Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Glitteress. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

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

Through the drag lens, I have been to travel abroad and produce local LA events to celebrate a queer art form i’ve dedicated over seven years of my life to. Every performance has been meaningful in its own right but to produce drag events to celebrate kings, queens, and everything in between all in the name of charity has been beyond rewarding. To be able to give back to the LGBTQIA+ community in a real way is beyond rewarding. To create save, loving, and meaningful spaces continually inspires me. No two artists are the same and it never ceases to entertain me to see what comes to life empowered by a drag artists personal expression and evolution.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As Glitteress (she/her), I have been able to host, produce, perform, create as my drag artist persona. The approachability of being a queen never ceases to amaze me with the conversations I have with people feeling comfortable enough to share with me. Even with drag becoming a pop culture phenomenon, there is continued misunderstanding and pushback from people within and outside of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s so powerful to have someone be moved by my or another artists’ work and see it “click” for them. Drag is a celebration of self expression which will never cease to keep me pushing for what’s possible. I’m eternally grateful for moving anyone with a performance, whether it’s a laugh, a tear, an applause, it never gets old.

Glitteress is a marriage of fantasy, fashion, comedy, and story telling. There’s a flavor for you I promise.

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

Even from a young age, my mother instilled and nurtured a sense of creativity and community within me. Growing up in a small town, there was a neighborly feel that I feel I have carried into my adulthood and yes, even living in LA this is MORE than possible. Getting involved in community has such an enriching quality to life cultivating a sense of belonging as just the beginning. Society can support artists by honestly engaging in queer events and spaces and seeing for themselves the diverse nature of queer art. Seeing the evolution of a local artist that inspires you is heartwarming personally. You can support more than the mega stars of today because they were once performing in a similar local capacity. Be a person that gets to say “I saw them when there finding their legs” because baby, those legs will grow strong!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I think it’s so easy to look left and right to see what’s happening with other artists. Comparison isn’t helpful considering an artist doesn’t have your identical inspirations. You can be inspired by others but don’t let their story get in the way of yours. No is never an end but simply not for you at that time. Cultivate YOUR story, be bold, and don’t be afraid to fail because even if you do, it’s a fun anecdote for yourself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: the_glitteress

Image Credits

Photos by Bohenne Arreaux, Gregory Zabilski, Christopher McWhorter, Talon Reed Cooper and Dominic LeFort.