300) Rhiannon Nichelle
Sherry Vine’s secret Arizona drag daughter wowed us when she popped out of nowhere to win this April’s Miss Barracuda pageant thanks to her
bearded beauty, a fiercely funny number, and intricate looks. These days she’s mostly cocktail waitressing and doing pop up numbers at Vodka Soda Bottoms Up.
299) Chola Spears
The rubber-faced oddball comedy queen most commonly found at the West End (when she’s not guest performing for every drag show in the city) is the one we’re desperately curious to see in her own weekly show ASAP.
298) Martyr
Screwing with gender and “drag norms” by drawing on facial hair and giving us pure old school gothic drama (but also comedy!) onstage, it’s hard to take one’s eyes off of Brooklyn’s own new Spooky Drag Jesus.
297) Cissy Walken
Funny, frenzied, ferociously smart and fashionable, this live singing Broadway baby perfectly emulated Amy Winehouse in the tribute revue she brought to the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Back To Life. Undoubtedly there are big things to come for this petite queen.
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Always one of Brooklyn’s most fashion forward queens and The Graham’s go-to viewing party hostess, this abrasive stage destroyer also turned out to be a bit of a scene stealer with her memorable death in the BK nightlife indie slasher flick Killer Unicorn.
295) Senerio
This fascinating new addition to Brooklyn’s vital queer hip hop scene raps lyrics of genuine intelligence and profundity, while keeping things gleefully insane aesthetically.
294)
Currently the charity cheerleading squad Cheer New York’s best known and most beloved queen, this delightful, high energy deathdropper is a favorite guest performer in shows all over town. In 2018, she hosted her first brunch, Stonewall Invasion (two, actually), and pageant (Miss Cheer New York).
293) DJ Jon ALi
When he’s not thirst-trapping you on Insta, music blogger and Hardware’s Sunday drag show DJ is putting together some highly celebrated dancefloor mixes.
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Amazing bodypainter Ish Peralta stepped out in Wig for the first time this year to join his drag sisters at their gigs, and wound up bagging a few gigs of her own, thanks to her “high”-ly intriguing stage presence. Lacy was also crowned Miss Bodega at this September’s Bodega Ball
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After the abrupt closing of her home base Boots & Saddle early in the year, this fun showgirl went on to host the pre-show to the Polish The Queen drag competition at Stonewall for several months, and even competed in a season of the Ultimate Drag Pageant.
290) Cherry Poppins
While busy boytending at Hardware and Pieces, Cherry kept her drag alive in 2018 thanks to her entering what seemed like every drag pageant known to woman… with increasingly impressive results. She also brought a few showcases of her own to the stage, like November’s Broadway Bitches at Stonewall.
289) Jessie James
Known for her dazzling animal character makeup looks and genuine Broadway chops, this former Boots & Saddle brunch queen took an infamous detour to Costa Rica before returning to NY and starring in the staged reading of Mother: A Drag Musical at Icon Bar. These days, Jessie vamps as a scene queen for all the best parties and hosts karaoke at Queen Vic.
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Despite being on record as one of RuPaul’s favorite Drag Race contestants, NYC’s long time resident plus-size powerhouse was deemed Too Trans to be welcomed back for an All-Stars season. No big loss for our gurl: she’s made dozens of area appearances this year on top of her many gigs abroad, she was a splash at DragCon, she recorded a bitching album THOT Process (!), and even appeared in a few episodes of POSE.
287) Lady SinAGaga
Having moved out of the city two years ago after the drag competition she hosted at Vodka Soda Bottoms Up ended (although that’s not the reason she moved!), Fairytail Jewish Princess and HEBRO’s go-to event hostess SinAGaga had 2018′s best comeback when she returned to snatch up the pageant crowns for Miss Hell’s Kitchen and Miss Ice Palace, plus the sash for Miss Cherry Lane.
