A darling of Jersey drag, Kay Gorgeous is charming audiences everywhere, from theaters to pottery studios.
Thotyssey: Hey, Kay! Thanks for chatting today! We’re entering peak autumn drag weather this week, lol… how are you enjoying it so far?
Kay Gorgeous: I’m loving the fall drag! The weather is beautiful for drag. I get to keep both my eyebrows intact at shows, which is a treat! I love it so much I almost decided to change careers and become a farmer… until my friend had to point it out to me that I just wanted go to a corn maze, not change professions.
Lol! You just did a pageant — Ms. PReP Jersey Shore!
I did! I competed in Miss PReP last night at Paradise in Asbury Park and got first runner up! Congratulations to the winners, and the new Ms. Prep Jersey Shore Asia Monroe! She killed it, and such a kind, talented queen!
Was that your first foray into pageantry?
I’ve competed in pageants early in my career. I made my drag debut at a pageant in Sussex County, New Jersey called Miss Stanhope. I competed in a few more after that as well as I was starting out, trying to elevate my drag and get my name out there. I’m a three time Miss Congeniality, and one of those titles I received because the queen who won Miss Congeniality couldn’t carry out their reign… which I find hilarious!
Opportunity knocks in the strangest places! How might you describe your own drag today, as far as looks and numbers go?
My drag is definitely Kay-otic! My goal every time I hit the stage is to make the crowd laugh, and leave my show with a sentence that makes no sense the next day at work when they try and tell their coworkers about what they saw last night. I have numbers where I beg crowds to add me to their insurance plans, I’ve created bird documentaries where the crowd feeds me gummy worms as I’m dressed as a bird, I’ve interviewed crowds mid-number, etc. I like to do my own thing, and not do what people expect to see from a drag queen.
As far as my looks, I like to describe my aesthetic as dangerously glamorous. I love the contrast of this gorgeous lady acting a fool. But also not afraid to dress the fool either.
Most importantly, my drag is motivated by my desire to have fun and make my imagination come to life. The sky is the limit!
Love that! So how did Kay come to be: where are you from originally, and what sort of inspirations did you grow up with that may have ultimately led you to drag?
I started drag in Sussex County, New Jersey. For those who don’t know, that’s the middle of nowhere country part of New Jersey! You might have seen it featured on HBO’s We’re Here season 3, episode 4. You might also see a familiar face make a cameo when you watch.
We didn’t have a big drag scene, but we had one. I describe it as like a community college of drag. It allowed me to create freely, get stage time, and figure out my drag without people’s expectations from a drag queen… which I’m so grateful for!
Growing up I definitely loved cartoons like Ed Edd & Eddy and The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy! I loved how in these cartoons, they could bend the rules of reality and everyone can suspend disbelief for that segment of time. I definitely try to apply this logic when I’m creating a mix. I want to have an audience transported to a new reality for the 5 to 7 minutes that I’m on stage performing.
Ive also been a fine artist my entire life, as well as street dancer throughout middle school and high school — but these mediums would always frustrate me. When I showed art in a gallery, I would get frustrated because nobody knew I could dance. Then when I danced, I would get frustrated because nobody knew that I was funny. So when I found drag… everything just clicked for me! I loved that I was able to highlight all my talents through one medium. I could show people that I am artistic, I could show people that I can dance, and I could show people that I’m funny. So I quickly fell in love with expressing myself through drag.
I’ve spoken to a ton of both new and seasoned Jersey drag stars this year, and the scene just feels like it’s having a moment of expansion and evolution — whereas maybe the New York scene is starting to get oversaturated. What are your thoughts about the current state of Jersey drag?
I feel like the New Jersey drag scene gets slept on a lot… but Jersey has some sickening drag! It’s just like the state itself: we have a little bit of everything. We have kings, queens, comedy queens, drag things, pageant queens, drag magicians, dancing queens… you name it, we have it! And we all have respect for one another, and come together to put on some phenomenal shows!
Also, Jersey queens hustle! We have gay bars and queer spaces, but I feel like a lot of us take initiative and set up the shows ourselves. I definitely come from that school of drag. I have shows at pottery studios, Mexican restaurants, and an art gallery currently. If a venue will open their doors to a Jersey queen, we’re going to put on a show… no matter where it is!
You’re gonna be back with “Drag Your Ass to Pottery Class” at Newbury Pottery Studio on Saturday, November 22nd! Do you do pottery yourself?
I have done pottery in the past when I was in college, but it wasn’t my main medium. I primarily work in marker, print making, acrylic and other 2D mediums. [But this is] such a fun show; it’s a one of a kind pottery class experience with a drag performance in between every pot you throw on the wheel! It’s a blast!
On Wednesday, November 26th you’re hosting the next installment of the drag competition “Steal the Spotlight” at the Madison Community Arts Center!
Yes, “Steal the Spotlight 2.0” is a monthly drag competition show that I host, open to all forms of drag entertainers competing on one stage. Right now we have seven competitors compete per show, but I’m hoping to expand that to ten in the new year when we move the show to Friday nights. Contestants perform one number each in front of our panel of judges. Once all the competitors do their numbers, the judges add up all their scores and the two entertainers will lip sync for the win… and to Steal the Spotlight! It’s such a blast, and such a fun show to watch. These new artists come hungry, and are ready to put on a show!
What else is coming up for you?
Just more drag, more shows and more Kay-os! To keep up with all of this, just follow me on Instagram; I post all my upcoming shows and events there! So follow me there, and you’ll never miss a show!
Lastly: what’s the most essential item in your drag bag?
Hauls cough drops, and smoothie flavored Tums. I don’t leave home without them.
Thanks, Kay!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Kay Gorgeous’ upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
Thotyssey 