Cutting it up with Jersey’s sapphic siren right before her NYC performing debut: Scissorella! [Cover photo: @misfitphotographer / @misfitofcreation]
Thotyssey: Scissorella, hello! Thanks for taking tine for us! How is August treating you?
Scissorella: Hi Thotyssey! The pleasure is all mine! August has been sweaty, busy… but beautiful! A lot of firsts for me: my first Lunar Faire was this past Saturday, and later this month I have my first NYC show and my first private gig! I’m usually one to thrive in the fall, but it’s been a Hot Girl Summer for sure.
Much to discuss! But first, the essentials: how might you describe yourself today as a performer, regarding your drag presentation and numbers you like to do?
Everything I do is for lesbians first and foremost! I pull inspiration from weird, outspoken, queer women, and gay pop culture / movie references. Someone once called me “Elvira if she was a Jersey housewife,” and honestly that sums me up aesthetically more than I ever could. I love high energy or high impact numbers. Whether I’m doing Joan Jett, Gaga, Chappell, King Princess, or Alannah Myles, I love to bring sexy, powerful, and an emotive twist. I do love a campy stupid number, too; I did an entire competition package as a Troll doll. I’m also a singer who loves the occasional theater number! I feel there’s something for everyone with Scissy, and my goal is always to grab attention while expressing parts of myself that I lost in my early adulthood / teens! But the ultimate crowd pleaser will always be my splits, and the occasional on brand scissoring with other performers on stage.
That’s quite a repertoire!
Thank you! I try to be the jack of all trades, but unlike what Thorgy Thor’s grandma told her, I definitely don’t wanna be a master of none.
Are you a Jersey native… and growing up, were you always an artist / performer?
Yes! I am a Jersey girl through and through, born and raised in Neptune, NJ just five minutes away from Asbury Park (now I’m living in Lawrence / Trenton area). I’ve been singing and dancing for as long as I could walk or talk, but I was quite the athlete. I took a few years to get back to performing when I eventually started doing the theater productions at my high school in my junior year. Then I went on to study musical theater performance as my minor (with my major being in English, which isn’t as exciting or fulfilling for where I’m at now).
How did you discover drag and become Scissorella?
Sadly, I was a late bloomer! I was living in Vermont when I turned 23 and came out as lesbian, when I saw Gottmik’s “A Tale and Two Titties” runway from [RuPaul’s Drag Race] All-Stars 9 on Twitter. I was absolutely enamored, and it impacted me in a way fashion never has before. My roommate at the time (shoutout Ali, I love you!) also never watched Drag Race and wanted to, so we got into it together! I realized drag is exactly what I was looking for, and basically what I was doing my whole life unknowingly!
Scissorella came to be a few months later when I solidified my perspective and persona that I wanted to present. I actually performed for the first time in drag the night before the election and I did “Like a Girl” by Lizzo with a “Vote for Kamala” sign. So I knew from the start, like Gottmik, I wanted to use my art to make statements. And I actually got to tell her she got me into drag with that look when I saw her in NYC last October!
Very exciting! It’s also an exciting time for Jersey drag: lots of newer stages, new performers, more diverse gender expressions and aesthetics! Do you see and feel those developments too?
Yes, absolutely! NJ is full of such incredible performers, and don’t get me started on the women! In just the nine months that I’ve done drag, I have seen such growth in the community. This summer, Magic Dyke was just the first drag king to perform at a tea dance at Paradise! As a lesbian AFAB queen, I often have audience members — or other drag performers — approach me and say I inspired them either to explore drag in a different lens, or for the first time!
Jersey is full of good times and good vibes, and we have always been a melting pot state who seeks to celebrate all walks of life — and I love being surrounded by kings, queens, and things of all kinds. I’m part of the “Fresh Face” pageant that takes place on November 14th at Paradise, and everyone in this cast of fairly new performers brings something vastly different, yet equally important, to the queer and drag community. I definitely know that I’m shutting down the “women can’t do drag” conversation one gig at a time!
