Venus D Lite is Expressing Herself

You never know where drag performer and celebrity impersonator Venus D Lite is going to pop up next. In addition to joining the Drag Race family early on in Season 3, she has also appeared on The Ricki Lake Show, Botched, Skin Wars, Christina Aguilera’s “Hurt” video, and on a very popular episode of My Strange Addiction. In addition to her powerhouse live performances, she has also shared with her fans, very candidly, the honest truths about her drag, including her meager beginnings, her addiction to looking like Madonna (to the tune of almost $200 K), issues with other Drag Race alum, and dealing with social media trolls. 

She has remained strong and dedicated to her craft. After fighting the odds, she and her true self have come to terms and she has found life’s balance between personal and entertainment life. Venus will take the stage at NEST FEST at The Roost Lounge in Cathedral City and we cannot wait; we know she will BRING IT! We are thrilled that Venus is our Drag Centerfold this month.

Let’s get to know the Queen of Impersonation:

Hometown:  Rosemead, California. If you don’t know where that is, it is about 10 minutes east of Downtown Los Angeles.  

Guilty pleasure? 

Great food and great sex. I have a big appetite for both and I love variety in both.

Favorite part about doing drag? 

After doing this for 20 years I would have to say my favorite part is the world’s enjoyment of the art and how the interest in this art is universal. Performing in front of all different types of people from different backgrounds, cultures, and genders and receiving their enjoyment of the art of drag is honestly my favorite part.  Drag has come a long way in the last 15 years and the audience has grown so much.  I can’t wait to see what the future holds for the art of drag. 

Least favorite part about doing drag? 

It might seem weird to say but let me explain. I honestly hate the makeup part of it all and getting ready.  Some entertainers and non-entertainers get stage fright. I don’t, I get PRE-STAGE FRIGHT.  Getting ready time puts me in an intense, perfectionist, full of anxiety state of mind and I hate having to feel that every single time. Even after 20 years I still go through this before every single performance. 

Craziest drag story?

There are many… I really should write a book. Honestly, the main one that always comes to my mind is the time I went to Madonna’s Confessions Tour concert and I went dressed as Madonna in the style of her “Sorry” music video.  I was constantly asked to take photos with fans who were at the concert and one guy asked for a photo, then said to me, “I love your look.  Here are two front-row passes. I am the manager here at the Forum and these are for you.” I felt like the luckiest drag queen on Earth. I spent the rest of the concert five feet away from Madonna and she even noticed me and smiled.  It was one of the most unforgettable nights of my life. 

Most undrag thing you do? 

I would have to say the most undrag would be to get in drag and not go against certain conventional normalcies of the world.  Drag is Punk!!! We are here to push boundaries, disturb the peace, and wake people up and recognize that there is more to life than just apples and oranges, or a, b, and c. Never forget about the other walks of life, and keep in mind that we are all the same. 

Strangest hobby or talent? 

I am a huge disco music fanatic and DJ. My interest in and knowledge of disco music started in 1994, as a young adult, and has grown so much.  I still to this day find gems of disco music that I have never heard of and can’t stop listening to.  I go to disco events all over the United States and Europe and I also DJ a monthly disco event at Executive Suite in Long Beach called “Disco Fever.”

What celebrity most needs a drag makeover?

Mickey Mouse. [Laughs] Well, times have changed so why not? 

Favorite nightlife hotspot?

Nightlife is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world.  And having traveled and been to many clubs all over the world, I would have to say that my favorite club on the West Coast is The Globe Theatre in Los Angeles.  And on the East Coast, it would be Hunters Nightclub in Fort Lauderdale.  Both have made me feel like I am dancing and living the fantasy of being at Studio 54.  The music is always amazing, and the dance floor is always packed and the ambiance of both places is visually stunning. 

Favorite non-profit?

The Trevor Project. I admire their services and aid to the youth.  Coming out gay as a teenager is never easy and I feel the experience does affect the rest of your life; a safe haven like theirs does save lives. 

Favorite binge food? 

Chocolates. I love chocolates and Hot Tamales. Never leave me a whole box of them if you want to have some the next day. You have been warned. [Laughs]

Go-to cocktail?

I don’t really drink much anymore these days but when I am in the mood for a cocktail I will drink a Negroni.  A classic cocktail that hits you strong and gets you dancing.  

What would the name of your biography be? 

ABSOLUTELY NO REGRETS!!!

Favorite song to perform to: 

“Vogue.”  Every Single Time. There is magic to that song, I feel, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. 

What is your after-drag ritual? 

I am a very social butterfly and I love having little intimate after-parties. Whether it’s at an all-night restaurant or in my hotel room,  I just love having a gathering of great friends, or new friends I met during the show, and having the chance to create even more memories and relations after the show. 

What’s your favorite pickup line? 

Flattery will get you anywhere with me. But I really love when someone says to me, “Would you like to dance?”

How have you changed the most since starting drag? 

I would say that I have opened up emotionally a lot more and become more transparent.  As a child, I was raised in a very military style and was taught to act in certain ways and to be non-emotional.  Doing drag helped me break that cycle of constantly feeling I had to act a certain way to be accepted.  I now feel a lot more comfortable being myself in and out of drag and I like the person I see in the mirror.  

How do you keep your individual identity while being a Madonna impersonator? 

Balance is the way. I put as much effort into my everyday “boy look” the same as I put into my impersonation.  I never let one empower the other.  There was a time in my life when I used to eat, sleep, and breathe Madonna, however, as I grew wiser I learned that expanding yourself and getting to know yourself however you may choose is the greatest gift you can give yourself.  

What is your message to your fans? 

Always be true to yourself and do what makes you happy without permission or validation from others. And if you can do what makes you happy and make income from it,  KEEP IT GOING,  and NEVER COMPROMISE FOR ANYONE. 

Where can we find and follow you? You can follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/venusdlite   or   Instagram  @venusdlitemadonna

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