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One of nightlife’s most essential Jax of All Trades, this busy fellow can be found at any given night coatchecking at Barracuda, dressing pageant queens backstage and dancing in their presentation numbers, or even appearing in their music videos. And on top of all that, this year he’s an in-demand and GLAM-nominated photographer and videographer.
285) Megami
From the worlds of cosplay and the Gay Geeks of New York comes NYC’s newest Nerd Queen, currently hosting shows at Mom’s in Hell’s Kitchen and Astoria’s The Creek & The Cave. She also nearly won Rockbar’s Miss Nerd pageant as a relative unknown… don’t be surprised if she’s finally crowned in 2019! PS: check out these amazing t-shirts she’s designed.
284) Felix & The Future
Known for stylishly dramatic videos and a dour vocal style reminiscent of Bauhaus’ Peter Murphy, Mexican-American Brooklynite Felix Flores aka Felix & The Future won his long-awaited first Brooklyn Nightlife Award in 2018 while recording new songs like the recent “A Voice From The Future.”
283) Lemon
This very new Canadian-born, Paris Hilton-worshiping queen made her debut at the much-watched Lady Liberty drag competition just this year, and has already proven herself to be the full, flowery package: singer, lip sync assassin, dancer, comedienne, glamour-gurl, debutante. Since then, she’s won another Lady Liberty and the most recent season of The Ultimate Drag Pageant, and already co-hosts a weekly show with Skye Walker and DD Fuego at Hardware.
282) Sugga Pie Koko
2018′s Fire Island Entertainer of the Year is one of NYC’s favorite veteran comedy queens.
281) Juicy Liu
This gorgeous and hilarious dancing queen has been a favorite guest performer in Manhattan since winning So You Think You Can Drag back in 2016. Although appearing regularly in Emi Grate’s “A+: Pan Asian Revue” monthly showcase, a busy day job mostly kept Juicy from committing to a frequent nightlife presence until this year, when she joined the cast of Tina Burner’s SHOWS at Industry. Also, in a recent drag reproduction of Scream Queens at Lips, her hilarious take on Lea Michele’s character nearly stole the show. And stop the press… did you catch her in Alaska’s video!?
280) Avant Garbage
This brilliantly out-of-the-box performer never fit in easily to the bar drag show formula, but may have finally found her way to let her freak flag fly as the anything goes host of Albatross Bar’s Wii Game Night. And congrats to Avant on a GLAM nomination for her trash-based recycled looks and mop-top wigs!
279) Serena Tea
One of the fiercest new Brooklyn queens to turn it at venues like The Rosemont, Miss Tea’s cup runneth over with style and sassy choreo.
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During her young drag career, the former Pieces / Hardware bartender discovered a knack for wig styling; now her much in-demand, GLAM-nominated styling skills are taking her to backstage Broadway. But don’t underestimate Shelby the performer… she placed runner-up in this year’s Miss’d America pageant.
277) Michael Block
GLAM-nominated this year as the host of the Block Party podcast and blogmaster of Theater in the Now, frequent pageant judge Michael has become a drag uncle of sorts to the crop of young Broadway-centric queens that populate The West End and the Astoria scene. He and Lindsey Kay are now running Sunday nights at Icon Bar, which includes the seasonal drag competition Iconic.
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This drag queen and HIV Awareness advocate has been glamming it up in NYC and Fire Island for ages now, but only in 2018 did she enter her first ever pageant. It was a pretty successful debut: she was crowned Miss Cherry Grove, i.e. Miss Fire Island Runner-Up.
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When she’s not twirking through her twice-a-month show at Macri Park with sister Lilith LeFae, you can find the ganja-gurl dancefreak Princess with the Divas Royale revue at the Copacabana and random other guest gigs. [Photo: Grace Chu}
274) Theydy Bedbug
Equal parts drag, burlesque and performance art, a stage moment from this BK bedbug will be one you won’t soon forget. They made it to the finale of the Mx. Nobody pageant for the second time this year, and are a fixture of the Primal Scream monthly kinkfest at Bizarre.
