The Ivy-an up and coming drag artist sits down with me to discuss all things drag, including her inspirations, drag family, upcoming performances and what it’s like to be a female Drag Queen today.

The stunning 22-year-old hails from Newcastle, with makeup skills that could threaten even a pro this Geordie is one to look out for and here is why!

Dragadventures: How would you describe yourself in 5 words?

Ivy: I would say I’m friendly, funny, creative, crazy and a party animal (I know that’s more than 5, I’m really great at maths too)

DA: What was your first memory of Drag?

I: My first memory of drag was Dragworld and being exposed to such an accepting community and I got to meet some amazing queens especially Biblegirl, Charity Kase who looked stunning and the Klub Kids!

DA: Introduce us to Ivy.

I: Ivy is a heightened version of me I think, a genderless alien who can party the night away but can lip-sync the house down! I came up with the name with my drag daughter, she’s Poison, and together we are Poison Ivy! Like a drag duo!

DA: You have a Drag daughter, how did that come about?

I: Yes I do have a drag daughter! She’s one of my best friends and it came about when I introduced her to drag race and we were really drunk one night and decided she should become a queen too! Glamorous I know!

DA: Which is your favorite look so far?

I: My favorite look so far has to be the punk look I did with the green Mohawk, I think the hair itself made a huge statement!

DA:Who/What truly inspires you as a performer?

I: My biggest inspiration with my drag, is Discord Addams, I think she is so unapologetically her and I love that in a performer, someone who isn’t afraid to speak out about things but also looks fucking gorgeous doing it! I love Gidget Von Addams too! Her style is so individual! I can’t not mention Crystal Lubrikunt either since Ivy fully came into light because of her and for that I will forever be thankful! She’s a fierce performer too! Definitely a star on the rise!

DA: Recently you shaved your eyebrows, what made you do it and do you regret it?

I: I did shave off my brows! I shaved them back in February and I haven’t looked back! It takes half an hour off my make-up time which is already pretty lengthy, the make-up looks so much better and I could never regret it! They grow back after all.

DA: You travel across the country to see shows, is there a particular one that has influenced you the most?

I: I think I probably travel to other cities than stay in my own which is crazy! I’ve tweeted this out before that Edinburgh has my entire heart, I say it every time I go there! A lot of my best friends live there and I don’t know what I would do without them! I go to Edinburgh for The Rabbit Hole, a show hosted by Alice Rabbit every Tuesday but I will be going to the other shows up there soon! But the queens I’ve met there have been the ones to give me my first performances/bookings.

DA: Has growing up in Newcastle been hard in terms of being a woman who likes drag/being a performer yourself?

I: Newcastle is a great city for drag! I’ve never had a problem whenever I’ve been out in drag. I think the only problems I’ve ever had were very few small minded people who thought I wanted to be a man but that’s nothing to focus on, I just brush off the comment and try to explain it to them! But one queen from Newcastle, Gladys Duffy, has just won Drag Idol and I couldn’t be more proud of her!

DA: What are your career ambitions, do you see drag being a viable root for you?

I: I think the way things are going, I’m really enjoying this process of getting to perform, I’m never expecting to be paid because I love doing what I do and meeting new people ect but I recently got booked for my first paid booking which is exciting! I wouldn’t quit the day job though, that basically is funding my drag.

DA: What would you like to say to all those who believe women can’t do drag?

I: For those who say women can’t do drag, I would just like to say, f*** you (laughs) Drag isn’t exclusive, it’s for everyone and all drag is valid no matter if you’re a king, a queen or whatever you want to be! It’s a way for us all to express ourselves!

Would you rather? Nails or Heels -Heels (I’m short af against the queens in them never mind without) Wig or Padding -Wig (did you just say wig?) All Stars 2 or All Stars 3 -All Stars 2! Gaga or Beyonce – GAGA!!! All the way! I love her! Dragula or Drag Race -Dragula, anything is accepted there and the creativity is something else!

DA: Where can we find you?

I: You can find me on Twitter and Instagram (‪@thatqueenivy) and I’ve mentioned The Rabbit Hole enough times for you to know I’ll probably be there serving lewks and being a drunk mess.

Written by guest contributor Shelby Hales