She’s got two major competitions coming up, and both a weekly show and a recent major magazine cover that she shares with her drag mom… everything’s coming up buena for Reina NoBuena!
Thotyssey: Hey Reina, thanks so much for chatting today! Tell us how July is treating you so far!
Reina NoBuena: All good, and hiya hiya! So happy to chat with ya! July has been so lovely! lots of prepping for pageants and doing shows with my drag momma. How’s yours been?
Busy busy busy, and grossly hot!
The heat has been the bane of my existence, lol!
The last time I saw you was on stage at “Sissy Fest” at Rubulad back in June. That was a very fun night, right?
Oh my goodness! I didn’t know you were there! It was a dream night, and I love working with [show producer] Mac so much! That venue has my full heart.
Also, congrats to you and your mother Nancy NoGood on being part of a Pride feature on drag moms and daughters in Time Out New York. That was a huge moment!
Ah, thank you so so much!
How did it come about that you two became a part of that feature, and what’s it like to be a Magazine Queen!?
It truly still feels like a dream to be featured with so many queens I’ve admired for so long, and to have looked as amazing as we did was the cherry on top. Time Out New York reached out to Nancy via email, and had heard of us / seen us perform at our weekly show “Flamboyance” at Someday Bar NYC. We then set up some Zooms, and set up the shoot! It feels so correct and is such an honor to be a Magazine Cover Queen, and with my best friend; it’s all just so dang dreamy. I’m crying just thinking about how lucky I feel.
Can you take us back to the beginning? Where are you originally from, and were you always a performer or artist of some sort growing up?
I’m a born and raised New Yorker (albeit raised in Staten Island), and am a first generation El Salvadoran. I grew up watching a lot of telenovelas, and going to Broadway a lot–and I was always so in love with the idea of being on a stage. I had a teeny tiny room growing up, and I remember locking my door and blasting showtunes on my lil’ gay iPod Shuffle (the first generation one that looks like a USB drive), and imagining that I was performing on Broadway stages.
I was too shy to actually do any theatre when I was younger, and played soccer. So that was the priority up and until high school, when both my Achilles tendons were about to snap and my doctor told me I had to lay off my feet for a year. So then I finally auditioned for my first musical, and haven’t stopped since! I went to university for chemical and biomolecular engineering and minored in theatre and dance, and then went to acting conservatory after graduating!
I then booked a show called A Jury of Our Queers that required me to develop a drag persona, and I met Nancy and after that show wrapped. I knew that my drag itch had been scratched, and the rest is herstory.
How did you drag name yourself… and where were your first nightlife shows?
I knew I wanted “Reina” as it’s my abuelita’s name and i was about to be Reina NoGood. It was Nancy who actually went, “wait, what about Reina NoBuena?” And I swear a star exploded in that moment.
My first show was with Nancy! We did a closing set at a sold out audience at The Bell House for a show called “External Validation,” hosted by comedians Vin Ward and Sarah Coffey! and after that, it’s been my weekly with Nancy.
How might you describe your drag numbers and looks today?
Ooh, a lovely question! my drag is heavily based on the acting of telenovelas mixed with the showmanship of a stage performer, and with a whole lot of heart and a whole lot of stupidity. With regards to my looks, I’m a little pretty mix of a woman and an alien, with an affinity for playing with an exaggerated silhouette and lots of flare. I have a lovely collection of vintage dresses from Celine that I’ve been playing with.
Gorge! Was there an all time favorite drag moment of yours?
The first that comes to mind is when Nancy and I first premiered our monthly, “Nonlinear Progress.” And I ended our set by singing and impersonating all the parts of “One Day More” from the Les Mis movie soundtrack, specifically last year… and ripped off my skirt and ended the number in a thong and corset. Nancy’s mouth was left agape, and I felt so, so, so, so happy.
By the way, is there anything on Broadway today or coming up that excites you, or something you’ve seen recently that you’ve enjoyed?
ILLINOISE rocked my world! It reminded me of the beauty and universality and accessibility of storytelling through movement, and heavily inspired my “Mx Nobody” number! I also need to shout out Oh, Mary!–beautifully camp and incredibly acted. It mixes the surreal with the real so much!
Just saw and loved Oh Mary!
it’s genius, isn’t it!? Love Cole, that gorgeous little genius.
So what you can tell us about your weekly Wednesday show with Mama Nancy NoGood, “Flamboyance” at Someday Bar?
It has been a dream! We’ve cultivated a space made for community and drag exploration, and we’ve been blessed with the best bar staff that two hot young women could ask for.
And you’ll be competing in two big Brooklyn drag pageants this summer: “Mx. Nobody” (first preliminary round) that Nancy is hosting on July 27th, and then Janelle No. 5’s famous “Are You The Ultimate Diva” at 3 Dollar Bill’s subspace 9 Bob Note on August 13th!
Doing “Ultimate Diva” and “Mx Nobody” at the same time was definitely a choice… but I’m honestly beyond honored to be competing with some really incredible artists that I admire and love!
What else is coming up for you?
Lots of stoning for my pageants. I will be making a lil’ appearance at the next “Puck’s Playground,” and giving shows every Wednesday night with Nancy.
All amazing! Okay lastly: what is your most essential item in your drag bag, cosmetics or otherwise?
i never leave anywhere without my high school diploma, a little glitter and a whole lot of ass.
Have great shows and pageant packages, Reina!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Reina NoBuena’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
Thotyssey 