Intro
#500-451 | #450-401 | #400-351
#350-301 | #300-251 | #250-201
#200-151 | #150-101 | #100-51
#50-1 | Previous tHOTlists
500. Countess Luann de Lesseps
You don’t have to be a fan of the Real Housewives franchise to notice that New York’s Countess Luann is becoming more prolific in the cabaret scene, especially in her native city. Whether she’s charmingly dishing about her Bravo Network co-stars or banging bongos or crooning a rendition of her anthem “Money Can’t Buy You Class” onstage, the Countess is one of the few reality stars working today that can manage an entertaining nightlife repertoire. And this year, she’s certainly been no stranger to the city’s queer scene: we saw her present a Glam Award, perform at the Ladyland Pride festival, judge the Miss Fire Island pageant, party with Ty Sunderland on Halloween, and host her own showcase F Marry Kill at a few local venues–all while being an absolute blast.
499. Freeda Blackman
The Brooklyn queen is the recent champion of bar Sandy Jack’s “Battle of the Jacks” multi-week drag competition, and also performs in venues like The Rosemont, C’mon Everybody and Sunset Stoop.
498. DaQueen
This ex-Californian, memoir author, makeup artist, dancer and drag performer is probably best known here for hosting several important showcases at Stonewall this year, as well as partaking in a few of Nicky O’s massive “Night of 1000s” large cast showcases at 3 Dollar Bill.
497. Lailah Lancing
A legendary presence in NYC drag for decades, Lailah won the Best Bartender Glam this year for her tenure at 3 Dollar Bill. She also hosted Brooklyn Pride’s main stage show this summer, and as both a live singer and lip syncher she’s someone you definitely want to catch (and book!) in this town.
496. Charlie Wo
A drag performer who serves King and Queen and all In Between, Charlie co-hosted a long running show at Hush Bar this year, “The Cookout,” with Nani Tsunami and Janae SaisQuoi.
495. Shirley U. Jest
Musician and BDSM advocate Lynwood McLeod hosted some super sexy karaoke nights at Kinky’s Dessert Bar for most of 2024, both in and out of Shirley drag.
494. Unkle Spooky
NYC’s Premiere Queer Horror Host had himself a batty / busy year, hosting live monthly scary movie screenings at the Flying Fox Tavern as well as a weekly Zoom horror viewing party. He also returned to the Ice Palace to frighten Fire Islanders in the later half of the summer, and regularly serves at the door for Ladyfag’s epic “Battle Hymn” parties at RUMI.
493. Kanga Roo
New York’s favorite Dolly Parton impersonator is also VERS Bar’s resident doll, and the Pines’ Sip n’ Twirl’s karaoke hostess for the second summer in a row to boot.
492. Obsidian Absurd
The sideshow siren known for her sensual swordplay makes for the perfect Miss Coney Island 2024; she was crowned in September, and continues to perform alongside burlesquers, drag folks and circus stars all across the city.
491. Wendy Stuart Kaplan & Tym Moss
These stage and screen actors, multi-disciplinary performers and all around delights also happen to be great conversational interviewers. That explains the success of their now long-running YouTube chat show “If These Walls Could Talk,” which is shot at Pangea and sees them going in deep with entertainers and other important folks. Wendy, who is part of the Imperial Court of New York, also co-hosts another informative podcast called “Triversity Talk” while Tym and comic Ike Avelli are the hosts of a third podcast (more on that one later). You can frequently find them (separately or together) performing at cabarets and bar shows all over town.
490. Zenobia
You never know where you’ll find this Renaissance Woman: drag performing on stage, acting in an on screen role or spinning in the DJ booth. In 2024 she served Beyonce at 3 Dollar Bill and C’mon Everybody, presented excellence in Miz Jade’s “Synthesis” showcase and threw down with Switch n’ Play at Littlefield, just to name a few milestones.
489. Sheneeda Dickson & Taraye
Frequent competition winner Shaneeda and social media / comedy queen Taraye enliven any show or pageant they partake in, and are entire sweet and goodtime gals to boot.
