Miss Katherine enthusiastically entertains the ever vivacious, charismatic and fun loving Miss Feminem in her front parlour over a cup of Earl Grey tea to yarn about cruising in style, online shopping and international travels.
Miss Katherine: Welcome to my parlour, how is your tea?
Feminem: Thank you Miss Katherine it is nice to be here. I grew up with my Grandma’s afternoon teas, so it is always nice to sit back and relax with a nice hot cuppa.
Miss Katherine: How long have you been doing drag for?
Feminem: It is coming up to two years in January – I have been DJing since I was 15 for a kid’s club every Sunday. Then I branched into weddings and parties, and from there I branched into gay nightclubs on the central coast of NSW. When I moved to Sydney I started DJing at a few of the western suburbs venues in Parramatta. During that time I did drag just for fun at a friend’s party. Queen Vanity Faire of Sydney heard I did drag and she approached me to work at The Palace Hotel when it first opened on the condition it was in drag. So, every week, without any drag knowledge about make up or wigs, I would turn up with my records and DJ. After I was more confident I competed in a drag competition at Arq Night Club. I made it through to the grand finals, and from there, I was offered more work. And that is how Feminem was born.
Miss Katherine: Would you ever consider singing in drag?
Feminem: I have thought about it and a lot of people have questioned why I don’t do it. I think it is because with singing I need to feel comfortable and for me drag is like character acting and my singing has no character – it is a part of me. Maybe one day if I can find a totally different singing style to apply to my drag I will do it, but for the moment, I just want to enjoy the two separately. I love singing as Daniel and using my voice for the instrument that it is.
Miss Katherine: What has been personally your most memorable drag performance?
Feminem: Once a month I would do the 1.30 am show at Arq Nightclub, I was given 100% creative freedom, with male dancers and being a DJ I was able to mix the music to my own shows.
Miss Katherine: What are your major plans for 2008?
Feminem: January, I am going to Asia – Bangkok, Macau and Singapore. Then on Australia Day I will be performing at the Wickham Hotel in Brisbane. Then Miss Val Uptuous and myself will be performing on Atlantis Cruises in March departing from Florida for a week – we will be sharing the stage with Rosie O’Donnell, Jackie Beat and Celine Dion, to name a few..
Miss Katherine: [enviously Miss K rolls her eyes] How hideous! How ever will you cope?
Feminem: Ha ha. [sweetly Miss F rolls her eyes] I don’t know – I hope I don’t get star struck!
Miss Katherine: A little birdie tells me you do corporate drag shows and there is a plan to have an online drag supply shop.
Feminem: Well, that is why Val and I are going to Asia. We are searching for product and meeting with suppliers. There is such a need for dragqueens.com.au. I have owned the name for about a year now and have not done much about it yet. We are looking to launch in February in 2008. I used to work part time at Chelsea Bun’s House of Priscilla drag shop in Sydney and people from here in Perth and interstate would come in and be so glad they could buy simple things, like glitter and make up and shoes all in the one store [as well as] things you really can’t find, like drag g strings, heavy stockings and heavy make up!
Miss Katherine: Do you have a boyfriend? If not are you actively looking?
Feminem: [blushes] I am single at the moment, and though I am not actively looking, I would not say no if one came along.
Miss Katherine: What is your favourite color?
Feminem: Pink, pink, pink, pink! Anything pink, I just love pink.
Miss Katherine: Favourite fashion designer?
Feminem: It is about the outfit and how you wear it that makes anything look fabulous. Whether $3000 or $10, the outfit will still look equally amazing if you wear it well – I am also starting to sew again. I learnt a little at school and before I left Sydney, Portia Turbo taught me the art of making foam wigs, so I am just starting to get into that. I recently made a floral headdress very much like the ones in Priscilla, and the next one will be made of mirror and glass!
Miss Katherine: I heard you have just started a new job in a new industry?
Feminem: I am delivering flowers!
Miss Katherine: How feminine!
Feminem: Ha ha, yes, very Feminem!!
