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

Hi Desirae, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most meaningful projects I’ve had the pleasure of being part of is a cat-themed cabaret called Show Me Your Kitties! To date, the show has raised over $10,000 in donations for the Little Lions Foundation, a Long Beach-based cat rescue, with much of the funding supporting their TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program. For those unfamiliar, TNR involves humanely trapping stray cats, spaying or neutering them, and returning them to their communities. This not only helps reduce the number of kittens born on the streets, but also decreases fighting, traffic accidents, and shelter overcrowding.

What makes Show Me Your Kitties! so special is the level of creativity and commitment from the cast. We’ve featured everything from lions and tigers to Pink Panthers, tuxedo cats, and even a cat on catnip! The energy at the show is absolutely electric—the audience gets fully immersed and brings an infectious “crazy cat lady” spirit that makes every performance unforgettable!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Desirae Jae—a creative singing showgirl with a lifelong love for performing! My journey into entertainment started early: I began professionally singing at the age of 9, performing the national anthem for NBL games in a stadium full of thousands of people. That moment lit a spark in me that never faded.

I went on to perform at Disneyland for over a decade, which truly shaped me as an artist. Working with Disney taught me the power of creating joy &magic. I started out as a “meet and greet” character, then after a few years moved to the shows department. I had the honor of opening Mickey and the Magical Map at the Fantasyland Theater. The show gave me a deep appreciation for high-level production and performing for a 2,000 seat theater for 5 shows a day never got old- not even after 7 and half years of doing it.

From there, I dove into other creative ventures, including becoming a professional mermaid (yes, tail and all!), which has been an incredible and whimsical way to bring fantasy to life at events.

I continue to perform at local venues, events, and themed shows across
Southern California —often blending singing, dance, and character work. Whether it’s a glamour cabaret act, a heartfelt ballad, or an atmospheric character roaming about the event, my goal is to immerse guests to the maximum potential.

What sets me apart is the combination of my vocal training, stage experience, and immersive performance style. I’m not just a singer—I’m a storyteller who loves creating moments that transport people, make them laugh, or feel something real. I take pride in being versatile, imaginative, and fully committed to the world of each show I’m part of.

I’m most proud of the connections I’ve made with audiences and collaborators over the years! Whether I’m singing in a small lounge or headlining a themed cabaret, I want every person in the room to feel like they’re part of something special, because they truly are- even if that act/number/song has been done 100s of times, there is still something genuine and special for THAT particular moment- no matter how you slice it.

At the end of the day, I believe my purpose here is to bring joy, creativity, and a little sparkle to the world—one act at a time.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I am always actively building my audience on social media by staying true to my unique identity as a performer. Sharing everything from clips Disney stage time to mermaid moments helped me connect authentically with followers.
I use a mix of Reels, Stories, and behind-the-scenes content to keep things engaging, and I really prioritize interacting with my audience to build real community. I truly love getting to know them and especially seeing pictures of their animals/cats is a plus!

My advice to anyone starting out: be consistent, stay authentic, use all the tools the platform offers, and don’t be afraid to show the real you. People connect with personality just as much as content! 🐝 yourself!

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

Everyone can best support artists and a thriving creative community by showing up—literally and figuratively. That means buying tickets to shows, tipping performers, sharing their work, and supporting them financially when possible. Applauding from the sidelines is great- we LOVE to hear it, but real support comes through action.

Attending local events, purchasing performers art/supporting their small businesses, and spreading the word on shows, events, markets, helps more than you think. Every ticket bought, every dollar tipped, and every post shared helps build a vibrant, sustainable creative community. Let’s keep the arts thriving, yall!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @desirae_jae
• Facebook: Desirae Jae
• Other: I have a small spooky Etsy business if you want to see all my handcrafted pieces!
  @rags_to_witches on instagram!

Image Credits

Memo Villasenor @memster82