Today we’d like to introduce you to Jami Starling.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

I’ve been doing drag since the pandemic started in 2020. While some folks were learning how to make sourdough bread, I was learning how to do drag makeup! I made my first foray into producing and hosting with a Twitch drag show called “The Baby Shower” which was created for drag artists who were getting started in quarantine like me.

Since quarantine ended, I joined the JCCP, Pittsburgh’s official Rocky Horror shadowcast. Shadowcasting is where actors perform movies while they play on the screen behind them. In addition to performing Rocky Horror, I’ve been a part of a few productions of “Repo! The Genetic Opera,” “Shock Treatment,” “Clue,” “Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical,” “Phantom of the Paradise,” “The Room,” and “Mamma Mia!”

I’ve been doing burlesque regularly for 2 years, and I’ve incorporated my love of pop culture into my performance, which is called “nerdlesque” or cosplay burlesque. I’ve performed as characters like the Goblin King from Labyrinth, Chewbacca, Beetlejuice, and I even perform as celebrities like Freddie Mercury or Annie Lennox!

Now I am a cofounder of Pittsburgh’s newest variety troupe: The Coven of Misfits, alongside my fellow witches Maxxx Massacre and Ramona Ryder! We’re producing some super fun variety shows in the near future like “I Think You Should Tease” (an “I Think You Should Leave” themed show), and an upcoming It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia show!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

What journey ever goes completely smoothly? I started my performing career when the world was basically shut down and had only my phone to record myself and some fabric I ordered online as a backdrop. But it taught me to make do and make art with very little, and I am grateful for that.

Along the way, I’ve dealt with rejection, misogyny, and all sorts of fun stuff like that because I was assigned female at birth and I do drag as a masculine character. As I expanded my repertoire to include more female impersonations and gender fluidity as well as burlesque, I felt pressure to fit in to a certain box or category. I felt that I could “only” be a drag king, or “only” be a burlesque performer. Nowadays, I am so glad I’ve stuck to what makes me happiest in my art, and people have seen that and recognized that.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I’m known as a chameleon in the local scene here and other surrounding scenes. I enjoy switching between looks, characters, and aesthetics. If I had a nickel for every time someone said “that was YOU?” I’d be able to quit my jobs and do this full time.

I’ve picked up a few skills here and there in my performing arts career, including makeup, wig styling, and costume embellishments. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with hand sewing.

I am also proud of the producing and organizing skills I’ve accumulated over the years, because I produce shows that I would want to attend. I’m also proud to run a tight, organized ship when it comes to putting on a good show.

What sets me apart from others is that I embrace being “cringe,” and so do the people around me. The Coven of Misfits is all about embracing being weird, and being unironically enthusiastic about the things we love, and creating a safe space to enjoy those things as a community.

What’s next?

My plans for the future are to keep trying new things, different themes, and different styles of performing. One of the projects that’s been in the works amongst the Coven is a Dungeons and Dragons/RPG show, where the d20 determines the fate of the players/performers. We are planning some stories for it and developing a script for it, and we can’t wait to tell everyone more about it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/jami__starling
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jamistarlingperformances

Image Credits

Chaylene Hardy (images with glitter background)
Joel Brewton Photography (they’re already watermarked)