Becoming a Queen

Unicorn Headband and Rose LED String Lights from sponsor Party City.

I've seen every episode of RuPaul's Drag Race at least twice. It's a show that's a feast for the eyes and never gets old. As an artist, I was enthralled by the level of skill and artistry. Drag queens are walking masterpieces. I dreamt of dancing my heart out on stage in a custom-ensemble covered with glitter, but I thought as a biological woman, I'd never be accepted. I was so wrong. When I showed up to Ryconic's drag dance party on Saturday, I was literally embraced by the Queens. They could tell by my extravagant outfit and exuberant energy that I was one of them. Then the DJ played my song, Ryconic screamed my name, and I became a Queen.

Many people outside of the LGBTQIA+ community don't understand drag and write it off as something silly and frivolous. They don't understand that drag queens are highly skilled and passionate performance artists. Similar to jesters or griots, thier over-thetheir-top costumes serve as a way to transport the viewers into the stories they tell. As long as they're on stage, they transport audiences into a fantasy. Minds that are usually crowded with worries and distracted by social media become completely absorbed by the Queen.

I plan to do a performance art piece for the opening of my group exhibition at the Fitchburg Art Museum. When I was asked to participate in the residency back in December, Egun (my ancestors) immediately told me that I needed to perform as a masquerade dancer. I obediently relayed this information to the museum's curators even though I'd never done performance art in the past (minus a few band concerts in middle school).

On May 25th, my school received the holy Odu, OturaOgbe. For those of you who aren't familiar, Odu are similar to verses of the Bible. Every 16 days, your priest does a divination, from which he receives an Odu, which all the students meditate on during that time period. There is a verse that reads, "Ifa says someone will wear a crown". When I read this verse, I knew precisely what Ifa (the deity of divination) was talking about. It was time for me to become a Queen.

So, on Saturday, despite my misgivings, I showed up to the party. The feeling of performing is hard to describe besides saying that it's transportative. I couldn't feel any of the pain in my joints from my arthritis that usually weighs me down. I felt as light as a child. I felt the way I did before the chemotherapy and diagnosis of multiple chronic illnesses. I felt like the purest, most joyful version of myself. I was a ball of light that exploded all over the audience, and their cheers showered me like the sweetest rain. There have been so many times in my life that I've been "too much" of something. Too loud, too ambitious, too colorful....the list goes on and on. But on Saturday night, I wasn't "too much" of anything. I was just right. I was home.

From now on, you may address me as Your Majesty.

Catch my performance at the next Iconics Dance Party on June 17th!