We were lucky to catch up with Rollonda Coxx recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Rollonda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. 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?

Absolutely. People call my roller skating a “gimmick” which completely undermines my history as a competitive roller skater. After winning multiple national championships, I competed in Taiwan and Spain as a member of Team USA in Roller Figure Skating. My elite athletic career demanded intense training and personal sacrifices. Drag allows me to perform on my skates without the limitations found in competing, and in lots of ways it is even more fun to perform as Rollonda, so I am always ready to roll with new opportunities! While some venues are ruled out because I am on skates, I like to see it as making me Limited Edition. I appreciate the opportunities I already have to roll around places like Los Angeles, Manhattan, Provincetown. I can hardly wait to see where my skates take me next!

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.

Of course! I am America’s Roller Skating Drag Queen, and I am sure to provide what you are looking for in wheeled queen entertainment! I exclusively roller skate, equipped with a wide range of tricks to showcase my fusion of competitive skating and drag to elevate your event. I can say with confidence that you haven’t seen anything like me! I am also VERY adaptable- I perform on everything: concrete, tile, linoleum, carpet, nonslip mats, stairs, stages, ramps, grass, stripper poles, and more! My favorite challenges are skating in smaller spaces with obstacles because it forces me to be creative with my choreography, but I still love when I have more room to play! I also see every gig as an honor because I love skating. I am so proud that this evolved into a platform to inspire and entertain audiences!

I also coach roller figure skating as Head Coach and Chief Choreographer for the Brandon Lee Skate Company- a premier roller figure skating club in Shillington, PA! After retiring from competitive skating, I earned my Advanced Coaching Certification from USA Roller Sports- our national governing body, and started consulting. I work with Freestylers on their Double Axels the same as I work with Internationally ranked skaters on their dance routines, and with my own space, I work tirelessly to build the next cohort of champions. The rink we train in is where I learned how to roller skate, and the owner Howard Redford is my first coach, so it is quite poetic to walk into the rink each day to train the next generation of athletes! I love coaching all ages and abilities, and I love showing these kids how to embrace their inner performer. We even dabble in some local entertainment opportunities, like fundraisers and parades. It builds so much confidence in other aspects of life that it is a never-ending gift for us all! What makes BLSC unique is we use neuroscience-based practices to teach children at a faster rate, while it seems to an untrained eye we are all about playing games and having fun! It is the best of both worlds and helps the children look forward to training each day! I am most proud of being able to make a job out of roller skating, all the fun we have, and all the memories we make- whether at a bar, brunch, or at the rink!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the deep sense of community and friendship that comes with it. Growing up, I struggled making friends and often felt isolated for being different. However, my journey into the world of drag introduced me to incredible drag queens (and coaches!) who show me the true meaning of friendship and support, while embracing exactly that which makes me unique!

Finding this new chosen family has been transformative. It all started with happenstance, working with Tammie Brown, who quickly made me feel like family. She introduced me to the legendary Putanesca who has captured me in my best light as she is world renowned photogapher José Alberto Guzmán Colón (@glamgender)! Some of his photos are attached to this interview! The sense of belonging and understanding I feel with them is something I cherish deeply. It’s not just about performing or creating art; it’s about the bonds we build and the mutual support we offer one another- it lets us have fun entertaining an audience together. This connection makes my artistic journey so special. Whether I’m planning a new costume with Geoa Designs, playing Mario Kart with Rhea Litré and Scarlett BoBo, sharing pet pictures with Jackie Beat, grabbing lunch with Sherry Vine, or calling my good judies Sible Sible Stackhouse , Jalah Nicole, Sienna and Candace when I need someone to lean on- I feel lucky to have found friends like them. It’s incredibly rewarding to know I’m part of a community that values friendship and supports each other through both highs and lows. It elevates my standards for relationships, and it feels awesome!

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

One aspect non-creatives might struggle to understand is the intense personal and emotional investment the creative process demands of you. When you aren’t deeply immersed in the arts, it can be hard to grasp how much of ourselves we pour into our work and how it simultaneously invigorates and exhausts us because creativity has no limits. In the world of performance, especially drag and competitive roller skating, the creative journey navigates a complex mix of passion, preparation, and vulnerability. Every performance is a reflection of me, and the effort to connect with an audience in a new way is both exhilarating and emotionally taxing. I never liked doing what everyone else does, because it reminds me of opening a franchise. Sure, it’s easier, but there is so much more fulfillment in being unique.

I put more into my performances and skating choreography than I have in past relationships, and that is why I consider both Rollonda and the BLSC a love letter to myself. It fills my cup so much as a performer and creative that I can pour into my skaters’ the way they deserve from their coach. It leads to some pretty creative concepts that push boundaries in the sport of roller figure skating, coupled with a pit in my stomach whenever they compete, since they’re skating my legacy right in front of me. By recognizing the emotional depth and personal investment involved, non-creatives might gain a greater appreciation for the art and the artists behind it. It’s a reminder that creativity is a profoundly personal journey, and as much as it is a tax on me, I do not remember feeling more alive at work in a noncreative job. I love what I do!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://rollonda.com
• Instagram: rollondacoxx & blsc610
• Facebook: rollondacoxx & blscshillington
• Twitter: rollondacoxx
• Other: For the Photo, please credit José Alberto Guzmán Colón of JAGC Photography (@glamgender). Thank you!

  I included links for both Rollonda and BLSC.

Image Credits

1 &2: JAGC Photography (@glamgender)
7: Joe Mac Creative (@joemaccreative)