We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Skunky Sweet. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Skunky below.
Alright, Skunky thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
An Enigma wasn’t built in a day. Drag is an entertainment career. Like any entertainment career, you declare it and set it in motion. Skunky Sweet learned by doing: by going out to odds and ends shows all across Los Angeles, participating in competitions “for exposure,” and observing the behavior of the people I admire. Anyone can do drag (and you should.) It takes a different commitment to decide to make it your art, to make it your sole means of expression. There is no rule book to the game of entertainment, so you just have to do it yourself. I could go into detail about, “I learned makeup from YouTube at this age” or “I met this photographer in this year,” but the key is to see it all and be intentional about your own path. Let’s just say, it started with a purple Party City wig, and the rest is history.
Focusing on being An Enigma, there isn’t a way to speed up the process. I suppose sleeping around more would help. There are many ways to “advance” your career but there isn’t a way to “advance” your talent. Everything works out in the right way at the right time, just be ready for those opportunities when you see them!
Along with drag, my career in Los Angeles has been production design and producing for music videos, commercials, short films, and feature films. Those skills of production management gave me the professional background of how to lead and conduct oneself, especially when producing shows. Over-communicate and cover your ass.
Switching tones: in December 2022, I was in a near death car crash where I broke my jaw and sprained my neck. I had a long and somber recovery, but jumped right back into my stardom the moment I was deemed healthy again by doctors. Drag and nightlife go hand in hand, but so does intense partying and every connotation of it. I find myself thriving in nightlife and party scenes, but I also find myself being careful and being self aware, which I don’t think is a huge obstacle. I LOVE dancing and performing, but I’m diversifying my talents. I won’t give everything away to soon, but I’m dabbling in many side quests to show other sides of Skunky Sweet. I learned and implemented a lot about drag and getting a network for recurring drag performance gigs, but my true identity is evolution. When I’m feeling comfortable, that’s when I know to switch it up.
I hope all of this is equally vague and specific.
Skunky, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
How do you do? The name’s Sweet … Skunky Sweet. A self proclaimed Enigma, tagline “nothing good happens after midnight.” As a full fledged artist and businesswoman, I found drag as the one path to do whatever I want, however I want, whenever I want … wherever I want … whyever I want.
While also working as a freelance producer and production designer, I found footing in Los Angeles queer arts as Skunky Sweet. What once was a side hobby as a baby drag queen became a full fledged artistic experience synonymous with my core identity.
When lockdown from the pandemic was starting to ease restrictions and nightlife was ramping up again in 2020-2021, that’s when Skunky stepped in. I was ready, tired of driving flatbed 20 foot trucks for production across Los Angeles County. It was all wildly exciting with new opportunities and shows at every turn. Entertainment is always evolving, and being artistically active in today’s ubiquitous world is an added bonus to the unpredictable pandemonium of show business. Say yes to opportunity, as opportunity is not a lengthy visitor!
In four short years, I’ve seen countless parties come and go, for good and bad reasons, and figured out how to feel the pulse of the city. I learned that’s sort of how LA goes, seasonal parties, if you will. I produce my own parties and shows, my number one collaborator being GIRLACNE, who brought me into her party: CREAM. What started as a recurring self-indulgent, art-heavy drag show in her backyard is now evolving into a community spotlight experience. A sneak preview of what’s to come with CREAM is a leave-no-stone-unturned approach to eternal fame. Drag is art, and art calls for diverse stages and spaces … have I been specific yet!?
Another highlight is Furry Safari, a show I hosted at a furry event called TAIL, which was an inclusive crossover of drag and furry nerd-core talent. I may bring back the animal-drag-hybrid concept, but I’m not looking to produce a show right now. I’m a natural on the mic and manipulating a crowd to buy drinks is my best talent, but Skunky is currently looking to be part of society, sit in the audience, and let others lead the city for a while. I’m enjoying writing reviews of novels on GoodReads, posting articles on Substack, and playing games of imaginative fashion while the pot goes from simmer to boil.
To be frank, success as a drag artist today comes from hyper specific branding through social platforms like Instagram or TikTok. What happens when social platforms go away; or simply, when people stop paying attention? I’m in the process of building Skunky’s website, email list, and … small business ventures to feed my core fans. Be on the lookout, starting with my Instagram, and beware my Linktree (aka Skunky’s Territory) has all the resources to support me.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
Oh boy, I have a lot to say about this. Last summer I was doing a ton of active research on social media, trends, branding, etc. Starting in Fall of 2023, I implemented a specific strategy to create visibility for myself, and become an annoying force popping up in your feed. I said before, the way to learn drag is to get out and experience as many shows as you can. Once I did that, I also realized you can work a lot at various shows, but if you don’t show up to “specific venue,” the people at “specific venue” may never know you exist. Furthermore, the way the algorithm works across the board creates echo chambers and only shows you a select type of content based on what you engage with. All that being said, I just wanted to gain visibility so people who weren’t at my shows could see what I’m up to.
I learned Instagram is best for cultivating a community. To be seen, you have to post a consistent schedule. Since September 2023, I implemented Monday, Wednesday, Friday Instagram Reels. The tricky part is once you show Instagram “you’re ready to play” by doing this consistent schedule, you also have to keep people engaged. Better put, you have to keep telling Instagram your audience is engaged. You really need to post polls in your story for people to click on, same with responding to every single comment, and also using your notes, and so on. You have to constantly be on Instagram to be rewarded by Instagram. That, or pay for promotions and followers … All the while, I was being myself and regularly churning out content for the sake of being seen. Then I stopped. I took a step back and thought about drag and looking within to what genuinely fulfills me artistically.
If you want to be “visible” on social media, go for it. It’s honestly easy to get seen. I would encourage people to think about what you’re putting out there. I started to feel part of a posting system that I didn’t believe in. Now, I’m still rethinking and understanding my new approach. I know people want to follow what Skunky Sweet is up to, I’m just more thoughtful on how much energy I’m giving to digital platforms.
Aside from the science behind being visible on Instagram, I will say developing your own voice is critical. I’m not afraid to display any side of me, but you do need to be aware of who you are and how you come across to others. Niche down is what they say, make yourself a digestible brand. Being an undefinable enigma isn’t a digestible brand for myself, but I wouldn’t want to be any other way.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Especially for Los Angeles arts, these artists don’t work unless you come out. These bars do not stay open unless the audience shows up. It’s really about impact in people’s lives. It’s great to be seen, but it’s better to stay in business. I know the feelings of not thriving in nightlife or not wanting to spend the money to go out, but if people don’t contribute to supporting these spaces, then these spaces cease to exist.
Also, it doesn’t hurt to send a Venmo tip to a drag artist, or any artist, even if you want to support them. Even a queen with the most decadent lewk still needs $5 for eyelash glue.
Seek direct ways to support the unique artists you see in real life or on social platforms! We’re all different, some sell t-shirts and stickers, others have podcasts and YouTube channels. Invest in these voices!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://nikkireifler.com/
- Instagram: @SkunkySweet
- Twitter: @Skunky_Sweet
- Youtube: @Skunky_Sweet
- Other: Email: [email protected]
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/skunkysweet?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=8f1732d4-2dcf-4d0d-8a75-0cc6632f3b45
Image Credits
Black and White photos; Jamie Kaufman Photography
All others: Daniel Riser or Marcel Andre