Keeping it hot in the drag Haus of Habibi, Mx. Rockbar finalist Penny Livonia is bringing live vocals and a fierce spirit back to the West Village! [Cover photo: Chara Confusion]
Thotyssey: Hi Penny, thanks for chatting with us tonight! I saw you were just at Secret Pour performing for the Drag Race Season 16 premiere viewing party there. How was the night for you?
Penny Livonia: The night was great! It was my first time performing there, and the bar has a lot of local regulars. Most of the people have never met me before or seen me perform. They were very kind and really enjoyed me. And the feeling was mutual!
You’re known for your live vocals! Did you serve any that night?
I am a live vocals gal, but I actually didn’t sing at all. Marcel the Artist was hosting the event, and they were doing live vocals already… so I wanted to do something different to give the show some contrast. I rapped for them, and their jaws were on the floor.
Yaz! What did you think of the episode, by the way? We met half the cast, Sapphira Cristal swept the maxi- and mini-challenges, some New York girls served–others, ummm… lol–no one went home, and immunity is back!
Shaaaaade lol… but correct! Now, I live for Sapphira Cristal. I’ve been obsessed with her since Miss Paradise 2023, and been saying since they announced the cast that she’s my winner. Calling it now, lol. I also love me some Dawn; she’s really gonna be the fashion-forward weirdo this season. I competed (and lost) against Amanda Tori Meating at “Drag Wars” last year. I think she’s fierce in person, but in this first episode, it was a bit rough, lol. I hope to see more of what I know she can bring. My favorite performances were definitely Sapphira’s campy sexual opera number, and Mirage’s heel clacks. As far as immunity… I’m gagged. And a bit annoyed, lol. Send them home, Ru.
So, the real queen of the hour is Penny! Where’s your original hometown, and how did you begin as a creative performer?
I am one of the rare lifelong Brooklyn girls, born and raised. I always say, I’m serving a life sentence in this city, lol. The beginnings of my performance and art started while I was in high school. I’m from East New York, which is one of the rougher neighborhoods in Brooklyn. I fell in love with Hip Hop as a child, as most millennial New Yorkers did. My old school Catholic Puerto Rican parents didn’t really care for it, and thought it was all just vulgar and misogynistic–so I would write raps in my notebooks and never tell them. But at school, I would battle with other rappers in the cafeteria every day. And then on Sundays, I would sing in the church choir! Those were really the origins of Penny, even though I wasn’t even out yet. But back then I was a rapper, a singer, and the class clown… much to the dismay of my parents, lol.
And it’s crazy, but church actually plays a big part in how I got into drag. That’s how I met my drag mother, Diamante Habibi. We met as teenagers at a youth group. She also comes from a Catholic Puerto Rican family. Very good people. I always loved them.
How did drag start for you?
Growing up here, I would see drag queens all the time, and had always just seen them as another piece of the New York City backdrop–kinda like Pizza Rat and the “showtime” subway performers. But Diamante definitely brought me into this world when she started inviting me to her shows. The first show I went to see was in the Bronx at Ikonic Bar. She was hosting with Sitanya Face–and it was, like, ten people there in the venue–but these bitches were amazing! Diamante was doing all the splits, dips, and stunts, and Sitanya was doing spoken word. So after that, I was just a fan and supporter for a while. I got to meet a lot of her sisters (Sitanya, Giardia, Diosa, Chara, Chrisy Fabs, Kanga Roo) who eventually became my supportive aunties.
But as for when I started getting into drag myself, Diamante hit me up in back in 2022 because she was hosting and producing a benefit show at Playhouse Bar for emergency hurricane relief in Puerto Rico called “Segunda Ola.” She asked if I could sing the national anthem of Puerto Rico and sing a patriotic song. I decided to up the ante and perform in drag, because it was for a good cause and I knew I would get more tips in drag than as a big old bearded man lol. I also wound up writing and performing an original piece as a love letter to my beautiful island. I got so much love from the other queens, especially Kristy Blaze, my drag-nana, who was co-hosting. No one really knew it was my first drag performance, and they all really received me so warmly (that sounds dirty, lol). But that was really how it all started. Just doing benefit shows. The next performance after that was at the benefit show at Stonewall for the Club Q victims.
Then I started competing at “Polish the Queen,” where I eventually won the title of Miss Congeniality for Season 10. I was genuinely surprised, because there were so many sweet queens that season, anyone could’ve won that title.