488. Victoria Falls
A winner of several past Fire Island drag pageant titles including Miss Cherry Grove and Homecoming Queen, Victoria finally got the Crown of Crowns when she was anointed Miss Fire Island this past summer.
487. Junior Mintt
Heavily focused these days on her successful, pristine, all-gender cosmetic palette Mintty Makeup, performer and activist Ms. Mintt’s nightlife dynamic drag stage appearances aren’t as frequent as they once were… but they’re all the more special for it. This year we did see her turn it at Brooklyn venues like 3 Dollar Bill, C’mon Everybody, Dromedary and All Night Skate.
486. Nostalgia
The alt-comedy Brooklyn drag performer co-hosted the massive “Sissyfest” at Rubulad over the summer, and also presides over a recurring event “Let’s Watch a Movie” that features a drag pre-show followed by a screening of a cult film at Williamsburg’s Nitehawk Cinema.
485. VV Bar
After running Hell’s Kitchen Italian restaurant ViceVersa for a quarter of a century, owners Franco Lazzari and Stefano Derzi decided the space would better serve the post-pandemic community as a new LGBTQ venue… thus VV Bar opened for business in February. Now serving a limited bar food menu, the VV is getting buzz for its “Wet Wednesday” sexy showering gogo boy installation harkening back to the glory days of Splash, as well as a widening calendar of events including drag bingo, bear brunch and dance parties.
484. Justice LaBrave
The queer rocker has added a bit of a disco, souful vibe to his sound recently, and continues to be a standout stage performer in various, often bear-centric events (like September’s Urban Bear Street Fair). Justice is also regularly on the monthly roster of Chauncey Dandridge’s “Freak-Out” variety show at Stonewall.
483. Logan Hardcore
Watching Fire Island and NYC’s most infamously full-time chaos comedy queen evolve into a sober living, candlemaking Real Housewife of Westchester who only pops up in drag occasionally has been quite an inspiring journey. Aside from a few Ice Palace shows this past summer and a Playhouse fundraiser tfor efforts to reverse the island’s dune erosion, our Logan’s been living the life of a happy spouse, parent and businesswoman… and we love that for her.
482. Koko Momo
Combining theater, props, general zaniness and perhaps even a bit of spookiness, Koko’s competed in a season of Icon’s “Pantheon” drag competition as well as this year’s Miss Big Adam’s Apple Comedy Queen pageant. These days she’s most often serving her brand of pixie mania in Brooklyn and Astoria venues.
481. Ike Avelli
Nothing like a dapper, warmhearted funny man to steer us through darker days! Ike’s long-running stage show 50 Shades of Gay made its rounds through various local venues this year including The Copa, South Amboy’s 244 Spot and Slate NY. He also co-hosts the “Loose Lips” podcast with buddy and frequent 50 Shades guest star Tym Moss.
480. Adra Quartz
An alum of the “Pantheon,” “BitchFest” and “Mx. Rockbar” competitions, Adra’s the resident monthly brunch (co-hosted with Purss’ophonie) and bingo hostess of Brooklyn venue Father Knows Best.
479. The Blair Bitch
Known for chic and creative looks, this Bitch returned to Phoenix Bar to host a RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing party while also taking part in a variety of large showcases at 3 Dollar Bill throughout the year.
478. Erotica
This dark and sexy femme fatale is undoubtedly a rising drag star who’s taken part in a number of shows at C’mon Everybody and 3 Dollar Bill. She even co-hosted a Stonewall Invasion with Victoria Holiday, and starred in a solo birthday showcase at Club Cumming.
477. Tim Murray
Hilarious both onstage as an unfiltered standup comic and online as a heavily filtered content creator, this year’s New York Queer Comedy Festival competition winner also toured with a stage show called Witches that pre-gamed Halloween Month at Joe’s Pub.
