Jersey Girl, “Orange Kid” and Fresh Face of Drag hopeful Tangelina HoLee is a tangerine dream who’s not to be slept on. [Cover photo: David M.C. Strange]
Thotyssey: Thanks for finding time to chat tonight, Tangelina! How are pageant preparations treating you?
Tangelina HoLee: Hello! Of course my darling, thank you for the opportunity!
Pageant prep is going pretty well! It’s a bit stressful, but an exciting and rewarding process nonetheless.
Hang in there! Will this be your first go at proper pageantry?
Thank you! Yes, this is my first official pageant. I’ve done some smaller competitions throughout the scene, and this is my first time engaging in a full project like this.
Very exciting!
We’ll get to the pageant specifics in a bit, but first let’s visit the origin story: where was your original hometown… and did you always have art, performance, and fashion in your life?
I grew up in the New Brunswick / Rutgers area. I’ve always had a special connection with music, whether it was singing in the church and school choir, or the step club I was a part of throughout middle school. I’ve always loved the way different sounds have made me feel, and how my body reacts to the changes in beats and flows of lyrics. The pure human expression we share through our voices and music is the base of my connection to this art form.
How did you discover and partake in drag… and do you sing in drag today?
Every once in a while I like to sing. I’ve written, recorded, and performed a couple of parodies. As of recently, I have preferred to rap.
I discovered drag through the parody era of YouTube circa 2017 with Willam, Philip Green, Tré Melvin, and (unfortunately) Bart Baker, even if some of them didn’t actually consider what they were doing as drag. Then came my freshman year of college into the pandemic, when I decided to binge Drag Race starting at Season 4.
In my actual life, I didn’t officially start my drag journey until I met my drag family, La Gatita, in June of 2023. Elizabeth New Jersey, Acid Reflux, Mx. Media, and Sourdoe started appearing on my Instagram back in fall of 2022, and when I finally was able to step into the scene, they welcomed me with open arms… and I’ve never looked back.
How might you describe your drag today, as far as looks and numbers go?
Vibrant, Vivacious, and a Variety of nonsense with a touch of reality!
Your name is obviously a play on Angelina Jolie, but also maybe invokes “tangerine?” Is that why you incorporate a lot of orange in your looks?
In combination with the Angelina reference, the HoLee also connects to my background in the church — and how even with my own less than positive experiences in those spaces, drag has given me the ability to reconnect with those parts of myself by allowing me to engage in that communal celebration and connection that church brings without the judgement.
But also, it’s “Hole” with an extra “e,” because I’ve got something extra special!
And actually, orange has always been my “brand.” In fourth grade, I decided I wanted to create my wardrobe like a cartoon character who doesn’t “change clothes.” Over time, my closet became a rotation of orange hoodies and matching Converse. I became known as the “Orange Kid,” and it just stuck.
Love that! Also, it looks like you sport a mustache frequently.
My mustache is a part of my drag because I enjoy playing with gender as a concept. As a genderfluid person, I like to show that femininity can exist and be gorgeous even with a bit of facial hair.
Your “Fresh Face of Drag 2025” pageant journey begins this Thursday at Georgie’s in Asbury Park for a “Meet the Contestants” showcase! What can we expect from the night?
It’s an 11pm show, so you can expect something sweet, stupid, and definitely slutty!
Then on Friday, it’s the actual Fresh Face pageant at Paradise! To my understanding, this pageant is preceded by workshops the contestants participate in to elevate their drag across several platforms in preparation for the big night. What made you want to try out for this particular pageant, and what’s in store for us as far as your package goes?
A few things inspired me. For one, I had felt that I was reaching a stagnant point in my drag where I was just pumping out random numbers instead of fully putting my heart and soul into my craft. Fresh Face gave me the opportunity to create a long term goal to fully flesh out a performance and presentation that I had never had the time, nor the know-how, to do.
The other main driving factor was my family — drag and traditional. My mother had a passion for performance back in college as a majorette as well as a bit of a modeling moment. When I told her I was considering doing a pageant, I saw her eyes light up in a way that I hadn’t seen… and this gave me an avenue to feel more connected to her.
On the drag family side, this gave us the opportunity to come together and really focus all of our individual strengths to create something powerful in a way we haven’t done before, and it has been so exciting to build and has truly strengthened our bond as a collective as well.
The category is “For the Greek Gods.” And as the HoLee woman, Godliness is right up my alley. But for specifics, you’re gonna have to be there to see. All I can say for now is: this competition is about to be Eaten Alive…
Good luck! Also next Friday the 21st, you’ll be at Tinga in Montclair doing dinner shows with Kay Gorgeous and other drag queens! How is that night gonna go down?
It’s gonna be a night of good music, good food, and great energy for sure. Every time I’ve worked with Kay, A’Nylah, and Urethra, it’s been such a ki and I can’t wait to have fun and share all that love with the audiences as well.
What else is coming up for you?
As of now, I plan to be taking some time for rest and family post Fresh Face, but who knows exactly what the future holds. Any updates will be on my Instagram as well as La Gatita’s.
And finally: what’s your favorite / most essential item in your drag bag?
My most essential item right now is my Kim Chi Orange Citrus Pallet. It’s compact, highly pigmented, and has every shade and shimmer I need.
Thanks, Tangelina!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Tangelina HoLee’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
Thotyssey 