Madison’s vibrant drag scene is on the rise. Led by a fierce group of queens, local venues like Five Nightclub and Prism have been instrumental in keeping the scene alive and growing. I had the opportunity recently to talk with several local queens of color. With a scene that is rich in diversity, these performers further actual representation of performers of color onstage. The resilience of each performer to keep pushing for their ideals and keep learning was inspirational.

I would be remiss to not give a special mention to Dave Eick of Five Nightclub. He was consistently mentioned as being a huge supporter of the scene in Madison and of performers in general. His leadership, especially in the pageant system, has been instrumental in opening doors for and giving opportunities to our queens.

Anya Knees

Born and raised in Chicago, Anya Knees moved to Madison with a solid performance history under her belt. A triple-threat singer, actor, dancer, Anya spent her childhood performing in church, school, and with the local Boys & Girls Club. When RuPaul’s Drag Race first aired, and then Anya attended a drag show at the UW, it dramatically changed her performance track. Drag became the focus. 

Anya is a solid performer and one of the hardest working queens in town. She performs three to four times a week. While this hard work has paid off, many performers of color feel as if they have to work twice as hard to get the same recognition afforded to white performers.

Anya is on it. Self-taught through tutorials and by watching fellow performers, she keeps up with the latest trends in makeup and, as for many of us, deconstructing her face after a performance can be quite a feat.

Performing is where Anya shines. Her favorite piece of the drag queen puzzle is audience interaction. One day after a performance, an audience member approached Anya to let her know that she needed to hear the song that Anya had performed to, and what it meant to her. “Art is subjective; you can touch people through your art,” Anya notes.

When asked about the one thing that people in Madison should know about her or the drag scene here, her answer struck me right to the core: 

“Just because there are a few queens of color, we are not the same. We do different things. Speaking out is not being a troublemaker. Right is right and wrong is wrong. If we are about inclusivity, then everyone should be included.”

Vanilla S. Diamond

Another theater and choir kid growing up, Vanilla S. Diamond took some time off from performing after high school. A community theater production of The Wizard of Oz reawakened the acting bug, though. While Vanilla was always aware of drag, being in clubs and around other queens, she had never pursued performing it herself. Then one day, “Drag just happened,” she says. Vanilla firmly feels that drag “picked” her, and I for one am glad she was chosen.

A former cast member at Plan B and last reigning Queen B before the change to Prism, Vanilla knew from the start of her career that a coveted spot on stage in the cool local nightclub would be an “18-year-old gay boy’s dream come true.” She got that first chance at Five Nightclub. There she solidified her belief that music is the universal language and felt her first adrenaline rush of performing as a queen.

The irony of her journey through drag is how her reluctance toward makeup as a young performer has now turned into a great passion. Learning the tricks of the trade made it more fun. Finding out that the adrenaline rush and butterflies from the first time Vanilla was introduced is still the same when she steps on stage now, her “inner sparkle” awakens every time they call her name on stage. 

Feeding off the energy of the crowd allows her to incorporate her culture into her art. Performances that feature artists like Selena have allowed Vanilla to be “loud and proud” about her Hispanic heritage. Being a drag performer also helped Vanilla overcome the fear of coming out to her family, who are all hugely supportive. 

In a scene that is growing and booming, it’s important to recognize that all queens of color have a bond but, aesthetic-wise, they are all different. Being open to adapting, stepping out of her comfort zone, and asking questions helps Vanilla realize in moments of doubt that she is here for a purpose. Vanilla is determined to allow the path to lead where it may as long as she “keeps the love of performing in my heart.”

Persephone B. Diamond

Persephone B. Diamond grew up performing from a young age. Her mother was also a dancer and had a Latin dance troupe, with queens as members, that focused on Mexican Folklorico. For years, that was the sole focus of Persephone’s performance. One fateful evening, though, a friend in the group needed a backup dancer for a pageant. When she saw the competition, the pageantry, and the hair and makeup, she fell in love.

Persephone started performing at local Latin nights. As she grew in popularity, she was booked in clubs around the Midwest—if she kept to traditional drag. Clubs were very hesitant about allowing numbers that were only in Spanish. Persephone’s passion for Mexican Folklorico, however, kept her pushing to incorporate more diverse numbers. 

“Cultural performances are appreciated and important,” she says. “(The audience) may not understand the language but they have visuals and dance (to connect with).” Persephone found this to be true the first time she did a Mexican Folklorico number for a drag brunch in Minneapolis. The audience loved it, and she has since been able to incorporate more of her culture into performances at many different venues.

With all the talk of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Persephone entered a local version of the hit show. Charlie’s Chicago Survivor Season 2 is a reality program that challenges the queens to runway and personal challenges to avoid elimination. When asked about a favorite moment of competition, Persephone brought up the Drama/Show Off Who You Are challenge. She was able to incorporate both Folklorico and traditional dress (in sequins) into her runway competition. She not only walked away with the win, but also went on to become the winner of that entire season.

Persephone’s mother and boyfriend make her costumes. She creates and styles her own wigs out of her salon, Touch of Vanity LLC. Her biggest passion is feedback from and interactions with the audience. She takes great joy in opportunities to chat with audience members. When asked for some final words of wisdom, Persephone says, “Don’t settle. Always look for opportunities. Work hard. Keep growing and learning.”

Amethyst Von Trollenberg

Amethyst always wanted to wear beautiful things, sing, and perform. Then she saw queens on the internet and decided “that was for me.” However, taking that next step was extremely difficult due to anxiety. One day, though, she realized that what she loved about drag was the ability to see herself the way that she always wanted to be seen. Amethyst took a risk and was ultimately able to see the beauty within herself.

As other performers have noted, the scene has opened up more in the last few years for queens of color. The rich culture and history of Black drag has been inspiring for Amethyst. She takes that history and works to raise awareness that people of color are not a monolith and have varied styles of performance. In particular, she says she has seen significant changes from Five Nightclub, which recently added a “Mx” category to give space for non-binary people to participate in the pageants. 

Amethyst takes risks that not everyone understands. She recently added elements of body positivity into her acts. A statement on feeling good about one’s body was slow to catch on but people are starting to get it.

Amethyst is constantly updating, too. She knows that queens don’t have the privilege to rest on their laurels. From taking a stand on body positivity to crafting a banging number set to a Carly Rae Jepsen song, she says, “No matter what, when I am onstage, I am working to give the best and newest product I can.”

Dana Pellebon is a bisexual performer and advocate in Madison. Her day job is working with survivors of sexual violence. She is also active in the arts in Madison through music, theater, and burlesque. Most importantly, she is the mother to an amazing kid.