Monday, January 14, 2019

THE FUTURE OF DRAG

Imp Queen is an entertainer out of Chicago, Illinois where she has been featured at places like Berlin and is a trans fashion figure, a rising drag pop star and a queer community leader.

  "There isn't really a 'character,' just my own mannerisms amplified by a spotlight, a microphone and an audience. I consider the work I'm doing now as Imp Queen part of my ongoing art and life practice," she said.  Imp Queen said she looks like a "classy bitch, but acts like a trashy girl. She's a total sweetheart, too.Imp Queen likely won't remember your name until you've met in the club at least a few times,  and then she'll likely just refer to you as "Daddy," as she does with everyone.She's a 1960s fashion illustration, seen through the lens of a 1990s club kid, then reinterpreted by a contemporary non-binary artist. The look is very over the top, very surreal, very graphic. Imp Queen collaborates with many other local queer fashion designers to create her looks. In folklore, an imp is a cute, little, devious magical creature—not evil, but definitely chaotic, and it's a name her friends started calling her in sophomore year of college whenever she was particularly turnt. After college, she was billing herself as Imp Kid, doing performance art with  two best friends as the group WITCH HAZEL. When she started to do proper drag, Imp Queen seemed like the obvious next version of the name.
Just a few months ago RuPaul, one of the preeminent drag queens in the world, expressed his resistance to trans women participating in Drag Race because when it’s not cis men doing it, “drag loses its sense of danger.” And here we have Imp Queen: a trans woman drag performance artist taking the very hormones that RuPaul dismissed as “performance-enhancing drugs.” Imp is an iconoclast — one of the most visible drag queens on social media who has not been a contestant on RuPaul’s Drag Race. And if she ever does...watch out!  She uses her Instagram to document the looks she wears out for nightlife gigs in Chicago: dazzling the masses with her iconic pink countenance, regal balloon crowns, and unyielding reservoir of creativity. In Imp’s world looks are a postgender bliss…to be found on aisle five in heaven next to the neon lip liner...What is striking about Imp’s online presence is she doesn’t only turn looks, she also talks shop. She goes live speaking candidly about her transition, her struggles with mental health and harassment, and her own frustrations with the drag scene. In this way she poses a double whammy: She can paint your face to the gods and lecture you on queer history and performance theory along the ride. And I firmly believe it's queens like her that will pave and keep drag relevant all the while fighting to ensue rights for the trans community.
All the more reason to adore her...I think she would make Leigh Bowery proud.

17 comments:

  1. Have you seen the film "Dumplin'"? Some great Queens in that one!

    Hope you're doing well, my friend. Thank you for your comments as I've slogged my way through a difficult time. <3 <3

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  2. I like the tower of flowers! Interesting topic and issues. xoxox

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  3. I ADORE Imp Queen. I love a drag with talented club kid quality.

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  4. Creativity and I love it, what expression.
    Coffee is on

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  5. She certainly has a unique look and sense of style.

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  6. Truly amazing looks and technique....and a even better brave soul and outlook.

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  7. Excuse my French but she is fucking fabulous.

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  8. That last picture looks like me on a good day. Now this would be something we never saw on Drag race.

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  9. Kudos to her for having a creative and different look. This is so beyond. I'm living for her.

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  10. Stunning and creative...literally unreal.

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  11. Imp did a show our here. one of the most incredible I'd seen in drag in show time.

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  12. We're always being told that drag and transgender are two very different things, but when they occasionally spill over into each other, I, for one, find it fascinating.

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  13. So awesome! Thank you for introducing her to me. Gorgeous pictures and so creative!!

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  14. You are SO alright. She’s giving me Bowery realness! I love this style of drag that goes from super fish to art installation 😎.
    And RPDR has included trans women since Ru talked about the enhancing effects of hormones. Gia, Sonique and Pepermint have been there.

    XoXo

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    1. Yes she has, I think they realized they were going to get to much backflap for not letting on dragtestants.

      On the drag circuit, especially when it comes to pageants, this is one hot topic, with a divide with cis queens. I may have to do a post on that.

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  15. Just when you start to get a little bored of drag, along comes Imp Queen, and you are inspired again. She's amazing.

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  16. Sheer brilliance. I am in awe!

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!