As she’s serving fans across every corner of the Tri-State, we have lots of lots of love to give Kimmi Hall-Dat!
Thotyssey: Kimmi, Hello! Happy Easter! Are you wearing a festive bonnet today, lol?
Kimmi Hall-Dat: Happy Easter! I’m actually getting ready to get into a bunny suit and surprise some kids for an Easter event! I’m ready to hop away, lol.
So you get to be a bunny and a queen! Anyone else in your closet??
That’s for me to know and for you to find out! Welcome to my Cribs, MTV! Actually, everything you see Kimmi wear is made by the lovely Leash Buffaloe from Philadelphia. She’s been a part of Kimmi’s style since the very beginning, and has made stuff for queens all across the country!
You serve drag fans in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York–including Long Island! That’s a lot of ground to cover! Where is your home base?
My home bar is based in South Amboy, NJ called The 244 Spot! I’m from Jackson, NJ and there really isn’t nothing here that’s for my type of person. I started in Asbury Park and went from there. I went to Philly to look for a different vibe to feel, and I sure did! I’m obsessed with Philly drag because they have every type and more.
I traveled to the City for open stages and got hooked into “Drag Wars” hosted by Shequida Hall at Pieces. That’s where I met a lot of the queens that I work with today! A special shoutout to my girl Carmella, aka Paul. We met there and instantly connected! From there we kept in touch, and she asked me to be a part of her brunch. Can’t remember which one, ’cause we been working today for three years; she’s really a sister.
I also worked in Oceanside, Long Island for a year, meeting so many incredible faces and getting to work at a bar that’s no longer around: Halo Bar. Had some great memories there. Did my first ever bingo show there! Learned a lot about myself, and hosting! Was able to do a Rocky Horror-themed show, which was a new adventure for me! Lol, I lied saying I knew what Rocky Horror was, and actually did my research and became obsessed with it. I did not realize how dedicated the fandom is about Rocky, though! I worked for their Pride and made friendships from Oceanside that I will forever appreciate. Shoutout to the Halo Bar staff Kyle, Alex and Ben, and [their then resident queen] Bella Noche for taking me under her wing and helping me along the way!
How might you describe your drag today, as far as looks and numbers go?
Today, I am embracing my drag persona with renewed enthusiasm and self-love. My weight loss journey of 80 pounds has enabled me to reconnect with my inner self. Previously, I would attempt to cover my skin… but now I exude confidence and self-assurance. I am proud to be a thick and confident queen! My versatility allows me to seamlessly shift from a sultry video vixen to a witty and endearing sister. I take great care in creating a personal connection with my audience, making them feel special and seen during my performances. My expertise lies in evoking laughter and blushes from my audience. You’ll definitely get the HALL-Dat Experience!
Congratulations on your health journey! What are the overall joys and challenges of being a drag performer today, in your opinion?
The joy is taking all the stress away from someone’s day and just letting them enjoy themselves through our art! Anytime I’m done performing for the night, my favorite thing to do is have conversations with the audience. You can tell they needed that interaction and to just let loose. Whether I’ve made them cry because of how emotional I made them feel, performed a song that meant something to them, or just made them had a good time, that brings so much fire to my art into creating more!
A challenge of being a drag performer today is never letting the media or the outside try and shut you down mentally. Where I live, it’s very conservative and there’s nothing really out here that says it’s okay to be you. Traveling, you always gotta be careful where you go and stand with a strong head! But as long as you have a strong support system, everything will be fine. My [support system] is my mother, drag family and friends that I met over the years.
You’ve been hosting a RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing party this season at The 244 Spot. While this season has had some fun queens and moments… there seems to be more backlash than usual. What are your thoughts on this: is it the quality of the contestants or the challenges that‘s not for everyone, or the “riggory” and bad judging decisions… or are folks maybe just getting tired of the show?
