch it through the night; no sleep!!! "!
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Q: Cocktail of choice?!
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Classiana Hilton: "Whiskey Sour all day long."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Vodka tonic with a squeeze of lemon. Or a bottle of Fireball."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "I love perpetuating the vision of the dichotomy of gender roles. For instance, I think it’ funny for Lulu to be so “fish” and pretty that people expect her to be drinking a martini… But then, she chugs a beer straight from the bottle. I also have been known to swing a whole 180* and order drinks that are “fruity and delicious.” I have a huge reputation amongst the Portland bartenders though, for asking if they could make my drink “very weak!” Lol. “I so crazy!?"!
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Q: What do you want the queens of Portland to bring to the scene?!
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Classiana Hilton: "Creativity and variety. Not to stick with a shtick simply because it works for them."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Kindness. Nobody likes a self involved queen who thinks she is all that and a bag of chips when a bitch can’t even afford to buy the bag of chips. I guess I want them to exercise the Golden Rule."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Sisterhood and camaraderie are what I make a point to bring and I certainly can’t do it alone! Along with that though, I just don’t have enough time to keep track of what other Queens are prioritizing for themselves? I hope everyone just brings their best and I really truly can’t wait to work with all the Queens in Portland. I’ve learned so much from my fellow performers already (good things to keep and less good things to stray away from) and I know there’s only one way to go for all of us!"!
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Q: What do you want to bring?!
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Classiana Hilton: "Excitement, Shock, And Glamour."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "My style of “Glamp” is something I think that people really connect to. I am a campy queen who can shtick it up and make the whole audience tinkle their britches, but also I can be glamorous and have all eyes on me as I walk in."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "I want to bring a level of freshness, variety, and openness to my portfolio. And I say “portfolio” and not “our community” because it’s important for me to distinguish the two. I like to market Lulu Luscious as not just ONE thing, but as a portfolio; a package! ! She’s the queen who will do a sexy, “Luscious” photo shoot in lingerie, but she’ll also pull off campy, abstract looks. She’ll give LaToya Jackson a run for her money and then turn around and sing live! She can perform a heart-wrenching number making a statement on rape victimization while also emceeing events at erotic places like Steam: Portland’s Premier Bathhouse. She’ll have full-on dance numbers with death drops and back up performers one week, then do solo Eartha Kitt monologues the next. I come up with many of my own portrayals for Lulu Luscious, but I want to be the queen that anyone can approach. Calling all friends and future art-makers: If someone has the courtesy and kindness to honour me with working together to spread their creativity, I will meet them half-way and I’m always down to collaborate, evolve, and elevate the collective “portflios” of my Pacific Northwest Brothers and Sisters! I want to take Lulu Luscious high TO THE SKY and tour more internationally (she already does Passion Parties in Canada!! Woot woot!). I can only see myself doing that when I lift people up alongside me."!
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Q: What would you like to see in this e-publication? Something you would get immense joy in reading?!
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Classiana Hilton: "Anything Pop Culture, but seeing whos doing this I dont think I need to worry about that"! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: " My face all over. Something you would get immense joy in reading? A gossip girl section with Tea on the Queens where it can actually be anonymous."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "I have no expectations. Please don’t edit me to make me look mean or bad, though, Bruce! Lol. There is a lot of text in here! You can make me say ANYTHING with these words!! ! I want the “essence of Lulu to really shine through, please, Bruce Ross! I’m using your full name to emphasize my enthusiasm and excitement that we’re finally working together! Something I would get immense joy in reading would be marketing and self-help books! It’s the Student Affairs part of me from college that has never gone away!"!
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Q: Am I pretty? Giggle*!
Classiana Hilton: "We have our history haha."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "Yes, but not as pretty as me. "!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Uhh, duh! Gorgeous! Perhaps we could do a photo shoot together or you could cameo one of my stage performances?"!
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Q: Last question, what do you want to see with your drag in the future or see yourself doing in the next ten years?!
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Classiana Hilton: "I'd love to see myself on Rupauls Drag Race, but its really such a far fetch at this point. I want to see myself doing what I love whatever that may be at that point in my life."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: " I plan on being rich, gorgeous and fabulous. So let’s say I am living in the future."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "When it boils down to it, I am a drag businesswoman! I am Passionate about drag, but I don’t ever want to do it recklessly. I have a business plan and that is to elevate myself to the top parts of the Passion Parties corporate chain. Through conducting Passion Parties business as Lulu Luscious, I have been able to capitalize on making high retail sales numbers. ! The next step for me is to build and strengthen my Passion Parties team. I then aim to become an Executive Director for Passion Parties. After that, I will work to be inducted unto the Executive Director Council, where I will be able to vote on company-wide decisions. When I reach this point, I will use my knowledge and experience to make the company more inclusive and supportive of GLBTQ-centric products and training. ! Although I do this as often as I can, it’s difficult for me to host GLBTQ parties because the products and training materials simply aren’t there. I genuinely think Passion Parties are such a
huge up-and-coming pastime and I would love to be known as not only the Pacific Northwest’s First Drag Queen Passion Consultant, but also as the person who pioneered more GLBTQ acceptance in the Passion Parties industry!"!
