A social media titan with over two million TikTok followers and 300K+ Insta followers who just interviewed one of the biggest stars in music today, a recent Queerty Award nominee, and an artist declared “The Future of Drag” by none other than Bob the Drag Queen herself… and Anania is not even 25 yet! But we can all join her for that latest milestone in just a few weeks. [Cover photo: Michael Izquierdo]
Thotyssey: Hello Anania, thanks so much for finding the time to chat with us today…. I know you are a busy queen! I wanted to congratulate you on a special recent installment of your social media show “Gaydar” where you got to ask several fun, tea-steaming questions to none other than Chappell Roan!
Thank you so much! Yes, it’s been a crazy ride but I have great support from all the people on [the production team I work with] Mutuals, and from my management. The burnout is catching up on me, so I’m excited for a much needed break next month.
That spot with Chappell could not have been an easy thing to set up, and it was such a fun watch. Did anything about her in person surprise you, and were you nervous about talking to her at all?
She was a great guest to have on the show–not only hilarious, but very generous with her time and presence. I am grateful to her and her team for being on the show. And no, I wasn’t nervous! We actually met before back in 2023, when I opened for her show in Chicago. So it was just a matter of hitting the marks and digging into what makes “Gaydar” so great.
‘Gaydar” is usually one of those “interviewing randos on the street” situations where you determine if folks are “gay, straight or homophobic” based on the way they answer a few questions about queer history and culture, and general fun shit. I honestly don’t normally care for that format because it’s usually a way for a dull content creator to lean into the chance that other people might make their video interesting. But you are so funny and compelling, and make the segments move so precisely… you’re a star!
I, too, am turned off with most of these street-interviewing shows. So thank you for assuaging one of my burning fears.
How did Gaydar start, and what has it taught you about people, communication, yourself, etc.?
Gaydar started from the production company Mutuals Media reaching out to me to host a show for them. The director and executive producer Amelia Montooth helped to create the show, and what the format would eventually look like. It’s an amazing opportunity for me to do good work and not have to worry so much about the lift of producing something to the degree Gaydar is now. It takes a village! Huge shoutout to the following people for their work in making Gaydar successful: Creator / director / producer Amelia Montooth and Mutuals Media; EPs Roman Papademetriou and Emmet Sandberg; writing (questions) and casting, Brooke Finegold; Videography, Samira Mian; and Editing, Andrew Bourne.
Were there many moments when you had to navigate weirdos, haters, trauma dumpers, etc. during these segments?
Absolutely. But not nearly as much as the fun, special moments that make the show addicting to watch.
If there was a single best piece of general advice you can give someone in regards to being a successful content creator, what might that be?
People can smell fear like they’re fucking sharks. I think leading with confidence and authentic intentions always make for great content creators. Remember, it’s a marathon and not a sprint. You’re trying to make yourself a household name!
You were a recent Best TikToker nominee and ultimate category runner-up at the Queerty Awards, OMG!
Hehe, thanks! I was absolutely floored when I got the email. It was one of those things that truly made me stop and reflect on the work I’m putting out there. I’ve been doing this for five years now, and I never figured I’d get to 300k on Instagram, let alone being nominated for a Queerty! I am proud of myself and my fellow nominees, and congrats to Sasha for winning!
Do you have any tea to share about the ceremony, any interactions with other nominees, etc?
It was a very quick, relaxed, but elegant evening. Y’know how gay people are–very good vibes while dressed to the tens, honey. I met so many Drag Race girls that I’ve been obsessed with, and I felt and looked fucking stunning. I said the night was an overall net positive!
Where’s your original hometown?
I am from Davenport, Iowa. Look it up.
Were art and performance always parts of your identity growing up?
I think, yes. Art has always been a part of my life. For a while, the only thing I had to my name was my ability to sing in the choir, or play the saxophone, or join the thespian troupe. I look back on that time with a lot of remorse and anxiety, but it also made me who I am. I am in spite of my circumstances, and I hope that makes people want to root for someone like me even more.
How did drag enter your life?
Probably through Madea, no shade. I didn’t think it was gonna be something I would do until my junior year of college, where I started with Season 6 of Drag Race and never looked back. I fell in love with the transformation and genderfuck of it all. Then I fell in love with the community. We might be evil, stinky, bitches… but goddammit, we are a family. I can’t wait to see what not only I can do, but what drag will look like in a year, or five years, or ten!
You did a bunch of videos covering your preparation process for the recent “Are You the Ultimate Diva” at 3 Dollar Bill, your first pageant! One of your looks for that was an Emmy Award statue, and you spoke on how it was inspired by Quinta Brunson’s Emmy win and the entertainment awards acceptance speeches of all Black women. Do you have an all-time favorite awards speech?
Thank you for watching the series! It was a great way to actualize and teach myself to be kind to myself, if that makes sense. Really I was making tangible proof that I need to let go of the imposter syndrome and unapologetically step into my talents.