Your House of Habibi has been doing things all over the city! I must bring up a sad subject though… your family member Ralphy Mercedes passed away quite suddenly and tragically, and at a very young age, in 2023. He was super sweet, and supportive of the community. What was he like, for those who didn’t know him?
Ralphy was just the sweetest, most caring, and kind soul. He was so small compared to me, but he would always give me these tight hugs. He gave me a lot of constructive criticism when I first started performing, and always showed me nothing but love. I think about him, and our many inside jokes, daily. Anyone who got to know him was lucky, because he was truly just a bright light in our community.
Who are some of your favorite recording artists, and what inspires your own original music?
I have so many favorite artists that inspire me. When it comes to lyrical prowess, definitely Nas, Jay-Z, Biggie Smalls, J. Cole, and Kendrick Lamar. Then for my cocky feminine delivery, I’m inspired by Lil Kim, Trina, Remy, Nicki, Cardi… you know, the great femcees, lol. I’m also heavily inspired by Missy Elliott, aesthetic-wise.
And lastly, I gotta credit Aja as my inspiration for rapping in drag. I had no idea this would be a talent that people would appreciate, and that brings me so much joy because Hip Hop is truly my first love.
As far as my singing talents, that really comes from a combination of my time spent in the church choir, my Puerto Rican roots, and my upbringing here. So definitely Gospel, R&B and Pop, but also a dash of salsa and reggaeton. And I love 80s music as well. Gimmie some Freestyle, and some Post-Disco, and some New Wave any day! I think my favorite singer of all time is the late Whitney Houston–then Mariah, Beyonce, and Ariana. I love the divas!
My own music derives from my experiences growing up here, and overcoming the struggles of being queer and closeted for so many years. I talk about everything from my struggles with growing up religious, past traumas and abuse, and finding my confidence artistically, intellectually, and sexually. Penny is complicated, but so are most great artists. Underneath all the glitz and glamor, I was a very insecure person for many years. I didn’t come out as queer until I was almost 26, and I still had such a tough time finding my confidence in just existing. Drag has truly helped me through that, and the story is told through my music. And sometimes… I just wanna talk my shit! Sometimes I just wanna be that lyrical assassin I was back in high school in the cafeteria, and I come off with a bit of a butch masculine flow; that’s what makes Penny one of a kind. You never really know what you’re gonna get when she holds the mic!
In 2023 you competed in Mx. Rockbar. The crown ultimately went to Temple Grandé, but you made it all the way to the finale! What was that journey like for you?
It was amazing, and honestly, some of my best work thus far! My fellow competitors did not make it easy, by no means. But it really brought out some of the best drag I’ve seen in a long time. I got to meet and grow closer to a lot of the other performers–including Temple, who is the sweetest. And I also got the chance to connect with the good folks at Rockbar, a place I frequented in my single days as a slutty eligible bachelor! But this time, I’m fully clothed and covered in glitter.
Folks will really get to see you shine in your Rockbar solo show debut on Wed Jan 10th, “Throat Goat!”
Yes, I’m so excited about it! “Throat Goat” is a nickname I jokingly called myself while getting ready with the other queens for my preliminary night at Mx Rockbar. And then Harriet Tugsmen, who was hosting, actually announced me using that tag line. “She is Brooklyn’s throat goat, Penny Livonia!”… So naturally, I had to use it for my first show, lol. The children can expect lots of live vocal talent, comedic cunty banter, and just banjee Brooklyn flavor. After the premiere show, the following shows will feature open sets so that other LGBTQIA+ artist can show off their throat talents, too!
What else is coming up for you?
Well I’ll be back at Secret Pour next Friday for Diamante’s night. I’ll be performing some more live vocals and raps, since they ate it up last night! And I’m also working on writing and recording an album, hopefully to be finished by the springtime. Hip Hop, bitch tracks, R&B, and even some reggaeton. Stay tuned!
Okay lastly… what’s your favorite go-to drag cosmetic product?
Oooh, that’s a tough one. But for me it’s my Mehron clown white. I use it for my eye shape, I use it as high lighter, I dab a little on my lips after lipstick, it’s just so versatile. And Penny is all about versatility
Indeed! Happy New Year, Penny!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Penny Livonia’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Thotyssey 