476. Zeraiya
2024’s Glam winning Scene Queen is a giant personality in a petite package, and someone you want showing up to all your parties. She’s also a fashion model and drag performer who’s popped up in several shows at venues like The Rosemont and 3 Dollar Bill this year.
475. Misty Meaner
An icon of Brooklyn drag from the past decade, the sultry and savage Misty has largely stepped away from performing in recent years. Nowadays she’s a designer and Glam-nominated wig stylist, who’s work can be found on drag heads across the country.
474. Mel Lennon
Local recording artist Mel dropped six sexy songs that make up the Deep Thot EP (no relation) this past summer, and performed live at venues like Stonewall, VERS, Boxers HK and Red Eye.
473. Mt. Aloofa
Bold, physical, theatrical and gonzo, this “Mx. Nobody” 2024 finalist and digital vibe maker is a strong representative of the New Age of Brooklyn. You can catch her leaping into garbage cans (and your hearts) in venues like All Night Skate, Purgatory and C’mon Everybody.
472. Rhiannon Nichelle
This bearded beauty and former Miss Barracuda turns up in a variety of places, including hosting a karaoke installation at The Stranger NYC, competing in Astoria’s “Mx. Cantina” and slaying as The Duplex’s Monday night show hostess.
471. Paulie Popsicle
Albatross in Astoria’s favorite monthly trivia master is also a featured Midnight at 6 player, presenting elaborate onstage shadowcasts of musicals like Reefer Madness and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
470. Ethel Furman
Ex-Cherry’s On the Bay staple bar staffer Austin Tracy wanted to give more stage time to his kooky drag persona Ethel in March, when the monthly “Furmented Mondays” premiered at Brooklyn’s Someday Bar where Austin now bartends.
469. Sophya Medina
The beautiful Puerto Rican born lady of Lips Restaurant and pageant queen was crowned this years Diosa Latina USA Plus, and in the summer hosted a drag competition of her own at Friends Tavern in Jackson Heights.
468. Tara Bull
A sister of P-Town drag sensation Jizzelle, liver singer Tara has made waves in our city all by herself as the star of the Broadway’s a Drag cabaret showcases at the prestigious 54 Below. We’ve also seen her take part in Stonewall and Green Room 42 shows, and is a popular guest performer at drag band The Bad Judies’ Red Eye shows.
467. Dallas Tetas
The West Coast transplant was originally known as Pinche and is known for being the first “casualty” of the Dragula franchise back in 2016. Her edgy, hairy drag performances keep the kids coming even with her new name and home city; she’s graced this year’s Bushwig stage and featured in gigs throughout the city.
466. Missleidy Rodriguez
Known originally for her lockdown era online presence as a horticulture queen, Missleidy served bar shows in NYC for a few years while her role as the creative director of mass drag subject photoshoots appearing in various publications and campaigns expanded. Her themed group photo spreads of Brooklyn nightlifers have become widely praised and shared, appearing in the likes of Gay Times and Paper Magazine.
465. PleaseRy
Va-va-voom! You know this Balcon body queen has all the rights moves when no less than New York drag royalty Shequida kept bringing her back week after week to turn out the weekly “Balcon Rouge” in Hell’s Kitchen that Shequida hosts on Sundays, which otherwise features a rotating cast.
464. A’Nylah The Doll
Everybody loves working with this delightful and professional queen; she’s a favorite guest performer for shows all over New York and New Jersey thanks to her incredibly athletic dance numbers and funny musical mixes. She’s also a rising star in the pageant world; this Spring, our Doll was deservingly crowned Miss Monster 2024 and later Miss New Jersey Mundo Latina USA in September.
463. Vape Kid Jr.
A drag performer and puppeteer with a growing presence in experimental Brooklyn drag, this 2023 “Mx. Nobody” finalist gave Astoria a glimpse of their genius as a contestant in Icon’s “Pantheon” competition.
