We were lucky to catch up with Damien Serrato recently and have shared our conversation below.

Damien, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I guess you could say it first started Back when I was in middle school/highschool. I always applied myself to the drama club. Always signed up for the improve classes and drama/theater classes. I adored reading Shakespeare because it can be interpreted in any way my mind seemed fit. Being On stage, under the spotlight, nothing else mattered to me. All that mattered was the scene, the story, and my character. I made the stage and the theater my home because it was the the only place i could feel safe being fully and unapologetically myself.

For a time I lost that. I had to grow up and get a job. I couldnt find theater troups available to be apart of. Or maybe i wasnt looki g hard enough. I dont know, but for a while I lost the momentum and desire to be an actor. It seemed like such a farfetched dream. I had to make a living. I had Bills to pay. I had to put that dream, that comfort and joy, on the back burner.

That is until my Friend dared me to join in on a Cosplay Drag Competition. ORIANAS DRAG RACE, at Ohayocon. I didnt want to do it. But i took a chance. I Won the lil Competition. And my Prize was performing at the next show at the convention. I could hardly believe it! And when I did, i felt that spark ignite in me once again. The want, that Desire, came back full force. I felt so utterly free performing. The smile i had on my face was so bright that I knew i didmt want to lose it ever again. So that started my Journey into Drag.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Damien. I am black and Latino, and I am a Non-Binary person. I do not let gender define me, for i am simply Myself. I am a pretty big nerd, I Personally spend my time making outfits for Cosplay and Drag while listening to Dnd Podcasts and watching people play video games.

I work along side Trans Toledo, which is a non profit organization that Helps give support for the Trans comunity in the area. Doing fundraisers and doing a clothing exchange every other month to help those get gender affirming clothing that they themselves are not able to get or afford.

I do Drag entertainment. Which can be a variety of things depending on Venue, theme, and co text of the show i am doing. Or if Im jist there as an appearence. One thing about me that I believe sets me apart from other drag artists is how expressive i am in performing. You can read my face and i put so much work into my numbers, outfits, and makeup. I Even sing Live from time to time.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to Unlearn that my Drag has to look a certain way.

I knew in the beginning that Drag in its purest form is Art. Drag is also a way to empower one self in anyway they see fit. Yet i still put myself into a box of what I had to do, to make myself known. A lot of booking Directors want DRAG KINGS and DRAG QUEENS to look and perform a certain way. So i forced myself to try and do just that. Doing impersonations of idols from the past. Which is fine, everyone has their preferences, but it didnt make me happy. I got very bored and very self conscious of my Drag. Everyone wanted me as Michael Jackson, which i do love to do, just not all the time. I felt like i wasnt enough. Like my art wasnt appreciated.

However, i have an amazing support system. My friends and Family. They have always encouraged me. They love my craft and my creative mind in its entirety. So I started to do what I wanted instead of what other people wanted me to be. Now im feeling just a bit more confident in my drag and my creative form.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

What is most rewarding is being able to touch peoples hearts with my art. Yes i love the praise and the cheers the crowd gives me. It fills me with life, but i love when i can bring people to tears when i do a more heartfelt performance.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Bleu.Eclipse.Darling