We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Anya Bacon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Anya, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

I feel that this is a very hot topic in society right now, regarding the art of drag in particular. Many folks believe that drag is solely based upon sexual themes, when this simply isn’t true. Being no stranger to the stage, even before I started drag, I view this as a character and a part to play. Much like Robin Williams, there are many facets and moving pieces to the art form. For example, the way Robin performed as Walter Finch in “Insomnia” (2002) is not at all how he would perform as Genie in “Aladdin” (1992). Range in acting, changing your performance and subcontext based on your audience and the show at hand, is also how drag artists operate. While there are drag performers who perform in nightlife at bars and clubs, this is not to say that it isn’t also possible for those same drag artists to perform in an all-ages setting or participate in a drag story time with children. Much like actors on film or on a traditional stage, everything about the act is carefully curated and adapted to a different audience. It is unfair and unwise for one to make the assumption that all drag is the same and cannot be modified when needed.

Additionally, within my local drag community, when I very first came onto the scene, I was misunderstood due to the fact that I perform as a bearded drag queen. During my early days, this was not at all the norm or seen as acceptable by a large portion of the community. “Drag queens can’t have facial hair”, “You’re not doing real drag”, “Once you learn to shave and be pretty, then you can call yourself a queen”. These are all things that were said to me directly. And what folks didn’t realize at that point is that just because my art looks different from yours doesn’t mean mine is worth any less or more than yours.

It was disheartening, to say the least, to have a community that I was brand new to tell me how bad my artform was. Simply because I wasn’t meeting their own made-up standards. I let their voices win once, and shaved my beard. The feelings of guilt and shame were a constant companion in my mind throughout that evening. Shame for showing my face as someone I wasn’t, guilt for letting negative outside forces determine who I was. I felt as though I had lost a major part of what made me “Anya”. While the disapproving looks, whispers, and comments stopped, so did the inner confidence of being me. I decided that I never wanted to feel any of that again. Not the guilt from taking part of myself away, not the shame of giving in to societal pressures, and not the weight of carrying a ridiculous “standard of beauty” that brought me no joy. After this, I kept showing up as me, fully bearded. And folks got used to it, and eventually started to celebrate it.

Through both of these instances, I have learned that a lot of hate comes from misunderstanding. Folks are truly scared of what they don’t understand, and because our society teaches us that it’s not ok to be vulnerable enough to admit that you are scared, it turns into hate and anger. But with kindness, education, time, and showing up as your genuine self, things do change. Maybe not quickly, or in the way we would hope. But things and people change, stretch, grow, and love… eventually. And if they don’t, you don’t need them. Life will carry on for you, and you’ll be surrounded by the best people for you because of it.

Anya, 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?

I am a drag queen, and I LOVE IT!! It is a beautiful form of performance art that lends itself to a wide range of creative pursuits. Through drag, not only am I able to perform regularly, but I am also able to assist in raising funds for local non-profits at least 4 times per month through drag bingo in conjunction with the Matrons of Mayhem and O!NK Bingo. I have been lucky enough to officiate several weddings in drag, participate in engagements, create and execute corporate events, share drag story time with thousands of individuals, host karaoke parties, send videos celebrating life milestones, perform in movie theaters, share heartfelt moments with audiences and individuals, all with my signature style of campy comedy. There are very few things I haven’t done in drag yet, but I am always up for a new challenge! I love learning, and I love putting smiles in people’s hearts!

While I am based in Salt Lake City, Utah, I’ve also been lucky enough to perform in several other states, including Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, California, and Florida. Traveling with this passion is incredibly fulfilling and quite validating. Not only do I get to share my Broadway-camp-chaotic style of performance, but I also get to observe and learn from other pillars of our national community.

What some may not realize is that as an independent drag artist, we run our brand completely alone. We are our own financial team, we handle our own marketing and graphic design, and we are our own agents. Additionally, we style our own wigs, sew and embellish our own costumes, design and execute our own makeup, create our own music tracks, and the list goes on. To pursue drag performance as a career, one has to become an entrepreneur and an advocate for oneself. It takes a lot of love for your craft to make it all happen, particularly when you’re not getting paid equitably.

Overall, I would love to share even more of what I know with potential connections and learn from them in return. Whether that is locally in Utah, or in a faraway land like Cleveland, Ohio. I have so many skills and tools in my toolbox that I am beyond excited to share. And building community, both near and far, is a great passion of mine.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

For me, it comes down to 2 simple things:

1) Enjoy and consume art. – As artists, we have an innate need to create, and it is best when shared. We create art to be consumed. I would highly encourage folks to enjoy different forms of art, especially those who feel they wouldn’t enjoy it. There are so many types of art, that there is literally something for everyone. Not all people enjoy drag performance art, and that’s ok. I’m not here to tell you how to love art. But I am encouraging you to try out new things. Whether that is reading a new genre of book, going to an independent art show, visiting a local open mic, taking a pottery class, or writing poetry, find art that you love and invite it into your life.

2) Stop replacing human artists with AI. – AI can be a useful tool for many things, and has already shown improvements to some technological systems. However, replacing an artist with a computer system is costing some folks their jobs and livelihoods. There is a certain touch of humanity and heart that goes into human-created art, which cannot be replicated by algorithmic output. Human-created pieces truly reach the heart in a way that cannot be synthetically programmed, which often comes from folks’ real-life experiences. The connection made between artist and observer is unique to the human experience, and is a beautiful thing to observe. I could also go on for days about the negative ecological effects of AI systems, so it’s just best to leave it and create your own masterpiece.

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

Simply put: Having my art impact anothers life.

I know firsthand how dark life can get. I am very privileged in what I have had, but I’ve also had an often overwhelming amount of negative land in my lap. Which is why I create comedic acts in drag, to lighten someone’s day, and maybe share a laugh together. On days when I didn’t think I could smile again, it was a performing artist that has always made me laugh until my cheeks hurt. This provides a few deeply needed minutes of levity from the thunderclouds inside the brain. I have wanted to pass these moments on to others, helping them find happiness and joy where their life might otherwise be crumbling. For me, being on both ends of this joy gives me hope and keeps me going through the storms of life. So when I’m able to see hope and light return to someone’s eyes, that is rewarding beyond compare.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @theanyabacon