On Point With: Afrodite

Coming from a music and theater background, the gorgeous doll goddess Afrodite is now enchanting Brooklyn nightlife with beauty and humor.

Thotyssey: Hello Afrodite! Happy Two Days After Transgender Day of Visibility! Were you able to celebrate at all?

Afrodite: Thank you! Yes, I celebrated in a small and personal way.

I am glad to hear that! I see that you were also recently part of Baby Love’s “Fagtasia: Hobbitfest” at 3 Dollar Bill… how did that go?

OMG, one of the coolest things I’ve done! My inner nerd child was so happy, lol. The atmosphere was magical, and the energy of the (ginormous) crowd was electric. There truly is nothing like “Fagtasia!”

You were Smaug the dragon, from The Hobbit! He’s kind of queer coded, isn’t he?

Those videos of Benedict Cumberbatch crawling around a studio in a motion capture bodysuit with that growling daddy voice….it’s giving queer, lol.

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Can you tell us a bit about where you are from, and if interests like performance and fashion were always a part of your life growing up?

I was born in the Bronx, raised in suburbia (Pennsylvania), and now live in Bushwick! I don’t know why, but in third grade I just started sketching outfits… and I’ve kinda been fascinated by fashion ever since. And then as far as performance goes, I slowly fell in love with musical theatre over my childhood by way of the Beauty and the Beast tour, Grease, and Glee, lol. I started doing band, choir, and theatre everywhere I could, and I was good! So I guess it all kinda comes from there.

I see you were part of a lockdown era virtual musical called Endsville!

Oh wow… yeah, I wrote it!

Amazing! Is that gonna get staged that in real life ever?

Yes, I actually would really love to produce it with some NYC queer nightlife folks! I’ve lowkey been putting out feelers lately; I just think it would be really unique and magical.

How and when did you come to be Afrodite, and a part of NYC nightlife?

Afrodite was actually born years ago, but mostly just as a concept. The name is obviously inspired by the Greek goddess of love and beauty, but with a nod to my African heritage (my father is a Ghanaian immigrant) and my natural hair (yes, I have a big, beautiful Afro). I did a little drag in New York back in 2021 as Solaris (and, for one night only, Syzygy). But I was really coming to terms with my gender stuff at that time, and doing drag was causing this weird dysphoria and cognitive dissonance that I had to sort out. I spent two years in PA, and that’s when I started transitioning. So by the time I moved back to (and started performing in) NYC this past October, it was like I was stepping into Afrodite for the very first time. It’s so different, and I love it.

What are your performances and general aesthetic like today, for those not in the know?

Sexy and cunt meets playful and funny–like, that super hot girl in your class who’s lowkey also the class clown, lol. I think a lot of people look at me and think I’m gonna be one thing, but are kinda surprised when they see me perform or have a conversation with me. I feel like my mixes are expertly crafted and hilarious, and as a theatre person I tend to put a lot of care into communicating the text and general vibe of any number I do.

This Saturday, you’ll be guest performing for Janelle No. 5’s “Sexx Dreams” at Metropolitan Bar in Brooklyn! That’s gonna be super fun!

Yeah, “Sexx Dreams” is such a vibe–and I absolutely love Metro. Super stoked to be performing there… I’ll be giving pure sex kitten.

What else is coming up for you?

I’m guesting at “The Simple Life” [at VERS] with my friends Hanukah Lewinsky and Reese Havoc on April 16, and I’ll be dancing in the ensemble of “Fagtasia’s” next show on April 27!