I’ve been having a kiii with my co-host Epi Lepsii watching Drag Race at our fav bar, 244Spot! Drag Race has been and will always be my favorite show, but lately it’s been more about riggory thanks to producers. But hey, it is a reality TV show first, and then a drag competition.
Shoutout to Mandy Mango making it on Drag Race! I’ve worked with and watched her for a couple years, and she’s such a sweet person! Definitely one of my favorite performers on this season. I was really confused why Jane Don’t didn’t make the finale, but Nini ate that lip sync. So it is justified, but still… how does someone who dominated the show not make it to the end!? Also, why haven’t we gotten a Ball or Music Video Challenge!? Those are my favorite! Of the Top 3, my pick is either Darlene or Myki! May the best queen win!
You’ll be back at 244 on Wednesday for “Drag Attack” hosted by Lydia Famouz and Nikky Sky Blake.
Yaaassss, it’s such a party every single time! Lydia and Nikky are icons to work with, and know how to host a fabulous night! We also have Epi Lepsii, Angelique Imperious and myself, of course! I’m so grateful for 244 because without that bar, I wouldn’t have met my drag family and mother, Lydia Famouz. The show is filled with so much love, entertainment and games, and we also have a prize that the audience can win through raffles! Make sure to come out every second Wednesday to “Drag Attack!”
And then you’re co-hosting a brunch coming up at Carney’s Irish Pub in Amityville, Long Island on April 12th!
I love working in Amityville… they really make the drive all worth it! Brunch sells out, food and drinks are perfection, and the drag is everything and more! It’s hosted by my girl Carmella with myself and Ambroja Zwaan. I’m so grateful for Carmella; we have been working together for three years, which is crazy ’cause I feel like I’ve known her for a decade at least! Ambroja joined us during the summer of ’25, and she was the missing piece to our brunch. We are like the Powerpuff Girls, so you know you’ll have a laugh and gag at all of our beauty!
No one can deny the love you feel when you enter brunch with us in it! The love Amityville shows us for the brunch is insane. They really know how to treat the queens like queens, baby! Also, shoutout to the owner of Carney’s Irish Pub, Pete! He allows us to spread our beauty to his place while people on the Facebook send hate… but love always wins, baby! Check us out at every brunch we do!
Then later that day–wow!–you’ll be taking part in a big drag festival at The Warehouse (also in Amityville), “WigOut 5” hosted by LaBelle and Bella Noche, benefiting the charity Thursdays Child! It’s a huge drag lineup… how are all you kings and queens fitting under one roof, lol?
That’s the exact question I had when I did “WigOut” for the first time last year! We are about to get real close, lol! I’m pretty sure this year will be the largest cast they put together… I believe 30 entertainers this year! We raise money for people and services who live with HIV / AIDS on Long Island; it’s such a beautiful event to be a part of! Being surrounded by all this queer art warms my heart, and I love to kiki with them — so this will be a fun way to end my Sunday night!
Looking ahead to April 18, you’ll be a guest performer for another brunch at Philadelphia’s Strangelove’s, hosted by Xiomara Villa that’s Lady Gaga and Bad Bunny themed!
Im excited for that brunch as well! Xiomara is an amazing queen to work with. We also will be with Tom Foolery! So I’m excited to bring all of our Spanish flavor to bring you Bad Bunny and Lady Gaga. I love working in Philly!
What else is coming up for you?
You can catch me every Friday night at 244 doing pop-up shows throughout the night. And every last Wednesday, I will be hosting drag competitions there for newcomers where they will be able to share their art and win some coin and a spot in the next “Drag Attack!” Other than that, excited for Pride!
Same! And finally: what the most essential item in your drag bag?
My Huda Beauty setting spray! That is a life saver, mixed with one size as well. And of course, my inhaler! Who doesn’t love an asthmatic queen? Thank you so much for this interview, and remember… Kimmi is what!? HALL-Dat, baby!
No doubt! Thanks, Kimmi!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Kimmi Hall-Dat’s upcoming area appearances, and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
Thotyssey 