On Point With: Denali

A fan favorite of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 13 in 2021 and “All-Stars” Season 10 in 2025, Denali Foxx stuns us with her beauty while enchanting us with her back story. And soon, she’ll be gracing NYC with a special showcase. [Cover photo: Eric Magnussen]

Thotyssey: Denali, hello! Thanks for finding the time to chat with us today! I believe you are usually based in Chicago… where are you right now, and how was your Valentine’s Day?

Denali: Hi Jim! I’m currently on a plane to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for a show — a much needed break from the Chicago lack of sun! My Valentine’s day was pretty lowkey, as this vacation is the real Valentine’s celebration with my fiancé!

As a celebrated competitive figure skater, I wonder if you have any thoughts about the Olympics so far… especially American Ilia Malinin’s very unfortunate turn from being a favorite to win to not even placing after two slips. It seemed like he was having a real crisis of self-sabotage. Were you able to relate to that at all, from your experience?

Absolutely! Figure skating is such a hard sport beyond its physical challenges. It is 100% mental, and Ilia’s performance was a testament to how difficult Olympic pressure can be for someone so dominant in the sport. There are million dollar brand deals, PR stories sold to huge conglomerate corporations, expectations coming at you from every direction for years on end…I couldn’t imagine the pressure he felt.

I was a very mentally unstable skater to be honest, so I understand cracking under the pressure — yet Ilia was so gracious in his recovery in both immediately congratulating the winner Mikhail Shaidorov and giving a very poignant and clear headed interview seconds after the devastation. That alone was what a champion is to me. Similar to what I’ve experienced on Drag Race or in life, it’s often times not the obvious “win” that makes you a champion in life.

I enjoy the ice skating videos you post on the socials — you’re so graceful and in your element! Are those generally rehearsed routines, or more freestyle? And who’s the poor person that has to follow you around and film those, lol?

Haha, his name is Andrew Phan! He is a dance videographer I found on Instagram nearly nine years ago who took a chance on me and learned to ice skate just to shoot my videos. He’s shot my audition tape for Drag Race and many a viral skating video that’s gotten the attention of Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande and huge idols and icons of mine. He’s an integral part of my journey, and I’m so grateful he chases me around the ice! These routines are always rehearsed; it usually takes me about 2-3 days to choreograph them and then a 1-2 hour block of time to shoot.

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You have a pretty fascinating backstory: born in Alaska (“Denali” is an Alaskan mountain!), half-Jewish / half-Mexican, college in Utah, figure skating gold medalist and instructor, karate black belt… how on earth did you find time to discover and partake in drag, given how all-consuming that world can be?

I’ve always prided myself in being a Jane of All Trades type person in life. I can never really pick a lane, and have always wanted to try every flavor — which although poses its challenges in focus, has created a very colorful life, I would say! Drag is definitely one of the more time consuming of the pursuits, but I’m blessed to have been able to make it my career. Over the years though, I’ve developed a lot more work / life balance towards drag — thanks to the friends and family I have around me.

Every season of Drag Race has at least one girl that wins the audience’s hearts right away, and then sashays away too early for our liking. You were definitely that girl in S13! Was it completely surreal to find yourself in a show that you presumably were already a fan of, and then learning how it was made and how reality TV works in general?

Absolutely…I definitely realized I wasn’t as aware of how television worked… until I met Kandy Muse, and saw how she ran that place. It was definitely naive of me to enter Drag Race thinking just talent was going to get me far in the show, but the beauty of it is how the audience can fall in love with those parts of you even if those certain qualities don’t fit with the show exactly. I’m forever grateful for the fans.

What were your favorite memories of either filming S13 or watching it for the first time?

My favorite memory of filming Season 13 would probably be my first lip sync for my life against Kahmora Hall. Beyond what it would do online, it was the first time all of us girls had been together and seen a drag show in months, considering we were in the thick of Covid. I’ll never forget the energy I felt from the other girls behind me, and I’ll never forget entertaining RuPaul so much in that lip sync. I had her full attention, and she said some of the sweetest things to me after I finished… I’ll never forget it.

You of course were also great in the last season of All-Stars. Was that a completely different experience for you then S13? Like, was the energy different, or the stakes? Did you like the whole “badge giving” business, or would you have preferred it to be more like the “regular” format of the show?

New formats for the show always pose its challenges, but I was happy to be a part of a new concept that kept it fresh and exciting. I do wish Drag Race could figure out new formats that let the talent speak for itself, however. The new format allows for a lot of production involvement, and I think it gets tiring for both the queens and the audiences when that happens.

All Stars will always feel better because you’re simply more experienced. It was nice to be around girls I know and had worked with, and overall it was more relaxed than Season 13.

I’m sure most of your fan interaction is delightful, but of course there is that notoriously negative element of the fanbase that trolls and is inappropriate. Is that aspect of your drag fame a challenge to navigate?

I think there was an adjustment to public perception and people talking about me online at first, but I’ve built better habits on how to protect myself from criticism. I’ve learned how to distinguish true, good criticism that I can apply to bettering myself from just pure hate or vitriol that has no business even being interacted with or seen. I have amazing people around me, however, that keep me grounded, I’ll always know where my true love lies.

Who are some of your favorite New York drag sisters, and what are some places you like to go to when you’re in NYC?

NYC drag is always so cool and fun. I have an affinity for Brooklyn drag as it’s very similar to Chicago’s more subversive style of drag. I love performing at 3 Dollar Bill — and even though working in NYC always kicks my ass, partying in NYC is my favorite. I’ll admit I’ve frequented Basement, Battle Hymn and Nowadays many times- any party where house music is central, and I’ll probably be there. I’m a big Honey Dijon fan, so we tend to follow wherever Mother goes. I have to see my sister Kandy Muse whenever I visit too, and we always get into some trouble.

You’re gonna be back at 3 Dollar Bill on March 28th for “P.O.P. (Princesses of Pop)!” You’ll be joined by local stars Jazmine, Mo’Riah, Venus Mystique, Emily Kay and DJ P_A_T.

I sure will! You can expect a high energy show with a cast like that. I love the 3DB crowd, too — they’re always so supportive of drag.

What else is coming up for you: projects, gigs, etc.?

This year my main focus is my wedding! I’ll be getting married to my fiancé of eight years in August, and I cannot wait. Beyond that I’ll be traveling for a bunch for shows as usual, with big ones in Colombia, Montreal and the Netherlands this year. I always have things cooking behind the scenes too, so stay tuned!

Congratulations! Finally: if you could tell eight your old Cordero anything *holds up adorbs photo of adorably fabulous Alaskan child* what might you say?

Haha, I would say “breathe because whether you like it or not, you’re going to will the life you’ve always wanted into reality. There’s no stopping you or what you can achieve; good things come to you because you’re That Girl. You’ll find the love of your life, you’ll become a big star, and you’re gonna deeply admire and respect yourself one day. Keep going!”

Thanks, Denali!