462. Britney Virazzano
The longtime Drag Princess of Staten Island had a banner year of gigs in 2024 including several Stonewall appearances (notably her own headlining Invasion) and collaborations with David Gold’s “Leg Up On Life” dance performance benefit revues at Industry. She even got to rep SI in an August “Battle of the Boroughs” drag showdown at 3 Dollar Bill.
461. Bryce Quartz
The North Carolina-born rapper, songwriter, content creator, music / events producer and Bear World Magazine contributor known for the hyper-explicit lyricism and imagery of his properties has bravely and publicly dealt with health issues in recent months, but was still able to drop new music and visuals while presenting installments of his “Club Chub” party at The Cutting Room and Red Eye.
460. Voxigma Lo & Paris Alexander
The two dreamy, bohemian multimedia drag artists are perhaps best known for co-hosting the acclaimed recurring “Sylvester” Black drag showcase with Julie J currently at Purgatory, but were also found performing separately in unique drag and theatrical situations all across Brooklyn in 2024.
459. Alex the Meh
The self-proclaimed “slutty little sister” of Alexander the Great, drag star Alex is launching a new world conquest starting with “Play Date,” a weekly show she co-hosts with Crystal Hart at Brooklyn’s Happyfun Hideaway.
458. Zalika Parsons
Definitely a queen who has carved her own unique path through an oversaturated drag scene over the years, the entertainingly unhinged comedy hostess currently presides over karaoke at The Graham in Brooklyn, while often turning out guest performances in many other bars and making odd contributions to parties at House of Yes and The Stranger NYC.
457. Corsette
A favorite Brooklyn king / thing with a colorful and creative array of drag looks, Corsette appeared in many shows at venues like Purgatory, Club Cumming, Ginger’s Bar and Pine Box Rock Shop. As Mx. Nobody 2023’s Mx. Congeniality, Corsette returned to judge and co-host this year’s proceedings.
456. Richard Skipper
The veteran cabaret crooner and digital talk show host went on tour this year (including a local stop at Green Room 42) with a lovely showcase celebrating 60 years of the classical musical Hello, Dolly!, a perfect vehicle for the performer who first became known as an impersonator of his real-life friend Carol Channing.
455. Paris L’Hommie
The dancer / singer / designer has been navigating a transitional life journey through most of 2024, but still blessed us with numbers and gigs at All Night Skate, Purgatory, C’mon Everybody and even a spot at Bushwig.
454. Maliboo
She produced a few showcases at C’mon Everybody with Talia Fortune this year, and also the horror enthusiast Maliboo found herself on the bill of many popular Brooklyn shows… perhaps most notably “Night of 1000 Lanas” at 3 Dollar Bill in January, and a Bushwig slot over the summer.
453. Tuna Melt
A King of Kings, Tuna first became known for producing the “Transcendence” variety showcases at Grove 34 last year before mixing it up with other shows and venues. Known for commanding stage performances and cosplay inspired looks, Mr. Melt has fed the children with his talent in multiple boroughs.
452. Norma Tears & Gem Annai
The live-singing drag duo are well known in Ridgewood thanks to their presence at the Deep End, where they host Drag Race viewing parties and other pop-up events. The pair also scored a bunch of Pride Weekend gigs in Manhattan, then made it through the semi-finals of Red Eye’s instantly popular “Red Idol” singing competition together in September. Actually, Norma took it one step further and won the whole thing, which earned her her own January 2025 cabaret showcase at that venue. She also performed for Marti Cummings’ 54 Below drag brunch in November.
451. Angela Di Carlo
The actress, singer, recording artist and all around gal-about-town was involved in some interesting 2024 projects including DJing Julius’ cherished monthly-ish vinyl disco “Mattachine,” starring in variations of her country comedy variety spoof The Jo-Lynn Butterfly Country Hour and a political fundraiser at Club Cumming.
Intro
#500-451 | #450-401 | #400-351
#350-301 | #300-251 | #250-201
#200-151 | #150-101 | #100-51
#50-1 | Previous tHOTlists
Thotyssey 