As for speeches, I don’t have a favorite I think. But I think often about Sheryl Lee Ralphs’ speech recently. “People don’t have to like you, people don’t have to love you, they don’t even have to respect you, but when you look in the mirror, you better love what you see.”
How did you enjoy your Ultimate Diva experience, by the way?
It was so incredibly stressful, if I’m being honest. But I really wanted to push myself to another level in my career and my artistry. So in the sense that I got what I wanted out of doing a pageant, I am so grateful and honored to have placed in the Top 5! I will say, that was my budget for the year… so I will be eating ramen and crackers. But at least I have a 1:1 recreation of Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter jumpsuit from the Christmas show. Will I do a pageant again? Probably, yes. But not for a while!
You’ve carved your own path to drag success thanks in part, I think, to your social media presence. But have you gotten to take part in the weekly grind of guest appearances at bar shows, open stages, competitions, etc.? If not, do you think that’s a positive experience you missed out on, or an unnecessary one thanks to the path you’ve chosen?
I like to think my success of my drag career wasn’t thanks to my social media presence. I’ve never relied on follower count to leverage myself against other people in my career. Does it help to have a platform in the entertainment industry? Absolutely, yes. But hopefully people see my performances and think I deserved to be on stage opening for Chappell, Bob, or Top 5 in my first pageant because I’ve proven that I work hard and do the work outside of my content. I do weekly gigs, open stages, and competitions regularly!
Being a social media star, particularly a queer person of color, means that you must have a pretty turbulent ocean of correspondence in your inbox to navigate–from kids across the world really grateful for your visibility to MAGA monsters wishing you ill. How the hell do you deal with all that? Do you read each individual thing? Do you take it all to heart, good and bad?
Best advice I’ve gotten, actually, is from Trixie and Katya. They mentioned that their job, when it comes to being content creators, is to post the video and move on; they don’t let the obligation to respond to everything get to them. I adopted that in my career and really prioritized the adage, “ignorance is bliss.” I get dragged through the mud on Twitter maybe weekly, but I don’t spend enough time online to notice most of the time. Not to say that I don’t have bad days; I’m just a girl. But I try! As for the supporters–God, they make my day receiving those kind of messages. I do wish I had more time to individually thank everyone who took time out of their day to say something nice about me or my work. So if you’re reading this, Anania Nation: thank you!
Let’s talk about some local events coming up for you. On Thursday you’ll be joining Tina Hand and Erik Martini for “Diva Office” at The Rosemont in Brooklyn! What do you know about this show, and these folks? I know Tina was a Gaydar guest!
Yes! It’s going to be a variety show, I believe. Tina described it being something akin to The Cher Show, which I live for! Tina and I are sisters from college, actually. I was her RA, and she lived literally right next to me. She usually would have to do wellness checks on me though, because that was the “Cellophane” era where I was convincing myself I was straight and cis, lol! Me and Erik met when I moved to the city. Erik was actually one of the first Gaydar guests, too!
Then, you celebrate your 25th birthday with a special cabaret show at Green Room 42 in Manhattan on May 9th, which will also be livestreamed! Happy almost birthday!
Thank you! I have some of the most talented people I’ve met since being in the city in the cast, and I have the amazing Simòn Gòmez Villegas music directing, too. The show will be an absolute smash! I love how the concept is unfolding, and it’s going to be such an amazing, entertaining, and magical night. I would think of this as a family cookout with a dash (large dash) of musical theatre. My actual birthday is the 15th, and I’m “out of office” immediately after the show. Can’t wait to eat kettle corn and binge watch Sex and the City up until the big 2-5.
And on May 17th you’ll be part of the incredible “Dollapaloza” lineup at 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn hosted by Amanda Tori Meating and featuring trans stars of Drag Race, Dragula and the local scene! How incredible, and important, will this show be?
This will be the most estrogen-ated event of anyone’s life. I am obsessed with each and every queen in the lineup and I’m honored to be a part of it. I know I will be bringing it. And you should know a little secret about trans femmes: we are simply the best. I’m finally getting to do a number I’ve been waiting on the perfect gig to do it. So come out if you want to see immaculate conception. IDK, I’m just a girl.
Is there anything else coming up for you?
Believe it or not, I am currently planning a solo show for later this year! Keep an eye out for that. That, and I might be behind a microphone weekly… coming soon. Ooh, suspense.
Finally, I’ll give you the Latrice Royale question that stumped Jewels Sparkles towards the end of Drag Race S17: “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
I want to be happy and rich and have an EGOT. I refuse to not want more out of life anymore. I am teaching myself to be more selfish every day… and hopefully by 30, I’ll be like Rupaul-Lite.
Thanks, Anania!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar Anania’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and LinkTree. Also follow Anania’s show Gaydar on TikTik and Instagram.
Thotyssey 