This Vietnamese-American beauty (and PhD-to-be) is your destination queen for February’s end: the divine Ms. Destiny! [Cover photo: Davide Laffe]
Thotyssey: Destiny, hello! Thanks for chatting today! Assuming you’re in NYC today, how are you enjoying this Winter Wonderland?
Destiny: I’m happy to have a snow day in to cuddle with my cats and try to get some work done. How are you?
I’m well! Just another day for Thotyssey, lol! Did you get to celebrate Lunar New Year in any fun way?
Lots of celebrating this year! On the actual day, I hosted some friends. We watched Kung Fu Hustle, ate a bunch of Vietnamese food, and played a Vietnamese gambling game that is played for the New Year. I went to Bubble_T over the weekend and danced the night away. And this upcoming weekend, I get to celebrate with my Slaysian sisters at “Made in Asia!”
Very exciting! More on that show in a bit. Can you tell us some of your origin story: your heritage, your hometown, and the sorts of artistic interests you had while growing up?
Yeah, of course! I am a child of Vietnamese immigrants, who both escaped from Vietnam during the American war in Vietnam. Both of my parents left in the middle of the night on boats, with only hopes that they would end up somewhere safer. They both eventually landed in America, where they met and had me and my younger brother.
I grew up in Florida starting from humble beginnings living with multiple families in a home, to watching the product of my parent’s resilience and strength as they eventually opened their own nail salon in Gainesville, FL where I grew up. I very much grew up as an outsider, being one of the few Asian people in a predominately white school system. Being a little gay band nerd on top of that made living between the two worlds of white schooling and Vietnamese homelife hard growing up, and I try to show some of that in my drag artistry today.
I was always a creative kid — I drew all the time, and grew up playing the piano and eventually the clarinet. I cooked a lot, and played a lot of video games. Anytime I wasn’t doing school work, I was being creative. Its not that far off from how I am now, navigating a PhD program and doing creative things like drag as an adult.
How did you become Destiny, and a New Yorker?
I think Destiny was always a part of me. When I was playing pretend as a kid, I would put a blanket on my head and pretend like I was a queen. “Destiny” is what my mom would have named me if I was born a girl, so I took that name for my drag persona as an homage to her. Fast forward to college, where I became obsessed with the artistry of makeup and drag — I used to stay up late playing with makeup, being a little bedroom queen just to play with makeup.
Destiny did not start to perform until right before I started grad school. I was thinking that I should at least give performing a try, since there is a chance I won’t have the time once I started my program. I instantly fell in love. It became more than just the makeup, the outfits, performing, interacting with an audience drew me in. I was very fortunate to get opportunities, like competing at “Are you the Ultimate Diva,” that gave me reasons to keep going.
As far as coming to New York, first I had to get out of Florida. But more importantly, my partner is a dancer who would have followed me anywhere for grad school. One year, when I didn’t get in, we decided to move where he could have more opportunities to pursue his passion. So, in the middle of the pandemic in August 2020, we moved to New York together. He has been the most supportive in life, choreographing my drag routines, and supporting all my needs in and out of drag.
How might you describe what your overall drag presentation is like today, as far as looks and numbers go?
As a training psychologist and drag queen combo, I take components from both worlds into my art. Therapeutically I’m trained in Psychodynamic / Relational theory — so Freud, the unconscious, Oedipus Complex, and all that. This pushes me to explore a deeper connection with myself, and therefore my art.
I am also inspired by Paris By Night, a Vietnamese variety show that was always playing on the TV as I grew up. I was immersed in the mixture of modern pop, traditional folk songs, and sketch comedies. I like to pull from all of those inspirations when I come up with my numbers. Above all, I love being dramatic and cunty.
But if I am bring honest… for Destiny, the look always comes first. The mug is always stamped, waist is always snatched, and hemlines are usually short. The makeup is the most important thing to me. I have spent a lot of time developing my flawless mug. I sometimes care more that people think I am pretty than if they enjoyed my performance. Almost everything I wear is custom made by either me or a close friend. I am highly inspired by other drag queens like Plastique Tiara and Naomi Smalls, as well as fashion designers like Phan Huy.
What’s it like to be part of a tight knit community of drag performance, both NYC in general and also the Asian and Asian-American drag community?
It’s been everything I’ve ever wanted. This community has been so welcoming, and has provided me the community I was missing for so long. From the moment I stopped into the scene, I got so much support, especially the Asian-American drag community who barely knew me at the time but wanted a new Asian drag girly succeed. I get so much joy from just being around other drag artists. And I am so lucky and thankful that I get to call them my friends.
On February 27th, you’ll be at Sunset Stoop for “Pata Caliente,” a special show hosted by Soraya Sis benefiting ICE Out!
Yes, I’m super excited to be a part of Soraya’s show! It’s gonna be a beautiful night of dance, drag, and fundraising for ICE Out of New York. I am proud to be among a cast of talented drag performers. Coming from a family of immigrants, the ICE raids all around the country have a deep impact on the communities I care about. Especially in NYC — a city built by immigrants — we need to come together to oppose the deportations and criminalization of migrants. That is what the show is going to be about: community, unity, and resistance.
And then Saturday you’ll be part of the large cast of Shia Ho’s epic “Made In Asia” showcase at 3 Dollar Bill! Are you excited to share the stage with all those amazing Asian queens from around the country and globe?
I am extremely excited! Shia knows how to put on a show, and it is going to be a beautiful showcase of Asian talent. This is a show that I look forward to the most every year. There aren’t many spaces that showcase Asian drag artists on this scale. I am constantly inspired by the people on the cast, so to have this opportunity to perform on the same stage is and honor.
What else is coming up for you, or is there anything else at all you want to mention?
I’m excited to be performing in a dance show next month (details to come) so people should follow me on insta to find out more! Besides that, I’m gonna defend my dissertation this summer and then make more time for drag.
Lastly: what’s your favorite item in your drag bag, cosmetic or otherwise?
It has to be my Ellis Atlantis X Blend Bunny pallets; I can’t do drag without them!
Thanks, Destiny!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Destiny’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
Thotyssey 