Drag: the art of self expression and healing
Diamond celebrated her one year into drag with a photoshoot on Dec. 4, 2022. Photo by Dixie Diamond.
The song starts, a queen glides across the stage to match the rhythm. Under a mask of makeup that took three hours to do, wearing a dress she made in a week - it is her time to shine. To performers, Miss Brandi and Dixie Diamond, this is just a regular night.
There is more to being a drag queen than the performance on stage. After all the effort it takes, Brandi and Diamond continue to pursue their passion. The art form has brought the two performers healing and a community that celebrates them.
“There's a star in everyone,” said Brandi.
Brandi's performance at the Saloon on Feb. 21.
Drag is an entertainment art form that has been an important building block for the LGBTQ community since the 1860s. It evolved from William Shakespeare’s theater where performers would dress up as the opposite gender.
According to the National Park Service, drinking while being homosexual was considered illegal in the early 1960s. Police often raided bars for being “disorderly.” Disorderly could mean a man buying another man a drink.
This prompted drag queens to form “drag houses,” they picked families and created a welcoming space for all.
With raging homophobia and transphobia at the time, many found it difficult to find work. Many turned to performing drag to make ends meet. Drag has always been a piece of entertainment that has uplifted and validated LBTQ people.
Brandi was first introduced to drag in 2020 from the drag competition reality TV show, RuPaul’s Drag Race. After viewing it on TV, Brandi wanted to see it live. They started attending drag shows in the Twin Cities area.
On Feb. 8, 2024, Brandi decided they wanted to be the one on stage and performed at the Saloon in Minneapolis. Since then, they haven’t left the stage and continue to perform every Thursday.
As her drag journey started, they also healed.
"It's always just a way to express myself and also be able to heal the inner child,” said Brandi.
Brandi struggled for years to be able to finally express themselves fully. The moment their foot touched the heels they finally found a community that would celebrate them for who they are.
“Expressing yourself in a way that you would never be able to do in your day-to-day. It's a very healing thing,” said Brandi. “It allows you to do the things that you normally wouldn't do or say the things you normally wouldn't say.”
Drag has also helped Diamond fully embrace herself to live authentically. Since starting drag, Diamond has grown into her own skin and found a community she thrives in.
Diamond has been doing drag for two and a half years. For the past eight months she has hosted the drag show at Flame Nightclub.
One night while she was out at the Flame Nightclub location in Superior, she was asked a question that would change her life forever.
“I was asked by one of the bar owners in Superior if I did drag,” said Diamond. “I was like, no, but do you want me to?”
Thanks to the owner, Diamond found a passion that she would forever hold gratitude towards.
“I came out as trans, that's like the biggest thing drag has really allowed me to like, step into myself,” said Diamond. “I've been on hormones for a little over a year now.”
Drag gave Diamond the courage to openly live her life as a transgender woman. The battles Diamond endured through her self-expression journey have taught her valuable lessons.
“Being nice to everybody and that doesn't just mean the people that you are, you know, picking and choosing,” said Diamond. “It's giving empathy.”
Underneath all the glitz and glamor are people trying to heal and grow. Brandi and Diamond continue to pursue their therapeutic art form while entertaining others.
Moments before, Diamond brought out a real life python on the stage for her Britney Spears "Slave 4 u" performance. Photo by Dixie Diamond.
Brandi performed at the Gay 90s on April 24, 2024. She regularly performs every Thursday at the Saloon. Flame has a drag show the first Sat. of every month and they will be hosted by Diamond.
Follow Brandi and Diamond on Instagram to follow their journey: @tasteofbrandii @himynameisdixie_.