273) Joey Arias
This trailblazing legend defined (and undefined) what NYC nightlife could be in the 1980s, igniting the downtown stages with his searing Billie Holiday-as-Robert Plant vocals. While drag over the decades gradually became streamlined to lip synching pop songs in the gay bars, Joey kept it live and raw on the cabaret stage with a full band, a classic repertoire, and a cult following. 2018 saw Joey reuniting with several NY drag icons on the Wigstock Revival stage, performing tons at Joe’s Pub and Pangea, joining galpal Sherry Vine for some comedy shows at the Beechman, and becoming a regular cast member of the Bartschland Follies weekly revue of classic queer city legends at the McKittrick.
272) Trinity Beat
Everyone’s favorite bartender at the much-maligned Monster Bar took his skills as a makeup artist to full effect this year, debuting as Trinity and taking over as hostess for Monster’s weekly Spunk party. She also turned it out on the Queens Pride stage, and made it to the Look Queen finale.
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This classy Broadway babe got a little gritty this year, with fascinating results. She hosted several events for the queer cosplay outfit LGBT HQ, starred as a character with some gravitas in an otherwise light reading of Mother: A Drag Musical, produced and starred in a dramatic Hedwig & The Angry Inch cabaret revue at Stonewall, and lived her truth as a proud BDSM sub.
270) Boy Radio
The ultrasexy and uberstylish Brooklyn crooner made several major appearances this year, like Shea Coulee’s QUEEN! at the House of Yes, SLAYFest at BAM and Hot Fruit’s sixth anniversary at Metropolitan Bar. You can catch him monthly with live accompaniment at Michael Cruz’s “Live! At The Rosemont.” This just in: He. Cut. His. Hair.
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Offbeat standup comic Jon Wan created a female character as one half of the surreal cabaret duo Kiko & Tuna, and a drag career soon followed. A finalist in this year’s Mx. Nobody pageant, you can often catch Kiko hosting Emi Grate’s monthly “A+ Pan Asian Drag Revue.”
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Witti Repartee & Candy Samples
Yes, we know we combined these two ginger aunties of the bear scene together last year, too– and they don’t even collaborate all that often. But they both do such amazing work spearheading fundraisers for AIDS, general health and (in Witti’s case) animal rights all year, it’s pointless to pit them against each other. Queer NYC is a much better, safer, kinder place with this talented pair in our corner.
267) Haireola Grande
An Ultimate Drag Pageant All-Star alum, Astoria’s new favorite Bearded Broadway Babe now hosts Sunday bingo and a monthly bear party at The Albatross.
266)
It seemed at one point like we had seen the last of the West Village’s favorite high energy Saturday night show hostess. Multiple Sclerosis couldn’t keep her down, but there wasn’t anything she could do to prevent the abrupt closing of her coveted home bar Boots & Saddle. However, her weekly time slot was soon reincarnated as a monthly affair up the street at Stonewall, and her epic annual M.S. fundraiser found its new home there this past November as well.
265) Gassy Bordeaux
A new queen to hit the Brooklyn scene this year, this aromatic drag clown hosts the primetime “Dutch Oven” Thursdays at Juno.
264) Blake Deadly
The petite, high fashion hostess of a monthly brunch at Cowgirl Seahorse in the South Street Seaport has been subtly carving out a niche as a stylish emcee and pop-up performer for artsy Manhattan parties since 2016. This has recently evolved into Deadly Disco, a slick and sexy retro party at Bedlam.
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Sutton Lee Seymour’s brassy drag daughter of the musical stage has become an overnight star of the Astoria scene, hosting shows at both The Albatross and Icon while tending bar in boy form at the former. You can also catch this GLAM-nominated Breakthrough Queen performing for a monthly Astoria brunch courtesy of The Thirsty Koala.
