She’s partaking in two huge Jersey drag pageants at once, but she’s already a winner: Sasha Curvy is here to slay! [Cover photo: Chavel]
Thotyssey: Hey Sasha! I see you were part of a Legally Blonde drag tribute at Paradise on Wednesday, how did that go?
Sasha Curvy: You know what’s funny? I am so consumed by pageant package procurement and rehearsals and my civilian job… what happened only three days ago already feels like ages. It went beautifully; the cast put a lot of time and effort into getting this show together. I am so proud we were able to perform it for a crowd that truly enjoyed what we brought. The audience is just as important as the actual show, and they really brought the energy in with them on a rainy Wednesday night.
We’re gonna talk more about the upcoming pageants in a bit, but what can you tell us now about what the best and worst parts of pageant prep are?
I’ll start with the negative. The worst part for me personally is the racing thoughts at night. I have ADHD, so trying to fall asleep while everything is running in my head — the looks, the talents, the jokes, the jukebox playing lip-sync songs — in the background the entire time. It gets to be a lot. I’ve started taking melatonin gummies regularly to get some rest. Compounded with the executive dysfunction and procrastination I suffer from, it’s been a lot of eyes wide open staring at the dark ceiling waiting for my body to jump into action.
But the pros!? Oh my gosh! I love what I get to do! I am genuinely so excited to work with some amazing friends, some old and some as new as this month, on projects I pray are not only entertaining but meaningful and memorable.
It’s going to be a dramatic, months-long ki!
A ki for sure!
Can you tell us where you’re from, and what sort of interests and pursuits you grew up with that may have put you on the drag path?
I am from Asbury Park, New Jersey by way of Neptune, New Jersey (shoutout my Scarlet Fliers). I come from a wildly talented and flamboyant family; I have a cousin Anthony that’s been on Broadway in multiple productions.
I grew up playing guitar and singing. You would think I was in every musical in high school, but in reality I was always the stage manager, or the audio engineer, or the lighting engineer, or the prop master, or the set builder. I adore the behind the scenes of production. Demi Gawdess could tell you, I ran a tight ship for our production of Hairspray.
Drag allows me to be all of those things, and the star, simultaneously. It allows me to work with my hands and my brain and my heart to create pieces that resonate with an audience I respect. I am incredibly lucky.
How did drag come into your life, and how would you describe your drag today as far as looks and numbers go?
Okay so, get this: watching the Lizzie McGuire Movie in 2012, a cover of RuPaul’s “Supermodel” plays during the makeover montage. I find the original music video; the comments are talking about a show I’ve only seen my mother watch on Saturdays. RuPaul’s Drag Race quickly becomes my hyper-fixation. Drag officially enters my life. I turn 23 (blame Covid), go to Paradise night club in Asbury Park, see drag in person for the first time and fall in love. All. Over. Again.
My drag is heavily inspired by those queens I first saw at Paradise, and heavily inspired by the black and brown women in my life. It’s inspired by the rockstars I grew up studying, running the gamut from Bruce Springsteen to Miss Piggy. I have to also mention the incredible trans women who inspire me, such as your favorite drag queen’s favorite drag queen, Sasha Colby and local Asbury Park legend Heather Hills.
The looks, the song choices, the energy are all informed by these influences. There is no straight answer because there is no straight look; I don’t think anyone could predict what I’ll wear next, or what they will witness when I hit the stage. And I take immense pleasure in that.
Do you often bring your guitar onto the drag stage? Can you strum in nails, lol?
I won Lexi Pro’s “Out Of the Box” drag competition with a live guitar performance of “Take Me Away,” originally by Lash. I love wearing nails in drag, but I do not wear them normally. A combination of sensory issues and spontaneous guitar playing do not allow it. So to strum? Yes, I could, but play full out? No, I cannot not play with nails on, haha. But I try to have them painted for guitar performances!
This coming Sunday, you’ll be joining DJ Philip James, Tastie and Spectra Electra in Atlantic City for “Dark City Disco” at new venue the Byrdcage in Atlantic City!
Yes I am so excited! I admire both Tastie and Spectra, they are so fun to work with. And DJ Philip James is great, a true professional, enjoys what he does; we love it. I’ve never been to the Byrdcage — when they said “show in AC,” I figured it would be at a hotel! Haha!
The theme for the night is “Divas to the Dancefloor,” and as the only POC in this particular cast I definitely want to bring black divas to the center of the floor. I’m thinking Beyoncé and maybe Tina Turner, but I haven’t totally decided yet.
And on Wednesday, October 1st, you’ll be back at Paradise in Asbury for an E. Licksher-led drag tribute to Little Shop of Horrors!
Yes, it’s our second run of the show. Milani and I have been in rehearsals for E.Legally Blonde and Little Drag of Horrors concurrently, so sometimes we have had four rehearsals in one week, two different shows — of course with E. Licksher directing every rehearsal.
October 8th sees the premiere of “Crystal Envy’s Diamond Race” at Paradise, a drag pageant which will spread through eight rounds until January! This is going to be epic in every sense of the word. What can you tell us about the format and scope of this pageant, and how did you choose to compete in it?
What’s funny is, I originally did not want to compete in the “Diamond Race.” I was already accepted into Fresh Face of Drag 2025, and I knew that was an undertaking within itself that I really wanted to pour myself into (they happen concurrently). The applications had dropped after my busiest month of drag ever, so I was exhausted… and to be very honest, I did not feel I was at a high enough level to compete on that platform.
My best friend said “I don’t think you understand how capable you really are,” and basically bullied me into applying. I was accepted — and OMG, I think he might’ve been right! He tells me all the time, “I will beat the Imposter Syndrome out of you,” and I love him for that.
“Crystal Envy’s Diamond Race” is already trajectory-changing for me; it’s been so cool getting this reaction from fans from literally all over the world. It hasn’t even started yet, and I’m already pumped! Format-wise, you’re gonna have to come to the show to see! Tickets are available in my LinkTree in my Instagram bio. Tell them I sent you, haha.
“Fresh Face” will be November 14th, also at Paradise! That’s a pageant for newer queens that follows a series of workshops which the contestants attend that help sharpen various drag skill sets, before that final pageant which unveils their growth! It is quite wild you are doing both this and “Diamond Race,” which will be having its third and fourth installments in November… but you may come out of these as the most powerful drag queen of all space and time!
One can only hope! Haha! I think out of the gate, I set out to be the best drag artist I could be. I adore the “Fresh Face of Drag” pageant system; I am so humbled to be a part of the siblinghood. That system at its core is a masterclass in drag and entertainment. Shoot, I might go for a BFA after this… I’m really going to miss it [when it’s over]! Doing both at the same time is genuinely so exciting and so overwhelming. I just want to put my best heel forward and keep my head held high, no matter what happens.
I’m not sure if it’s possible, but is there anything else coming up for you? Or, is there anything else you wanna mention?
If anyone would like to tip me or help me out funding-wise for these endeavors, feel free to reach out to me! I’m open for sponsorships, ad reads… or even just a donation, because you like what I’m doing and want to support.
Give her everything! Lastly: what’s your favorite item in your drag bag?
Ooooh, hmm. Favorite cosmetic at the moment is Revolution Superfix Hydra Cool Fixing Mist. I will spray myself down before and after makeup, even on days I’m not wearing any makeup. I don’t believe Revolution Beauty has spokespeople, but I would say yes so quickly if they ever reached out to me, OMG. And favorite item in the drag bag is a fan — electric or of the clack variety, it doesn’t matter, I love it. I need it. I want it.
She’s cool AF! Thanks, Sasha!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Sasha Curvy’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and LinkTree.
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