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Now some questions from the people..!
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"Any shoutouts to your drag mom/family? Where was your favorite place to perform,! why?"!
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Classiana Hilton: "Shout out to my beautiful drag Sister Luna Lockhart that helped me out a lot in this competition. And to my sister and her girlfriend her were there practically every week to cheer me on!"! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "YES! Violet Hart is the best sister in the world and I wouldn’t be the queen I am today. And Honey Bea Hart is my step-mother and really gave me my first shot at being on a cast which I will always thank her for…and shes pretty fun to be wicked with!! Where your favorite place to perform, why? I love love love the Funhouse honestly. But I Cc’s, Scandals and the Back bar at Embers are near and dear to me too. Basically I love performing so anywhere will do.."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Yes! My family immigrated to the US on a small boat from Viet Nam. They fled after the war and drifted ashore to a United Nations camp in Malaysia. From there, they were sponsored to come to Portland, so I am a First-Generation Vietnamese American. It sounds fancy, but I cannot tell you all the stress and life experiences that come from being raised in a strict, traditional family. My parents always had high expectations set for me and I almost always met them. I’m thankful now, but going to school and shooting for straight-A’s wasn’t always easy. You want drama? I wish we had footage of me crying in the bathroom the first time I found out that I got a “B” on a PROGRESS REPORT!! Needless to say, I also struggled with homosexuality all throughout my life. It was difficult living life and having your sexuality be a “taboo” topic, especially when you’re as flamboyant and expressive as I was growing up! Eventually, I came out to my parents with their full support (it was late in college). My sister and my aunts have always supported me and being the FirstGeneration Gay Asian American in my family is becoming more and more normative. Of course, even though I know it’s hard for them to swallow, the idea of me being a drag queen is becoming more and more of a reality for my family. Throw in the fact that I sell sex toys for a living, and you’ve got a 36-hour Asian Soap Opera show! I am happy though, that the bottom line is that my family treats me with only love and support. In fact, my sister, my aunts and uncles and my cousins are coming to my shows more and more and I can’t even describe to the world the feeling. It’s love and the support of my family and friends truly drive me. Fedder, Dan, Johnny, Adam, Torn, Brad, Nikki, Lynn, Susannah, Peter-cubed, GBFFN, and all my other friends who support me no matter what, I love you all so much. Thank you from the bottom of my drag queen heart."!
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"Favorite Drag Queen in Portland besides you?"!
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Classiana Hilton: ""! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "This is tough since I am numbers 1-10 in my book. But family aside since they would be next on my list I would have to say Pagan Holaday or Topaz Crawfod."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Hands down, the only other drag queen in Portland whom I love more than myself is Kim-Chi Ghalichi. I’ve confessed this with her, but before deciding I wanted to start my drag career in Portland, I did some research and Kim-Chi was definitely THE stand out performer. When I finally came back to Portland and went out to the bars as James, I put out my feelers. And by association, people always told me either, “Kim-Chi is the prettiest Asian drag queen in Portland!” or “You want to be a drag Queen? Look for Kim-Chi and see if she’d be your drag mother!” Surely enough, I reached out! Even though Kim-Chi never became my drag mother (mother sounds “too old”), she is the CLOSEST THING to it for me. If you have to ABSOLUT-ly put a label on it, I would definitely say that Kim-Chi was my FIRST Drag Sister.! In fact, it’s no secret that I go on a Brother/Sister system. It’s so weird, but seriously, almost everyone I cross paths with, whether working professionally through collaboration or meeting casually at the bar is referred to as a “Brother” or a “Sister.” Maybe it’s the need to foster a family-like “feel” in my drag life. Or perhaps it branches off of the Passion Parties practice of calling our fellow consultants “Passion Sisters?” Regardless, I credit it to the fact that ever since I started doing Drag, Kim-Chi has truly taught me the value of genuinely being kind and nice to others; lending me her professional make-up skills, inviting me to events, lending me fashions, jewelry, and everything you can think of in-between! A few weeks ago, I came over and raided her HUGE Drag room and she straight up gifted me an expensive wig! Along with that, I’ve been borrowing a lace-front and another bump-it wig of hers for over a month (thanks, Sister!)!!! And these three wigs have been keeping my head company for this last stretch of Dragathon. She has been so supportive and has given me so much and when I am confused or mad, I am always truly reminded by Kim-Chi to go back to my roots and be kind. For that, I am and will always be beyond grateful. I love you, My Sister!"!
