We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dakota Cox. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dakota below.
Dakota , appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
I wish I would have taken a chance on myself sooner. I’ve been doing drag for 8 years. I worked as a shift manager in customer service and would do drag full time. As I was growing in my drag career it started to affect my 9-5. I was well into my 6th year in drag trying to balance both knowing where my passion really lied. I decided after coming back from the hiatus of the pandemic it was time to really focus on my craft. I been doing drag for 3 years full time now and it gets the bills paid.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My name is Darrell Mayo aka Dakota Cox. I’m am 29 years old born and raised in Cleveland, OH! I am one of Cleveland’s Top Drag Performers! I have been doing drag for 7 years. I started in 2017 doing open stage nights before one of Cleveland’s best nightclubs (Bounce Nightclub) closed its doors. Now, i am full time traveling drag performer! I am one of the resident queens at lgbtq+ hub Studio West 117th in Lakewood,OH and I also am a Brunchette with Michigan Drag Brunch! What sets me apart from the drag performers in the Midwest is being wild card. You never know what kind of performance you will see from Dakota in show. I consider myself a shapeshifter able to be in any genre or style! In high school I was a theater kid. In just about every play or musical I could get in. Doing community theater and apart of my high school show choir. This all helped shape the drag artist I am today! Dakota Cox a multifaceted powerhouse! Her drag is infused with female impersonation to pay homage to the beautiful black women who have raised and inspired her! I’m proud of a lot accomplishments I have had thus far in drag. I’ve had the opportunity to perform on the floor with Cavs powerhouse dance team, be on Channel 3 News, and star in the promo for Destination Cleveland that is currently on display in the Cleveland Hopkin International airport!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
This question is so important to the craft of drag. We all know how society views the lgbtq+ community. It is no secret the struggle our community has faced since the beginning of time. I feel my mission as drag queen is deeply connected to the education and views society has towards my community. We have been fighting for a long time to be heard and accepted. Although, we are slowly evolving we have so some much work to still do. Drag is art and should be celebrated as such. It is not different from all the aspects of theater. We are not trying to force anyone to come and watch a show! We just deserve a space like everyone else to express ourselves!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a drag artist is the impact and impression you leave on people who experience your drag. We as drag artists all have a collective goal in my opinion. It is to convey a message and feeling through performance and art. Majority of us as lgbtq+ have experienced in our lives not being able to fully express ourselves in our own lives without judgement. So when I am on stage, connection is important you want the audience to leave connected to you. Letting them inside to the truest essence of you. I believe that will allow them to feel like we as drag artists do. Empowered! Like they have space somewhere to be all of who they are!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thedakotacox
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarrellakaDakota?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Twitter: @TheDakotaCox
- Other: https://linktr.ee/dakota.cox http://www.midragbrunch.com/ https://dakota1cox.threadless.com/
Image Credits
Tim Motley – action shots with blue hair Logo illustration- @anaiuart (Instagram) Soldier photo- Scotty Kirby Silver look- starboy.images (Instagram)