When Makeup Blends Gender

How would you describe your performances?
"I'll give you an example. In one of my pieces, set to Britney Spears' 'Stronger,' I portray a circus-style strongman who fails to lift a phallic-shaped weight — until I shoot myself up with a giant syringe of steroids and succeed, easily lifting the weight in all kinds of suggestive ways. The piece touches on homo-eroticism and gender expectations, and because I choose to dress in red, white, and blue and wear an American-flag bandana around my neck, it also addresses the American obsession with things that are 'bigger, faster, stronger.' Sometimes, though, I just want to dance around with enthusiasm and make people feel good, and it's not that deep."

What role does makeup play in your performance?
"I use eyeliner to darken my eyebrows and draw on facial hair and sideburns, which are current symbols of masculinity in our society. Sometimes I choose to don both facial hair and, say, pink glitter — which, during this cultural moment, is strongly associated with femininity. I hope that when people see me wearing a gender-blending look like that, they feel inspired and like they have permission to be creative and not so rigidly adhere to the gender binary."

How do you feel when you have the drag makeup on?
"I feel ready for my close-up. If I'm wearing more than usual, like lots of glitter, glitter on my lips, fake eyelashes, a facial-hair piece or glued-on stubble, it can feel kind of heavy at the end of the night. But, I don't usually take it off until the very last minute before bed, because I like how I look."

What does makeup mean to you outside of your performances?
"I have always gravitated toward makeup and enjoy playing with it, not only in a performance environment. I like that it can help people express themselves and feel good. I wear it several times a week just because I feel like it. I have a makeup drawer at home — sometimes I'll open it up and see some beautiful product and want to put it on right then and there, so I do."