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"Question to Lulu: Do you think you could have made it so far without the dancers/other assistance?"!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Of course not! The only thing is, how “far” have I REALLY gotten? And how are we measuring the road?! I am so thankful to have been in drag for only 9 months, but I’ve worked with some stellar people: Jeffrey Capponi, Lynn Hurst, Nicolas Garcia, Amber Arpin, Reesh Villa, Josh Hernandez, Brandon Muck, Sergio Mendez, RJ Mora, Rew Popp, and so many more! From photo shoots to creating a dance troupe to bettering my choreography and live singing skills, I am so thankful that I’m jumping on so many opportunities and so fast, too! ! Again, Lulu Luscious is a businesswoman and she only puts out work that she’s proud of. I hope that my hard-working gene helps propel me into future relationships and collaborations, because that’s what makes me happy. Working with others to define our craft.!
I know I can dance the house down and I do it often, but it doesn’t mean I want to do it all the time every week! How many other new queens are going out and finding a dance troupe to elevate their performances for the audiences? Not many, on my count. ! I am so happy to have set myself apart with the collaboration of other Portland performers, because I feel like I’m staying true to my “being new and fresh” roots. One of the performances that I’m most proud of is my Katy Perry “Pearl” lyrical piece. This is because for that night, people were expecting to see me do a standard lip sync number: Get on stage, lip-sync, mouth words, move my hands and collect money. If I did that EVERY week at Drag-a-thon, I would not be able to fully put my heart into it. I would get bored, frankly. Going above my fans’ expectations gives me life on stage and I promise I’ll keep doing things that are above the average to entertain Portland.! I hope you ask yourself, “How many queens out there are taking the time to find and form a dance troupe, edit music, choreograph a routine, and perform for a Sunday night show like they are competing for Miss Continental US-of-Gay?” Because as a performer, I’ll raise my hand proudly!"!
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"Last question for all three Queens: Do you think your drag reputation and style compares to the other two? Do you think that you have what it takes to win the competition?"!
Classiana Hilton: "I'm not very big on comparing myself to other queens, We all have our strengths and weaknesses when it comes to either performances, make-up, creativity, etc. I definitely do think I have what it takes to win, I've stayed true to myself this entire competition and have brought such variety."! ! ! ! ! Valerie Deville: "My style is defined. People see something and say "that is so Valerie". My style is POLISHED. My reputation is different because I am known for being crazy which helps and hinders me. Yes I for sure have what it takes. Every week I delivered flawless looks and hilarious memorable performances. People had amazing "moments" but this show was all my big moment. Ask the judges, since they rarely had critiques. The proof is in the point and pictures. They all brought it but I brought it 100 times more."!
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Lulu Lusciouss: "Yes, I absolutely think I have what it takes to win the competition. In fact, I would be surprised if I don’t win! Now, before you go “oooohhh, she’s a conceited Queen,” in your head, please don’t because that’s not what I’m all about! ! The only reason why I say this is because I am so so so so proud of the way I’ve carried myself in this competition. I have truly made it a point to be extra nice to my fellow cast members, because I don’t see it as ME competing against THEM. None of us got eliminated, for gosh sakes! I only ever competed against MYSELF; trying to top my performance from the week before. There was no reason to treat any of my “competitors” with anything less than the respect that we all deserve, both on stage and off-stage. ! I feel like my reputation, as of late, is that I’m that “new” queen who’s taken Portland by storm. What the heck kind of a storm it is that they’re talking about? I wouldn’t know!... ! I can say that I’ve tried to mix it up and stretch myself, giving the unpredictable factor to Drag-a-thon. One week, I’m playing the Black Dahlia, then the next; I’m in a gorilla suit. I’ve painted my WHOLE ENTRE body twice, and I’ve switched it up and sang live and danced my heart out! I have
consistently given great looks and performances and anyone who has been to Drag-a-thon can vouch that I stand at the top when it comes to which Queeen has tried the HARDEST! Every look I’ve given has been fully thought out, and I hope that the points reflect that. I also hope my reputation reflects how hard I try, err… because I work really hard. I do!! Now, let’s talk about my other two Sisters, Valerie DeVille and Classiana Hilton! I respect everybody who does drag, no matter what their angle is, because I know it takes time to “get into it!” Anyone who has put out the effort to coordinate outfits, paint their face, tuck, etc. gets my respect. Now, do I think that they’ve delivered more than myself in this competition? Maybe.! Classiana is known for being the Queen who’s done it for years! She started at the Escape and I can’t say that the fact doesn’t make me super jealous! Back in high school, I was still struggling with coming to terms with being