This tall, tasty, truth-telling titaness of NYC drag is now our newly anointed Drag Wars All-Star… let’s all say a prayer to St. Leemur! [Cover photo: Juan Jonas]
Thotyssey: Hello St. Leemur, Happy Pride Month! Do you plan to be out and about celebrating and gigging throughout the next few weeks?
St. Leemur: That is the hope! You know, winning this competition is something that I would have loved to propel me into other gigs. But I know how saturated it is in NYC, so I’m hoping to start my own show with some friends of mine… but we shall see. Hoping to get some more gigs this Pride Month and beyond!
So now is a good time to send belated congratulations your way for winning this latest cycle of Drag Wars All Stars at Pieces! Were you excited to return to Drag Wars when you were asked, or were you hesitant for any reason?
Haha! Well not to brag, but I actually was the only girl in the competition to be automatically inducted after winning four weeks in a row. So I can fully say I’m proud of myself for putting in the work to get myself back into the competition. I was completely devastated and crushed the last time I did the competition and lost… based on drink tickets. But hey, that’s the name of the game. So to be able to come back and truly show my full package–which is something I didn’t get to do the first time–was such an honor. I had also lost my job the month prior to the competition, so it was imperative to me to do well. And I feel it all paid off, which is something I’m so grateful for!
Can you describe some of the numbers and / or looks you won the crowd and judges over with through this cycle?
So every look was conceptualized and made by myself with help from my mother and grandmother, who have taught me everything I know. Exception of my future look, which I had made by a designer in Mexico, Daniel Mindiola.
I think one of the main highlights from my package was my Marie Antoinette number that I hand made each look for with my roommate and two good friends. Getting to do the number with them was so special to me… especially getting to end the number with a cake to my roommate’s face! I was feature on the cover of this fashion magazine with me in the dress, so I walked through the crowd with the magazine in front of my face at the start and had a large ribbon on the back of my dress that spelled “Let them eat C*NT” in gold… which was OVAH!
It was also so fun to impersonate Napoleon Dynamite and get 1% milk poured all over me by my friend as Pedro Sanchez, and to work with my choreographer Daniel Gold for my Reveal and Future numbers. He’s truly one of a kind.
Generally speaking, how might you describe the type of drag you like to showcase?
I like to describe myself as a look queen–but also “the dancing queen of the Concrete Jungle,” hence the name Leemur. I also think of myself as quite comedic, and I like to sprinkle some of that into my numbers. But I mostly like to serve looks and dance like the leemur that I am. I love to conceptualize my numbers, and live for a theme. I went to Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), so I love to use my degree and creative brain to bring my numbers to life.
Are you a Georgia native?
I’m actually from St. Louis, MO which is why I added the abbreviation of “St.” to my name–to honor my hometown of St. Louis. I come from a large Irish Catholic family and am so lucky to have them as supporters in my drag journey. So yeah, I like to say I’m “The STL from the STL” because there isn’t a large drag community in St. Louis. So I feel it’s my duty to honor my roots and the state of Missouri, as there are a lot of close-minded individuals that could learn from my experience.
How did you officially enter the world of New York drag life?
I’ve been doing drag for seven years, and felt my drag wasn’t seen on the level that I would have loved it to be in St. Louis or Savannah. I have always loved New York as it produces some of the best drag in the world, and I would love to be recognized as one of those girls; so many that I have looked up to have come from the New York City drag life. I always knew since I was a kid that I would eventually live in New York City, but being a full-fledged drag queen was not exactly what I had in mind when moving here. But I couldn’t be happier, and have so much ahead of me in this career.
You mentioned the drag oversaturation situation here in NYC, and that can’t be denied. Do you think there’s a strategy to standing out in this environment as a drag performer, or is it all about perseverance and luck?
I think everything in this city is about connections and true talent. I do believe drag is for everyone, but I also believe the queens who have been in the game for some time are the ones that prevail because they have put in the time. There is nothing I would love more than to be fully booked considering I’ve been in the game for quite some time, but there are so many queens here who have put in the time to get the gigs they deserve… so I give kudos to those who have.
I think winning a major competition like Drag Wars All-Stars 10 should gain me notoriety, which I hope will propel me into other work. So my advice to other queens moving here would be to not give up, and continue to put yourself out there as a performer and see where the nightlife takes you.
Speaking of standing out, I spoke to Kleo Patron a while back about “Tall Gay Agenda,” a one-off show you two hosted at Red Eye. What’s your height if you don’t mind me asking, and do you think being tall helps or hinders your drag in any way?
Hahaha I’m 6’3! And I don’t really notice my height, even though I like to think of myself as a tall lean supermodel. I think most people notice my height because I am so large and in charge, but it isn’t something I think truly helps my drag career other that standing out for obvious reasons. I will say I know plenty of shorter queens who are just as compelling without height; it all depends on what their drag tells the audience.
It’s gonna be cool to see you guest perform at The Shequida Show at Hardware on June 25th, aka Pride Thursday! What do you think a queen coming up today can learn from the iconic Shequida’s example?
I think there is no one like Shequida in New York City. She hosts with such elegance and professionalism. She truly is a one of a kind queen who balances the fun and play of drag, but also the work and seriousness you need in order to be successful in this business. I look up to Shequida more than most–not only because of the Drag Wars competitions, but because of the way she holds herself and receives the utmost respect from the queens of this city. It’s truly an honor to be a part of her world, and I’m excited to yet again work with her. Come see Mother and I turn it out!
What else would you like to tell us?
I’m seriously in hopes that the major queens of NYC can see me for my talent and monetize on that. I would love to put out there that I’m available for bookings, and am always looking for opportunities to promote my drag and help others do the same.
Hear that, NYC!? Okay, lastly: what’s your most essential item in your drag bag?
I would say delusion. Everything else is optional. Except for gum… no one likes a stank breath queen, and after a number of bucking and chucking a piece of gum is needed.
Thanks, St. Leemur!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for St. Leemur’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram.
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