Hot off of winning a major NYC drag competition, rapidly rising star Nicole Glossier is putting the sparkly sheen on nightlife this month. [Photo: John Lagucki]
Thotyssey: Nicole, hello! Thanks for chatting today!
Nicole Glossier: Hello hello, hello! I just want to say thank you for interviewing me. This is such an honor, and I’m so grateful to tell you about Miss Nicole.
We’re excited to learn more about you! I was wondering if you got to watch any of the Bad Bunny halftime show… and if so, what did you think?
I was actually with some of my close friends last night, and it was so monumental to see a culture really come together and be represented on a platform like the Super Bowl. That was just amazing. Especially in a political climate like today, I just know the president was getting all that shit in his face, being told that “no bitches, we’re here to stay. We’re not going nowhere. You cannot keep the Hispanic Latino community out.” So I just thought that was so special, and it also made me feel really proud. I’m not Latino. But as a part of the Black queer person society, this is how we felt going through Black Lives Matter and everything. So just seeing the representation truly is such a blessing. And Bad Bunny is amazing!
Amen! Can you tell us a bit of your origin story: where are you from originally, what sort of artistic pursuits did you have growing up, and how did you ultimately become Nicole?
So, I am actually originally all the way from Tampa, Florida — the swamp, the Sunshine State, the Eight One motherfucking Three. I started doing sports, but then I was like… “ugh, I don’t like doing none of this.” So, then I started doing theater, because my stepsister was a competition dancer. I would go to a lot of her competitions and just watch her perform, and one day, I just put on her VHS tape of her doing this jazz number called “Queen Bee.”
And ever since I saw that dance, I’ve been wanting to pursue anything that does anything with the art of performing or dancing or storytelling — anything where I’m able to just be on that stage and be a firecracker. And I ultimately then got into theater, and I’ve been doing it since I was in the seventh grade.
I actually went to school for musical theater. I went to the Boston Conservatory at the Berklee College of Music with the Full Ride Scholarship with an emphasis in dance. So a lot of my drag really consists of performance, choreographed movements, blocking, everything. It ultimately really taught me how to be very specific with my drag, and be intentional with what messages, jokes or moves I want to come across to the audience.
Nicole ultimately came together because when I was doing theater, I was doing a lot of drag. Shows like Kinky Boots and La Cage. I was doing a lot of stuff at school. There was a [drag] competition that I won, and I got to host it the next year. And that’s where I kind of ultimately was able to produce, choreograph, get the girls and give them a specific rundown of how the show is going to go.
Ultimately I was being a full drag queen, and I worked for a whole semester and it was amazing. And once I did that, I told myself I would do it full time once I got to New York.
It was when I met my drag mother Kiki Ball-Change that I ultimately fell in love with drag. She helped give me the confidence to do drag, and was that voice that was like, “you can do this, you can go out there and be funny, be camp, and also still be kind, and do whatever you want to do.” It was the ultimate creative freedom I could have, versus with theater where we’re kind of limited to what we can and can’t do sometimes. With drag, I’m able to honestly do anything that I can put my mind to, and or I’m so creatively inclined to start creating. It’s been a journey; it’s been amazing so far.
How did your name come to you?
So out of drag me and my actual mother [named Nicole] get compared a lot, that we’re like brother and sister… because in my opinion, she’s so cunt, she’s so pussy. And basically like when I was doing La Cage aux Folles in 2024 at Barrington Stage Company — every time I got into drag, I just felt like I looked like her. I was giving her. And she even told me herself, “you look just like a Mini-Me.” So then I was like, Nicole. Nicole. Nicole feels right.
And then I’m a lotion girly; I love oils, lotions, gloss, anything like that. Anything to keep my body nice and moisturized. And I love gloss, lipsticks, anything like that. So I was like, hm, Nicole Gloss. I like that. And then I was thinking of the brand Glossier. And I was like, wait, Nicole Glassier!1t’s cunt. It’s a very effortlessly classy cunt name, and loved it. I just feel like, let me pay homage to my mother real quick.
How might you describe Nicole Glossier today, as far as looks and numbers go?