gay. Oh, how I wish I could’ve been comfortable enough with myself to venture to the all-ages gay club and dip my toes into drag! Can you imagine where I’d be now? I probably wouldn’t have ever gone to college, let alone MY WARDROBE WOULD BE AWESOME! And that’s the neat thing about Classiana: She has a fully-realized wardrobe that I any queen would be envious of!! Valerie DeVille is the queen who is ALWAYS in character! I’m told that was one of the main people, who entertained at Hamburger Mary’s and her performance reflects that Angelica from Rugrats attitude; she’s very good at it and again, always on-point!! I never got the chance to perform at Mary’s; my transition into the Portland scene was about the time that they transitioned out; but I wish so much that Lulu could have graced that stage. I can imagine it being very difficult; to maneuver and try to sustain a crowd’s attention, when they’re at a diner, trying to eat and focus on catching up with friends, but Valerie put in her time and where she is now certainly reflects her professionalism. ! Ultimately, in relation to the results of Drag-a-thon, I think it depends on points, of course. But also what the committee is looking for. If they want an experienced queen who’s been in drag since x-teen at the Escape and has a fully-realized wardrobe, Classiana is their gal. If they are looking for a queen who has constantly given that Angelica/”DeVille” attitude every week and never breaks character, Valerie will take the crown. However, if they’re looking for the queen who is going out and trying things at every angle, expanding her Drag, I would gladly volunteer to take the Drag-a-thon crown and elevate it as I take Portland on the ADVENTURE RIDE of our lives! !
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That wraps up our interview with the some of the marvelous Queens at Dragathon, very fantastic responses to these questions. Its unfortuante to say at the moment we do NOOOOOTTTTT know the winner. Talk about plot twist! No due to our ! Seven Trumpet Storm in Portland, Dragathon has been rescheduled to continue in a couple weeks. Wonder if this interview will change anything in the upcoming performances? Im sensing A-Game Realness. Bring it ladies, your audience awaits you. We eagerly await the new Supreme. BALENCIAGA! !
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Photo of Carter done by himself, Photo of Valerie done by Mika Martinez, and of Lulu, Rewpoppphotography, !
Kimber Shade “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.�-Margret Mead
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In the spirit of this quote, I, Kimber Shade, being of sound mind and a sickening body, has joined the team of Premiere to be the change I want to see in the LGBT Portland community. It is my intent to use this publication as a beacon through which my audience will be directly linked to all things culture and entertainment in Portland.
Coming Next Issue to Premiere!
JOSHUA MANN "How did you know you wanted to be a fashion designer?" People ask me that question all the time, and the inspiration for this journey has come from so many different directions that it can't possibly be answered in one or two sentences. What I can tell you is that we all have strength and passion inside of us... The ability to envision something no one else can. So, next time I'll tell you how a little cowboy from Arizona ended up finding fashion in Portland.
Coming to Premiere next issue!
Carla Rossi "Hi, my name is Carla Rossi and Im here to peddle some art to you. You may know me as Portlands own Carla Rossi, Portland's premier drag clown, the voice of a generation – all of these are true. But I could not do it without you, Portland. Although I probably COULD do it with Seattle or San Francisco and it might even be easier there since they both have more money, jobs, and more gay bars, but I dont want to get into economics because Im too busy to stay informed and I don't have time to read CNN." "Anyway, as you know I am a prolific art-maker – I’ve even coined the term “Arter” to describe someone who works with the arts like I do. And I’ve created a whole slew of ARTPOOP for you. What is ARTPOOP? ARTPOOP is a call to arms, it’s the cry of the collective unconscious, it’s a gallery show that is more than a gallery show – it’s not just art, it’s a bunch of makeup wipes and some paper haphazardly stuck to two walls. Best of all, ARTPOOP is in my favorite of all places: the mall. You can see ARTPOOP from now until February 28th in top floor of the Pioneer Place Mall, at PLACE Gallery just across the way from Weight Watchers and that video game store where people have comb-overs.
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I’ve always thought of myself as not just an art piece but also as a product barely fit for mass consumption, so I fit in just right alongside designer handbags, push-up bras, and self-serve frozen yogurt. Best of all, I will be creating a special performance JUST FOR YOU (it’s not just for you, but you can believe me if you want) at ARTPOOP’s second opening reception on Saturday, February 15th from 6 – 9 PM. At my first opening performance I was worshipped by muscled boys in underwear while I passed out on the floor in cutting-edge crinoline couture. What will I do this time? Come find out for yourself on February 15th! Come ARTPOOP with me."
On display until Gallery February Place Pioneer Place Mall ! 28th 700 SW 5th Ave, Portland OR ! !
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