From competitions to pageants to major benefits, this NYC-born queen is rising up, up, UP in the game: Ella Vader!
Thotyssey: Ella, hello! Happy Last Few Days of April! How did the month treat you so far?
Ella Vader: This month has been full of ups and downs… but it’s been treating me good, keeping me busy. How has April been for you?
Not bad! Required RuPaul’s Drag Race viewing took up a lot of these past few months… do you have any thoughts on how the season went, overall?
The season was cute — more competitive then story based in my opinion, but we were given some good moments.
Agreed! Are you looking forward to seeing anyone or anything in particular in this upcoming All Stars season, which is nearly upon us already?
Well the fact that All-Stars is already happening is crazy, but I have to root for my aunts Kennedy and A’keria… and our Brooklyn elf, Dawn.
Amazing queens! When you say Kennedy and A’keria are your aunties… are you a Davenport, or “Davenportjacent” in some way?
I’d love to say so, but they’re actually related to me in ballroom. I am in the House of Ebony — which Kennedy is a part of — and A’keria and I are related through ballroom family.
Can you share a bit of your own origin story? Where are you from originally, what sort of performance or art did you grow up with, and how did your drag journey begin?
So I’m born and raised in the Bronx, which is where I still am. Growing up I stumbled upon the underground ballroom scene, and I started watching people vogue… and that’s how I got into queer culture.
My drag began from watching my first season of Drag Race, which was Season 9. I connected really hard with Aja; I felt really seen by seeing her on TV, and that’s why I started drag. Since then, I’ve been in ballroom as a drag queen walking Drag’s Face, Drag’s Performance and Drag’s Realness, slowly moving into performing in the clubs.
What’s the Ella Vader onstage experience giving today, for the uninitiated?
When you see Ella Vader live, you’re gonna get a surprise. I hold myself to the standard of being able to do it all: you might get a burlesque show with the glitz and glamour, or I’ll kick, flip and dip in an embellished leotard. My biggest inspiration in drag is pageantry, old and new. Anything I do has roots in pageantry; it constantly inspires my love of drag.
You’re certainly a popular performer and frequent winner of the weekly competition circuit.
Thank you! I work hard in the competition circuit — I love competitions, lol.
Do you have any past or possible future experience with actual pageants?
Well, yes: my goal as of now is Miss Continental Newcomer, but my first New York pageant is coming up. I am in the (June 6th) finals of the Mx. Cantina competition against the talented Vampy Von Thickums Galore and Reina NoBuena. I’m overtly excited to complete my first pageant.
Also, you will see me May 4th for the biggest NYC drag competition: Drag Wars All-Stars. This is my second time competing, but it’s bigger and better for the 10th Season of All Stars.
Is it a challenge to balance sisterhood with competition in these shows, or are you able to do both easily?
I see the most important thing is to never compare myself to the other contestants. They’re not me and I’m not them, so there’s no point to stress myself over that. I see my sisters next to me, and I’m happy to see all of us rise to the competition.
I saw you competing in Metropolitan Bar’s Queer Talent Show last month, and you slayed!
Yes the Queer Talent Show was so much fun! I loved seeing the talent, I made some great friends, and I always love seeing [competition hostess] Janelle No. 5. She’s a big inspiration to me; she’s a hard worker, and knows nightlife so much.
Have you pretty much done all the big competition shows in the city by now?
I’ve probably done every completion you can think of, and if there’s any new ones I’ll do more… because I love completion! You can definitely see me doing “Ultimate Diva” next year.
Do you still compete in, or attend, balls?
Yes, I will forever be in ballroom. It was my first love; dancing, competing, and all the queer joy keeps me there.
Next week you’re partaking in a massive anti-ICE benefit at Icon Astoria! What can we expect from that show, and how angry and / or hopeful are you at the current state of things, politically speaking?
Yes, April 29 is the “Fuck ICE” benefit show hosted by two talented icons, Athena and Harriet Tugsmen; I’m grateful to them for letting me be a part of this. The show has the best NYC queens you can see; you can expect beautiful talent. That anger is gonna fuel us to perform our asses off. The current state of America appalls me; we can’t exist without the fear of being taken away from our lives, or even our lives being taken away from us… just for existing as a person. No matter what they do though, they will never take the pride of our heritage away from us… the stronger we stand, the harder they fall.
On May 31st you’ll be back in competition mode, but this time for something new: “Lip Service” at Red Eye hosted by Nani Tsunami and Vanity LaVain, which focuses on the art of the lip sync and has a $1000 Prize for the winner!
Oh, this competition is my bread and butter. I love lip syncing, and I’m so excited! Nani Tsunami is my aunt; she’s such a big help, and had such a big heart for the new girls… I love her so much. And Vanity LaVain is so perfect to me; head to toe, she is clean, candid, and a fully realized queen. So, to perform and compete in front of them… I can’t wait!
What else is coming up for you?
Well, I wanna again bring up “Drag Wars All Stars” on May 4th — I’ll be bringing some high whore drag! And in every other competition I mentioned, you can see me doing my best to carry at.
Okay, lastly: to honor your namesake… what’s more fun to do on an elevator, go up or go down?
I always say the Ella Vader always goes uppppp, lol!
See you on the top floor, Ella!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Ella Vader’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
Thotyssey 