I would describe Nicole today as a performance, showgirl queen down. I love anything that has to do with the glitz, the glamour of it all. The more rhinestones, the better. The bigger the hair, the bigger the dress, the bigger the everything is better. So I love anything that is just big drag, showgirl drag. But also, I am a musical theater girl as well. So she loves doing her performances and big dance numbers, but also loves when she needs to find something funny or do a little funny mix. I keep it cute. Like, I fully have this mix I haven’t [performed yet] that’s a Tinkerbell mix — but it’s like,
Ghetto Tinkerbell.
I’d like to do grunge drag a little bit more; I can put pins anywhere and have all these belts or mini belts. I like to accessorize to myself. I feel like the rockstar Nicole wants to come out a little bit, but right now she’s in her showgirl phase. I just won Cycle 2 of “Slay” at The Ritz, and I get to have a custom look made for me. I’m about to do a whole cheetah print fringe look.
But also, Nicole also loves anything to do with superheroes as well. I really want to tap into more of my Superwoman energy. I want to look like Starfire from Teen Titans so badly. So yeah, I’m really excited. I feel like Nicole is someone who is open to all forms of drag, whether it’s club, camp, anything. I think I’m just open to learning more about just what Nicole is. But as of right now she loves the glitz and glams of it all.
Congrats on winning” Slay!” Freeda Kulo hosted that for several weeks at The Ritz. What was your experience like competing in that, overall?
My experience was a great time, and thank you so much! I think it really allowed me to have my creative freedom with my concepts and looks, and really just work hard for something. I knew that once I got into “Slay,” that it was giving “you signed yourself up for this, you need to give it your all and 110 percent.” And that’s exactly what I did every week: I came back stronger, better than ever.
The first week we had to come up with an open talent. So I just did this “good girl gone bad” mix where I was in jail, then escaped, and it was this Katseye’s “MIA” with “Shut Up and Drive” mix. And it was so fun because I also did funny bits and moments there from Tokyo Tony and Tommy from Baddies. I don’t know if you know Baddies, but… y’all.
And for the semifinals we did a lip sync, so I just made sure to know all the songs regardless of what it was. And then we did the finale, and it was like, I got to live my Superwoman galactic fantasy. I had my friends be dancers, I choreographed the whole thing… and it was overall an amazing experience. It really taught me what it takes to be a full-time drag queen, and also just like the ethic that goes into it. The professionalism of it all. Shout out to Freeda Kulo, shout out to The Ritz, shout out to DJ Guilty Pleasures. Shout out to Forking Queens. It was an amazing experience, and I was just so grateful that she called my name. I was gagged. I was like, oh my god. What? I what!?
What’s coming up next for you?
I’m actually very excited. So this month I’m doing a drag show with my drag mother Kiki Ball-Change at Industry and then I’m doing “Chart Toppers” at Red Eye [on February 19th] with Olivia Lux and Daniel Gold. We’re doing all songs Ariana Grande, with some other fabulous dancers and people I’m working with.
Then I’m also doing brunch at Kween with the iconic Freeda Kulo. And I’m also doing happy hour with Furina Dior at the Ritz. I’m also a part of the Leg Up On Life’s Trevor Project benefit “Night of Life” with some amazing queens: Frida Cox, Bianca Star, Janae SaisQuoi, Olivia Lux and Mount Olympia. It’s going to be fucking amazing.
Also I’m doing this show with my cousins Norma Tears and Melisma and my auntie Castrata. Support “Tres Leches,” y’all! Okay, period. And I’m also doing a show with Tina Twirler in March. I’m just very grateful and excited for the people that have just reached out and offered me gigs. Oh, I’m also working with Spice Diamond later in March, three days before my birthday. And I am participating in “Thee Kashanti Games” over at C’mon Everybody in Brooklyn on March 29th as well. So, damn. That’s a lot shit coming out.
All amazing! Okay lastly: what’s your favorite item in your drag bag, cosmetic or otherwise?
Okay, so it’s actually two things. One, I have this body glow from the beauty supply store. It is so good. I forget the name of it. But if you want that nice, luminous, soft glow for your body before you perform with your lotion, put that on.
Also, I am a firm believer in scents, perfumes, everything… especially when we’re in drag. Honey, put on a perfume or set or whatever you got. I always bring a scent or perfume to the gig. My scent right now is the Kayali Vanilla Candy Rock Sugar Perfume. I also bring my Burberry Warm Goddess to the gigs as well. Also, because I’m Nicole Glossier… you better have that lip gloss on lock, and that’s on a period.
Thanks, Nicole!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Nicole Glossier’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
Thotyssey 