The Queen Mother of Asbury Park Aurora Van Wales stars in in a very special show this weekend.
Thotyssey: Hello Aurora, thanks for chatting with us today! How has January been treating you so far?
Aurora Van Wales: Good afternoon! Well, the New Year has started off very well. I’m truly blessed to see this New Year through God’s grace and mercy.
Amen! Can you tell us a bit about your drag, as far as the looks you like to serve and the types of performances you like to do?
Absolutely, I can share my journey of being an entertainer. So I am definitely considered a showgirl because the fact is that I am a trans woman, and when I do a showcase I called it my trans drag. When I prepare for a show, I have to tap into my show-ism energy, because the entertainers that came before me were phenomenal entertainers of the showgirl scene. So I embody what I have learned by watching and created my own style. Over the years my makeup skills have elevated immensely, which I love.
With my look, I give classic showgirl. Now as far as performances that I do… oh my goodness, I literally was sitting in my house and going through numerous selections before I chose my music to do. I go off of the energy of the song, and what it brings to my spirit. And any song that I do, I know the words because I’m very intuitive with music. So I will do music from the ’90s, early 2000s, and up until the modern day. I’m also known as the Remix Queen, lol.
Do you have any specific numbers that you do that are your secret weapons?
Actually, I have three songs that are kind of like my secret weapons that I do: “100% Pure Love” by Crystal Waters, “Show Me Love” by Robin S and “Deeper Love” by Aretha Franklin.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re originally from, and how you first discovered drag and nightlife?
I’m originally from North Carolina but grew up in Neptune, New Jersey. When I discovered the nightlife scene of the gay community in the summer of 1984, I was 11 years old. My first performance was when I was 16 years old, at a Legendary Icons Showgirls of Asbury Park Birthday Bash showcase
Are you drag related to the great Jasmin Van Wales?
She is my Gay Mother. I also have incorporated her sophistication and grace into my own performances as well. She is the reason I became a Van Wales legally.
Icon! You also have a history with pageantry. What have been some of your favorites that you’ve done?
Growing up here in my town, my sights were set on one pageant system — and that is Miss Gay New Jersey. And now I’m a former Miss Gay Asbury Park and Miss Gay New Jersey 2022 dual titleholder. My dream is to do another pageant in the future, God willing. But I’m also deemed the Mother of Asbury Park.
What are the joys and challenges of being a New Jersey queen?
The joy of being a Jersey queen is being a positive force to the younger generation — being that voice to uplift them when they are feeling down, giving them words of encouragement that they can accomplish anything that they set their minds out to do, and also to let them know that dreams do come true.
Now the challenge of being a Jersey queen is that there really isn’t much of unification in the scene like it used to be back in the day. But I truly feel that I am a person that is a bridge that connects the past to the present, in which I bring positivity and genuine love.
You’re gonna be part of a big show at Georgie’s in Asbury Park on Friday:
“Trans+Cendence!” What can you tell us about it?
I’m super excited to be a part of this extraordinary milestone showcase for the trans community and our allies. It’s our one year anniversary, thanks to the creator of the Trans+Cendence production Mr. Ashurmalik Ocasio — my nephew! I remember him asking me to be his host for his very first showcase a year ago. It is a day where we can all come together and celebrate one another together in harmony. With everything that’s going on in society, we need to be able to have safe spaces where we can care for and love one another through the good times and the bad times. So we’ll be honoring our beautiful and handsome trans family and allies of our community on Friday night.
What else is coming up for you?
Also this weekend my pageant system (in which I’m the Vice President of) are holding our 5th annual contestant meeting for the Miss & Mr Gay New Jersey 2026 at Paradise Saturday at 2pm. And I’m a host for “Wepa Latin Night” at Paradise every last Thursday of each month thanks to my boss, Jonny Castellanos!! Also I’ll be a part of a showcase which will be at Georgie’s in March. But I will be out and about in my beautiful town shaking a tail feather, God willing.
Okay, finally — what’s the most essential item in your drag bag, cosmetic or otherwise?
Thank you so much for this wonderful opportunity. And the essential items to have in my drag bag are a good lip gloss, a lovely perfume and a drag fan, lol.
Thanks, Aurora!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Aurora Van Wales’ upcoming appearances, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Thotyssey 