We recently connected with Altesse Aurum and have shared our conversation below.
Altesse, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
2023, a year of taking risk. It was January of 2023 and I asked my mentor (Geraldine Jones),”Do you think I could win Daytona Beach Continental?” I will never forget the look that came to her face as she told me “You’re doing alright, I think you should give it a shot. If you don’t win Continental, I’ll take you down to Miss Florida.” For the oldest Drag Queen in Florida who is 80 years old and has 50 years of experience to tell me that,I knew I had to give it my all. For those who don’t know Miss Continental is a pageant system dating back to 1981(Approx). I had seen only one Miss Continental in the flesh and that was Jazelle Barbie Royale, who was my entire idol and wanted to be just like her. So, I put together a team and came up with a talent, a gown, and the cutest yellow swimsuit you have ever seen.I won Miss Daytona Beach Continental, however, the biggest challenge was going to Nationals. You see, as someone born and raised in Daytona Beach I thought of no one better to bring drag back to Daytona and use the title to uplift the Drag Community that had become non existent. Now, Nationals were in Chicago during Labor Day weekend. I left Chicago in 2018 with $32 to my name and I returned as a crowned prelim queen of the system of whom I admire the most. All the money, time, preparation, and dedication came up to this one moment. I completely came apart lol I was so….. frozen by the expectations and grandeur of Miss Continental. People flew from all over the world to see this pageant and I froze up. But‼️ After losing two dancers and not packing everything for the pageant, I still managed to cause a stir lol I was even named “The Wrench” of Miss Continental 2024….. until Zhané Dawlings won lol While I did not win or even place. I took a risk to be seen on the worlds biggest pageant stage and this is what happened. I met legends like Dana Douglas, Stasha Sanchez, Brooke Lynn Hytes, Cezanne, Tiffany Arieagus, Danielle Hunter, Shantell D’marco and many more. I was jettisoned into the spot light and I used my time in the sun to showcase what I stood for and present myself in a specific way. So, sometimes you take a risk and don’t win, however, people will always see the risk you took and what you presented and for me…. I was seen in the best way possible and it has forever changed my life 🥰
Altesse, 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 started doing Drag on January 20th, 2021. Joe Biden was elected President and a new Queen was crowned (Me lol). I am a trans woman in the military. In 2016, I was in Afghanistan and I said Adam I got back home I would start my transition…. Well…. Another person won the election and implemented a Trans Ban in the military. So I had to wait until it was safe and not speak a word of it. I now proudly serve as a Trans Woman who does drag. Many people do not like what I do, but to my followers on TikTok and beyond u stores that the only way to live off by being yourself. I am forever choosing that with love for oneself and a will to be authentic you can lead the happiest version of your life.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Being Genuine, they see me cry, they see me laugh, they see me stressed, my followers see the real me. If it’s while I’m polished, just waking up, or somewhere in between they know I’m just doing me and they can see I’m just a regular person
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
I’m not afraid to comment, like and support my followers too they are brilliant and deserve someone that keeps tabs on them like they do on me. At my bar, I try to know the majority of the regulars names, because nothing says “I see you” better than calling someone out by name
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altesseaurum?igsh=MWE2OHg2dWlhMG11ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@altesseaurum?_t=8ib3rjm9SSE&_r=1