Tootie

ALL HAIL THE QUEEN

What/who was your inspiration behind getting started in drag?

I was stuck in San Diego without a way home and with mounting bills and responsibilities, the casualty of a relationship gone bad.  A friend approached me about joining the cast of a new show starting up.  Drama and dysfunction seem to circulate around queens and bar owners and I ended up owning the show for the next 6 years. During that time offers flourished and to me the biggest sin in life is to squander opportunity.   I showed up for everything!  I did 3 national commercials, a couple music videos and two feature films.  Riding an elephant was a highlight that made me cry on the drive down the 5 freeway back to San Diego from La La land.

How did you decide to turn drag into your career?

My earliest experience was playing the B-movie queen Irena in a Starving Artist theater Company stage production of “Kiss Of The Spiderwoman” Even then I never saw myself as an actor, I was in love with her character.  My next role was for a Production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”.  I still didn’t see myself as an actor but an activist. I made them pay me and all the other performers, which set a precedent and changed the way they did business.

When/how did you start impersonating Cher?

I wrote to Cher when I was 8 and told her that my family didn’t understand me and that I looked more like her than Chastity did.  I was in love with her character.  I recently got the chance to see Lady Gaga in concert, WOW! A kid named David threw a letter onstage that said how much Lady Gaga changed his life.  I’m planning a letter to throw onto Cher’s stage.

How does it all come together at Lips with so many queens?

Very Well!  We’ve been in business for 15 years (don’t even try doing the math) I was sold into drag slavery when I was a tween) and half of the girls that still work there were there the first year. Their so old now… don’t you dare tell them I said that. We all get along enough to crank out two shows a night.  We do things together out of work… petty crime.

When did you start at Lips and to what do you attribute its staying power?

Fun!  I was recruited by drag legend NYC Diva Yvonne Lame.  I reminded her of a tanner more talented prettier version of herself.  We’ve only recently started getting along.  Jealousy is not pretty.  We are above all committed to the customers, the birthday boys, the bachelorette girls and the fun of it all.  From the time you walk in you’ve left reality. Glamour, humor and mayhem ensue. That’s how we do it in NYC, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and here in San Diego.

Which drag performers are your favorites?

My Friend Marilyn who is dead was my favorite!  I’m in awe of a couple girls I work with both at Lips San Diego and in our 3 other locations Twat L’rouge and Michelle Lacroix off the top of my head.  I love Adore, Ara B. Cassadine, and from days gone by Pussy Tourette. They sing live and that hurts!  I’ve been in the biz for so long and have worked with the very best so it’s hard to call them all out name by name. This whole article would just be a list of names.  A better list would be who I am not impressed with.

What would you do for work if you weren’t performing in drag?

In another life I’d love to be a anthropologist/ sociologist. Previously I wrote an advice column, and I really loved sharing my experience, strength and hope with folks. In my other life, in this Life, I am a wedding planner at www.purpleorchidwedding.com based in Maui, and have been involved in the Marriage equality struggle for 12+ years.  My home state of Hawaii recently passed an equal marriage law and what better place than paradise to start your fairytale. I like to say Aloha is Simple… we’ll do the rest.  We recently did the first televised same-sex wedding of people of color for the R&B Divas show. Amazing!

What other big events are coming up for you Tootie?

The economy has turned and there are a lot of events and offers happening right now.  People are partying, investing and having fun and I am all about riding the crest of this wave once again.  As I said before the biggest sin is squandered opportunity.

Where can our readers find you?

Catch me at a cafe in little Italy or OB, at a board meeting for the El Cajon Blvd. BID (we’re giving North park a make-over, or at “ALL Hail The Queen” a gallery showing of renowned photographer Kelly Fitzgerald that’s happening at Ray Street Custom Framing from July 12th to Sept. 9th, 2014.

What gigs are on your horizon?

Doing a $30K a table event with the Museum of Modern art at the end of summer and am actively performing and raising money for VIVa, a Baja animal rescue. Of course I am at Lips- San Diego 3 nights a week and as Sister Nun of the Above for Sunday Gospel Brunch.. Make a reservation, it is a showroom and we do sell out.

Just a big Mahalo to everyone for supporting all my work, I’ve always tried to push the envelope and you’ve always met me on the receiving end.