A two-time Empress of the Imperial Court of New York and Fire Island’s current reigning Homecoming Queen, Rhonda Potter aka Sugar B. Real is about to preside over one of the Island’s most important events of the year.
Thotyssey: Sugar, hello! Thanks for chatting with us today, so soon after Pride Month, and being crowned Homecoming Queen!
Sugar B. Real: This year I had one of the amazing Prides I have had in a very long time.
In May of this year, I was selected and crowned by the community of Cherry Grove to be Homecoming Queen 2024. I am truly honored. As HCQ, one of my duties is to lead the march which was held on Saturday, June 29th. The day was beautiful, and the love I felt from the community filled my soul. Being HCQ is an enormous honor as I am the second cisgender woman–and the first ally–to be elected HCQ in the 49 years of the pageant. The first woman, Joan Van Ness aka Scarlet Oh, was crowned exactly 30 years ago this year. We were crowned with the same crown, which I have now retired. I am honored to walk in her footsteps.
Last time I saw you, you were performing at and presiding over the Imperial Court of New York’s “Night of a Thousand Gowns” event in March! That’s the Court’s major, lavish fundraiser gala event, where the new Emperor and Empress are crowned. It was a fabulous success!
This year at the “Night of A Thousand Gowns” was a very humbling experience for me. Not sure if you know this, but being elected Empress #30 and #35, I was the first cisgender woman, the first person of color and the first ally to be elected as empress. It took some hard work, but I did open that door. So, watching Empress Revi crowned as the second cisgender woman in the “herstory” of the Imperial Court was truly fulfilling, and I was extremely happy for her. Two weeks earlier, I had a complete knee replacement… but I had not missed a “NOTAG” in the 18 years as a member, and I was not going to miss this one.
Please join the Imperial Court of New York for our 39th annual “Night of a Thousand Gowns” 2025! More details to come.
You did lip sync numbers on stage that night, and have done so for many Imperial Court events you’ve presided over–as have your fellow court members, drag performers or not! Do you enjoy performing in that way… and do you think of yourself as a drag performer in a fashion?
I do enjoy dressing up, and I also really enjoy performing. Lip syncing is lots of fun and something I enjoy very much. For that three minutes, you get to be that soul-inspiring diva that you believe you are “in your head.” I always tell people that I only sing live in my shower… It’s a voice only a mother can love. So yes, I guess all these things do make me an honorary drag queen.
How did you become aware of the Court, and when did you join?
My first “NOATG” was a birthday present from a friend. We always dressed up for events, sometimes even when it was not called for. I remember him telling me “these are not Hot Glue Queens, you have to come correct.” So we created matching outfits (yes, we used hot glue), and off we went. From the moment I walked into the ballroom and saw the amazing extravaganza that was the Imperial Court of New York–and realized it was all for charity–I was hooked! I joined a few weeks later, and Sugar B. Real was born.
The Imperial Court is known for that amazing charity work. Did you have a history with charity before joining the Court?
My passion has always been raising money / helping the LGBT community since the late 80’s. My first volunteer venture was visiting the “boys” at St Vincent. That came about when a friend got sick and ending up in St. Vincent, and I went to visit him. As I was walking to his room, I recognized several of the boys that I had hung out with at the clubs just the weekend before. Without thinking, I walked into their rooms and greeted them with a hug and a kiss as I normally would. The response I kept getting was, “thank you for touching me, thank you for greeting me like normal.” So I figured they all needed that touch of kindness; we all knew how the patients were treated at the hospitals at that point.
So, I went back almost every day after work for a year. As you can imagine that took a huge emotional toll… and after that year I had to stop. I was sad about it, but then another friend introduced me to God’s Love We Deliver; he said you will still be helping but it’s fun. So every Tuesday for five years, my crew and I chopped veggies or whatever was needed to the meals the next day–and it was fun. Then I was introduced to the Imperial Court, and I traded my hair net for a tiara.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re from, and what your background is as far as performing, business, etc.?
I was born on the island of Trinidad and Tobago, the most beautiful place on Earth, to two of the most accepting parents. As a middle child (there were six of us), I always had to scream louder and play harder to be seen and heard. Don’t get me wrong, my parents were very loving–there were just a lot of us. But they have always supported all of my crazy shenanigans.
My parents were very social, and always got dressed to the nines whenever they went out. I remember my mother’s closet with all the updos on the top shelf, and the sequence blouses hanging by color. I know this is where I got my flare and style.
In real life, I am a project manager for a small construction company. It pays the bills, and allows me to spoil myself.
That brings us to another Fire Island tradition… the Invasion of the Pines! As Homecoming Queen, you’ll be there in all your representative finery!
So excited! This year’s theme is “The Wizard of Oz…There’s No Place Like Home.” I am going to be the wizard!
This event has happened for the past 49 years on July 4th . Here again, the history of the Invasion is truly colorful. It all started as a protest when one of the managers in the Pines refused to serve one of the Cherry Grove’s drag queens. Back then, drag queens were not accepted in the Pines. So what did the Grove queens do? They all got dressed up and took a boat to the Pines and demand to be served. And today it is larger than ever! If anyone is around in CG or the Pines, get your best drag out and please join us.
You’re heavily involved in Fire Island life!
As a long-time resident of Cherry Grove, I wanted to do more for the community. So along with my title of HCQ, I am also a board member of the Arts Project of Cherry Grove. The community house here on Fire Island has a long and interesting history. Founded in 1948, the Arts Project of Cherry Grove (APCG) is the oldest known LGBTQ theater in America. APCG is a 501c3 community service organization dedicated to presenting the arts in Cherry Grove, Fire Island. This year there are several new board members, and we have created amazing programming with wonderful and talented artists. Please, if you are coming to Cherry Grove be sure to visit The Arts Project to see what is happening at our historic Community Center.
All amazing!
And now off to get myself ready… happy Invasion!
Same, Sugar!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Sugar B. Real’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Thotyssey 