262) The Illustrious Blacks
The longtime on and offstage couple electrified Joe’s Pub with a series of live performances fusing different genres and aesthetics, while keeping the dancefloor of C’Mon Everybody lit with parties dedicated to the likes of Janet Jackson, Grace Jones & Sade. Monstah and Manchild Black also released a killer-catchy single in October, “Revolutionary Love.” Its video features mostly the pair passionately kissing, and it feels surprisingly and wonderfully revolutionary indeed.
261) Gina Tonic
This Broadway-influenced dame continues to refine her classy drag aesthetic while popping up in shows and revues throughout the city. And she’s also found an interesting niche, bringing Gina into her day job
at Some Good Wine where she teaches painting classes, resulting in popular “Drink N’ Paint” nights. You can also now catch her hosting a weekly drag brunch at The Liberty in Chelsea.
260) Justin Vivian Bond
Since their Kiki & Herb cabaret act made them a crossover superstar of the NYC 90′s nightclub scene and way beyond, Mx. Bond continues to grace us as the legendary performer they are. Whether they’re reviewing The Carpenters’ songbook for a residency at Joe’s Pub, appearing in the film Can You Ever Forgive Me? or reuniting with several other trailblazing nightlife luminaries at Lady Bunny’s recent epic revival of Wigstock, Bond brings the dry wit, fringe fun and sense of community. And throughout the dangerous chaos of Life Under Trump, Mx. Bond remains a steadfast voice of reason, intellect and love.
259) Didi Cumswell
With an aesthetic and performing style that brings to mind the gooey charm of classy late 40′s / early 50′s screen musicals, this young queen became the winner of the Ultimate Drag Pageant’s recent All-Star season. With fun dance numbers and some pretty great comedy mixes, Didi entertained folks monthly at the West End, and in guest spots and pageant packages all over Manhattan.
258) DJ Dawson
The zzzexy, world-traveled bar and club DJ who often plays REBAR and The Ritz is GLAM-nominated this year.
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Jackson Heights’ favorite queen can be found hosting karaoke at Club Evolution and True Colors Bar throughout the week, while bringing the Sing to Brooklyn’s Club Xstasy on Sunday nights.
256) Le Petit Dumdum
This rising star of the burlesque scene is a titillating and terrifying Sexclown giving you Haunted Vaudeville Realness. Catch him appearing in his offstage partner Crystal Hart’s twice-a-month show at The Bedford, minding the door for the monthly “Failure” showcase at Club Cumming, or tearing through your comfort zone in venues across the city.
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Formerly a Hell’s Kitchen Harpy and now The Wicked Witch of The East Village, Her Dark Majesty is currently tending bar at The Boiler Room and its neighboring sister bar Queen Vic, while performing as Sheila and producing events at the latter.
254) Scarlet Envy
Aside from some stints at trendy spots like Club Cumming and a solo cabaret at Pangea, sightings of this breathtaking and mysterious queen were something of a rarity this year. But we have a feeling that next year will be a different situation entirely.
253) Ike Avelli & Tym Moss
Standup Ike Avelli toured the city and country heavily throughout the year with his hit show 50 Shades of Gay, all while publishing a book and co-hosting (with the fabulous
Viki Villainess!) “Night of 1000 Thots: The Sequel” at Stonewall. His good Judy Tym Moss, host of the Artists Exposed radio show, came along for the ride as a guest performer for much of Ike’s tour and saw his own cabaret show, Tym Moss (A)Live, get a GLAM nom this year. All the success couldn’t have happened to a nicer or more worthy pair of gals!
252) Miz Diamond Wigfall
Sporting beats both femme and freaky, this Salem-born Big Production dance queen makes for a fascinating edition to the otherwise prim-by-comparison staple of West End show queens with her monthly show “Sure Did, Sure Did.”
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The fun hostess (along with Verduch) of the twice-a-month Thursday Show at The Bedford which features drag and burlesque, Crystal presents an important new platform to the increasingly cramped queer Brooklyn nightlife scene.
Thotyssey 