How long have you been doing drag?

I’ve been doing drag for 10 years, 11 in the fall. Child, a long time.

Are you from Milwaukee originally?

Yes, I was born and raised here. Haven’t left because I love it.

How did you find your way into doing drag?

Literally, I would watch Drag Race sometimes. I would watch the show, but didn’t really know much about drag. I would even go out to the bars and see the local shows, but it still wasn’t something that I was interested in doing. And then one time there was a turnabout show here, which is where you kind of try out drag just for one time. It was the most random thing. It was at a park in the winter, and the snow was so bad that day. I went for the $500 prize they were offering. I was like, girl, I don’t really want to do drag, but $500 is $500. So I tried out, but I didn’t even get to do it! My backup dancers dropped out at the last minute! After that I was like, well, I bought all this stuff. I’ll just wear it to the show anyway. And now I’m a drag queen professionally. It’s crazy.

When did you find your way into the local drag community?  

I felt like it was kind of then. A lot of people already knew who I was because I would go out all the time. I became obsessed with the drag here, because everybody was so good. I would tip the entertainers. I guess you could say I was a super fan.

How about the navigating the gay community in general?  

Sometimes it can seem very catty to navigate the gay scene, especially when doing drag. But I think because of Drag Race we now see so many different versions of drag and so many different styles of drag. People have become more accepting of what other people do when they’re in drag. But back in the day—Honey. It was hard, especially being a queen of color. 

I say this a lot, and I think a lot of people of color are so used to being oppressed that we are used to always fighting for what we want. I know it’s not always easy to have to fight for stuff, but I know at the same time that it’s kind of built into us. Cause even when things are not going the way that they should, you just have this fighting spirit in you. And I’m thankful for that because a lot of times it’s worked out for me. I wish it was not always that hard, but baby, it is about breaking down barriers and wanting so much for so many. That’s really why I’m so glad I made it on the show. I think a lot of people, people of color, who see me on the show think like, “Wow, she’s doing it. She’s making it happen, and she’s authentically being herself. She’s not trying to change who she is or trying to be a different person than from where she grew up.” It’s showing them that they can be who they are and still be successful.

Have you been involved in Milwaukee’s wider LGBTQ community?

You know what? Before I did drag, I was always a super-quiet person. I mean, yes I’m loud, but also very, very, very shy. It might seem hard to believe, but I would be nervous about going out and meeting new people. So for that reason I didn’t really do a lot of community work. But after I started to do drag, I realized that if people look at you as an inspiration in their community, then it’s your job. I mean, if you don’t want to then, I guess you don’t have to, but it’s partially your job to be involved as much as you can. Like, even when I did competitions and pageants, I ran for Miss Courage MKE. We raised money to buy a house for displaced LGBTQ+ youth. That’s something I’m really proud of. It’s crazy to know the power of drag. A lot of what was done was heavily centered with a lot of the local queens raising money by doing a lot of shows to help raise awareness. And now there’s people here who after being thrown out on the street will have a place to live partly because of the help of local drag queens. I’m thankful that Courage Milwaukee saw the need for it and filled that need.

What made you apply for Drag Race?

It’s so crazy. The first season, I watched the show and I was like, “Oh, this is cute.” I wasn’t even doing drag. Then I was like, “I could do this show. I would go in there, and I would be slaying, and I would let these girls have it.” Of course that’s the cocky, young, stupid person talking who has no idea about any of that stuff. But then, before I was even doing drag, I thought the idea of Drag Race was so unique. It was so cool. The opportunity was really nice, but a lot of people kept saying I should try out. I thought it was a really good opportunity, but I didn’t really, to be honest, want it. I was so afraid and wondering, “What if I do it and what if I’m not ready?” I was still so wet behind the ear. But after a while of just watching the show, then I was like, “Okay, I’m getting a little bit better with my drag. I think I could probably do this.” That was around the time that Trixie (Mattel) and I both auditioned. That was the first time I auditioned, and I didn’t receive a callback. Trixie made it on. I was like, “Oh well girl, as hard as you are working, maybe you need to step it up a little more.” And again, after another five years, everybody was telling me I should try again. I kept feeling like I wanted to because other people kept telling me I should, but something was holding me back.

