➤ CARIBBEAN DRAG, from p.15
cultures that thrive unbeknownst
to the dominant culture. I want to
challenge the hegemony of mainstream
culture whenever I can, but
being a polite yet witty Canadian it
never comes across as aggressive,
more so like an invitation to refl ect.
When performing to a Bollywood or
Caribbean song in a Montreal event
or online, I hope it can either empower
that brown person that feels
outnumbered in the room or serve
as a reminder that there’s so much
culture in this world that we simply
do not know about. Ignorance is
absolutely normal, acknowledging
our own ignorance is a step toward
equal to equal dialogue, where all
parties accept that they have something
to learn.
Michelle Ross
Afro-Caribbean
Toronto
Detoxx Bústi-ae(@detoxxbusti_
ae)
Afro-Jamaican
Brooklyn
“I consider my drag persona to be
a melting pot of spices, a blend
between the Pussycat Dolls and
Beyonce with a voice for the community.
When in drag, I often draw
inspiration for my Jamaican culture
and colors for my many different
custom costume creations. I am able
to use my voice and platform as a
drag entertainer to enrich the community
by standing up and speaking
out against the many injustices
people like myself face day to day
as a queer Caribbean-born immigrant
living in America.”
Mohini, De Dancin’ Diva
(@mohini_d_dancingdiva)
Indo-Trinidadian
Trinidad and Tobago
“Mohini is more than an alter ego;
she is a form of expression and art.
Mohini is an all-out classy, sophisticated
diva who specializes in dance
entertainment, makeup artistry,
and LGBT activism. She stays true
to her rich Indo-Caribbean heritage
and background through her stage
name, her music/ dance techniques
and selections, and her attire. The
confrontational art of drag has often
been visible on the front lines of Caribbean
LGBT activism. That tradition
continues today, and performing
PHOTO CARIBBEAN EQUALITY PROJECT
PHOTO CARIBBEAN EQUALITY PROJECT
Curry Anne Durr.
Karma Sutra.
PHOTO CARIBBEAN EQUALITY PROJECT
Laila Gulabi.
publicly as a drag entertainer
on national stages in predominantly
heterosexual spaces in itself makes
each performance a unique form of
activism for the LGBT community,
creating a space for us in all facets.
So I will say each of my performances
is a campaign for liberation, freedom,
equality, and visibility.”
Stefon Royce (@stefonroyce)
Afro-Boricua/ Puerto Rican
Queens
“I express my Caribbean identity
through Salsa music and dancing
Salsa. Bomba dancing and music,
as well. I make it known I am Puerto
Rican in performance by costumes
with the Puerto Rican fl ag and colors.
I even lip sync in Spanish. I see
the work I am doing as a Caribbean
artist as committed to the community
and being a role model to many. I
am a motivational speaker, as well
as a Caribbean drag artist. I seek
PHOTO CARIBBEAN EQUALITY PROJECT
Tifa Wine.
PHOTO CARIBBEAN EQUALITY PROJECT
Devine Darlin.
PHOTO CARIBBEAN EQUALITY PROJECT
Buster Highman.
to reach out to the youth and those
identifying their truth. I help them
express that through my story, so it
motivates them to become who they
truly are meant to be.”
Kimora Amour (@amour_kimora)
Dougla/ Mixed-Race
Scarborough, Ontario
“Kimora is known for elaborate
stoned and feather garments. While
getting her start in the Kiki Ballroom,
she is now a fully imagined
pageant queen. I feel Caribbean
artists, especially Indo-Caribbeans,
have to ensure to not only admit
that racism does exist in the Caribbean
and throughout the diaspora,
but also wholeheartedly denounce
it and work toward actually unifying
the races. Being a biracial Caribbean
queen, I get to take part in
more conversations from a different
point of view, as well as use performance
to tell stories that some are
unable to emote through the art of
lip-syncing properly.”
Curry Anne Durr (@currytingz)
Indo-Trinidadian-American
Fort Lauderdale
“I’m an advocate fi rst and foremost.
I started to do drag for my brother,
who passed away from AIDS, after
I was asked to walk a benefi t runway.
I never looked back. Drag is
and will always be a protest for me.
I want to represent what I would’ve
liked to see growing up. I want another
little brown gay artist to express
their nature through their art
and not feel withheld or trapped in
an old-world mentality. Let them feel
like there’s something fun to smile
about too. ‘Cause drag is political,
funny, artistic, and deep at times.”
Devine Darlin (@devinedarli)
Afro-Jamaican
Toronto
“Being a Caribbean drag queen is
one of the hardest and toughest
things for me to do. Simply because
in the Caribbean, it’s frowned upon
being gay and a drag queen. In today’s
drag culture, an Afro-Caribbean
drag queen has to work twice as
hard. We have to put in that extra
work because that much is expected
of us. It’s one of the hardest things
to do, to keep that sustainability
of having a face in the community
or showcasing your talent, and it
comes with a lot of hardship.”
Tifa Wine (@tifa.wine)
Indo-Trinidadian/ Mixed Race
Toronto
“I work through legacies, energies,
and histories of Indo-Caribbean
feminisms to articulate my queer,
diasporic position. In particular, I
am largely drawn to the fi gure of
tanties and mausis (Afro- and Indo-
Caribbean aunties) who, for generations,
have used sound, dance, and
their own bodies to imagine, enact,
and rehearse what it means to free
up one’s self and work to dismantle
systemic oppression.”
Buster Highman (@thebusterhighman)
Afro-Jamaican
Toronto
“Being a Caribbean drag king runs
deep because now I’m able to show
the world something that I’ve not really
seen. It’s such a beautiful thing
➤ CARIBBEAN DRAG, continued on p.17
August 13 - August 26, 2 16 020 | GayCityNews.com
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