You’re going to join Aya Vlasheez, Betty Buttonz and Sadiva Indacvnt for “Oui Oui Faguette” at Keanesburg’s The Beach Gallery on Friday! What can you tell us about this show and venue?
The Beach Gallery in Keansburg, NJ is a gorgeous venue, and they host all kinds of drag shows: cabarets, brunches, bingos and competitions (like the annual “Bayshore Royale” that I won this past June). “Oui Oui Faguette” is a French cabaret themed drag show (dinner and a show, actually!) happening this Friday, August 15th! I’m bringing out some Sade, and my biggest gowns. It’s gonna be a theatrical night with live singing, lip syncs, and my sister Sadiva is gonna do some flute numbers, and I might have heard some rumors of some possible duets throughout the night!
And for some live vocals realness, you and Lala Wiggy will be taking the mic as special guests of France’s Got Talent star Creatine Price for her “Cabaret of Curiosities” at Red Eye on Saturday!
Ah, Creatine! She is amazing! Yes! It’s my first NYC gig, and I cannot wait! It’s going to a fabulous yet quite silly show as the theme is “Cabaret of Curiosities.” Another night full of lip syncs, singing, and more duets! I’m excited to bring out some musical theater pieces for this crowd.
On Auguat 30th, your heading to Atlantic City’s Byrdcage to perform in a special edition of DJ Philip James‘ “Dark City Disco!” Could drag and queer nightlife be sneaking its way back into AC?
I hope so! I think so! Funny enough, last time I was in AC was to see Pentatonix with my mom and my grandma for her birthday. So I’d say, some queer things have always been lurking in AC. I’m excited to be a part of this new insurgence (and as a working drag queen, and not a 17 year old, lol)!
And I’m especially delighted to be doing it with DJ Phil, who I’ve worked with multiple times at Georgie’s in Asbury; he is my favorite. He treats his queens, etc. so well, and is always a delight to work with or be around. It’ll also be my first AC gig, and it’s Lady Gaga themed. If anyone can bring queer nightlife back, it’s Gaga! And I know these party gays of AC will rally all night!
But on a more serious note: right now especially, creating safe spaces for queer people and drag artists such as Byrdcage is so important. So let’s party together and support each other, Atlantic City!
And as you mentioned earlier, on November 14 you’ll be competing in the “Fresh Face” pageant at Paradise! What motivated you to participate in that, and are you planning the package already?
“Fresh Face” applications opened up just around six months of me doing drag, and I was immediately drawn to the fact that the pageant process included two monthly workshops every month leading up to the pageant. And that $500 cash prize, of course! Each workshop focuses on different aspects of drag, with one performance-based meeting a month. So I knew that, win or lose, this process would help me become a more well-rounded performer and professional.
As far as my package.. I just solidified both my talent concept and my presentation look, and I am geeked! I am so lucky to be surrounded by supportive friends, family, and drag sisters who are all on board with helping me execute my package.
My drag sister, housemate, and just one of my most favorite people ever, Lexie Legato, has been my saving grace during this process. Whether it’s physically driving me to the meetings or listening to my rambling package ideas as they come and go, she has been there for me. And she’ll be there onstage dancing with me for my talent! And I have other local drag artists and sisters Lovebomb and August Alexia all in on helping me finish what I have planned! So it’ll be a labor of love, and I know that will show on stage. The presentation theme is “Greek Gods & Goddesses,” so trust me you do not want to miss it. And if you buy tickets, make sure you choose “Scissorella” as your winner at checkout!
Amazing and good luck! Anything else you want to mention?
Thanks so much! WoW should cast Pandora Nox on an All-Star season, and bring back UNHhhh. AFAB queens deserve more love. Protect the Dolls. Tip your local queens. Book kings. Bosco was robbed. And oh, you should pay lesbians for being pretty! My Venmo is @tipscissy, you can start there! I think that covers all my bases.
Thank you, Scissy!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Scissorella’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
Thotyssey 