Well, the year right before I auditioned, I did a fashion show. This was something I always dreamed of doing. I was like, “Oh my God, I finally did one thing that I’ve always wanted to do.” And that dream came true for me. That made me think that maybe it’s time for me to stop being afraid of doing Drag Race and of possible rejection and grow the hell up and audition. At that point, I felt like it was truly something that I really, really wanted for my career. If somebody is going to invest or take a risk on me, or a chance on my success, it would have to be me. Thankfully I did. I would probably not have been on the show if I didn’t just trust in myself.

From seeing you perform at PrideFest for years before you made it on the show, it always felt like you were as much of a star as any of the Drag Race girls that were headlining. Did you ever feel that way?

It’s so crazy because I tell people that all the time. People looking at me say stuff like, “You’re so strong and confident.” Child, I’m just like everybody else. People look at drag and they think it’s a horrible thing if we ever have a moment where we don’t feel confident. We have nerves and fears like, “What if I’m not good enough?” That was one of the things that I had to break myself of in order to be successful or make it to the show. I was literally always stuck there wondering, “What if I audition, and I’m not good enough? What if I’m not ready?” And it’s one thing for people to see you and think that you are amazing. It’s another for you to have to see what other people see in you.

Let’s transition to the show. You walk in. Was that confidence there?

Oh my God, it’s so weird. It’s a mixture of so many different things. Like how your mind will think something, but it thinks so fast that you don’t even remember that you thought it. At the same time it seems like time almost slowed down. When you hit that corner right before you walk into the Werkroom, it’s like, “Oh my God, thank goodness. All the hard work has paid off.” And then it’s also like, “Oh my God, I’m walking into the Werkroom.”

I’m like, “Let’s go in here and let’s get this game started.” It’s like I’m ready for war. But I’m also afraid and wondering who’s going to be in this room? It was a mix of everything in like 30 seconds. The producers are right there and say, “We’re going to count you down and you’re going to walk in.”  And when you walk in, it’s like “Here we go!” But for me, the main thing that I thought was that there’s so many people at home who know and love me. And I felt like instead of thinking, “I’m gonna give this version or this idea of what people expect from me,” I was like, “I’ll just go there and be who I am.” Hopefully at the very least, or at the most, people will love me for being myself. If the people back home watch the show and say, “Wow that’s the Jaida I know and love,” then I’ve done my job.

Did you have any perceptions of how it would be?

I always thought that it would be really hard. Even when I did competitions, I would prepare as hard as I can just to be the best that I can. So I was like, as long as I’m giving my best, then I know I’m doing it right. But even though you know that it will be intense, there is no way you can be ready for Drag Race. Even the girls going back for All Stars… there’s no way that they can be fully ready. And I always said to myself, “If I go, I want it to be a season where every single queen is fierce and everybody is amazing.” Then you get there and walk in and it’s like, “Oh my God, these queens are amazing.” Be careful what you wish for.

Did you recognize anyone?

I came in with the second group, but yes. I recognized Jan. And Dalia. I knew both of them because we’d done videos a while back for Cosmo. I also heard a lot about Dalia. And I heard that Jan was an amazing singer. I was like, “Oh girl, here we go.” I knew for a fact that I’m not good at singing. Some people are like, “It’s in you,” and I’m like, “Girl, it’s not. Not at all. That’s what the auto tune is for.” Thank goodness for the musical producers on that last challenge, because Honey.

Last question: How has the pandemic impacted you? What will you do once the world opens up?

The pandemic is absolutely awful, but I think one of the best things to come out of it is the way that we connect with the people who support us on social media. Everything like that has changed so dramatically. It’s allowed us to showcase who we are a lot better. I’m really hoping that when all of this is done, that I can go out on the road and meet all these people that I’ve made friends with and gotten so much support from. That’s really what I’ve been looking forward to when this is all done.