Now that’s she become a fierce contender in NYC’s drag pageant scene, the girls will not soon be forgetting Amnesia Martini!
Thotyssey: Hello Amnesia, thanks for chattiing today! How’s July treating you so far?
Amnesia Martini: So busy, but good!
Are you in New York, or are you based elsewhere?
I’m based in Union City… so I consider myself a NY girlie.
Fair! Is that where your originally from?
I was born in Pampa, Texas, moved to Austin at five and grew up there until I was 18. I went to college near Dallas and then did cruise ships as a dancer and singer, and then moved to NYC in 2008.
How long have you been doing drag now, and how might you describe yourself as a queen regarding you performance style and aesthetic?
I started doing drag in 2014 with the tour of KinkyBoots, and was a bedroom queen until I competed in Miss Fire Island last year, placed second runner up and become Miss Ice Palace 2025. I love to dance and sing live; I generally lean towards a “pretty aesthetic,” sometimes with a Disney or showgirl twist. I’m definitely goofy and wouldn’t describe myself as a “fierce queen,” but I will kick and do splits and act a solid fool.
Do you still work in musical theater, go on auditions, etc.?
I do! It just depends on the year and what time commitments I have, so sometimes the run of a show doesn’t work with my schedule. I’m really liking working for myself and creating my own visions, and drag is allowing that to happen.
Lots of people are gagging at the early closing announcement of Cats: The Jellicle Ball, considering how it won Tonys and is buzzy and has been financially successful. The current uber-expensive Broadway model just feels so unsustainable. Do you have any ideas for a solution? Should Broadway just go back to basics?
I think that’s way above my pay grade, to be completely honest. But I think we have to look at why shows are closing. What factors are the root cause, and what can be adapted or worked on to create a a viable solution? Theatre has always been been pretty brutal. I was watching interviews from the 80’s about theatre, and even then it was hard to get a show up and keep it open.
I was a judge at Miss Fire Island last year when you placed, it was a great show! You’ve also done some local competitions. Do you enjoy competing and pageantry, or is it just a Necessary Step for you?
I think it’s both. I’ve really loved the sisterhood of pageantry and competitions. I definitely prefer a pageant to a competition–but each time I do it, I learn. For Miss Fire Island I was in Cherry Grove for a friend’s birthday and saw the sign for the pageant, and this was the week before Miss Fire Island. I thought to myself, “I have a gown and I have a day wear outfit, I’ll try it. Worst thing that happens is I spend the day on Fire Island.” I’ll keep doing pageants because I love making gowns… and I got three bookings from the Miss Stonewall pageant where I placed second runner up,
Two of those bookings are this weekend! First off, you’ll be twirling with the current reigning Miss Stonewall and resident DJ Catrina Lovelace plus former Miss Stonewall Hibiscus for DIVA! That should be a fun night, right?
For sure! I’m genuinely honored to be a part of the night; they’re incredible performers. So to be in a show with them is just so neat!
Then Sunday’s a big night: you’re hosting your very first Stonewall Invasion!
I’m excited and daunted, and I’m so grateful. I have Blossom Dior, Priestess Lolita and Ube rounding out the evening with me. We all competed in Freeda Kulo’s “Slay” [at The Ritz] back in January, and they’re just such wonderful girls. So I think it’s going to be a really fun show. I just hope I can make it an entertaining night and highlight this incredible landmark, and part of our history.
Looking ahead to the 26th, you’ll be competing in another historic Fire Island pageant: Miss Cherrys! What made you want to try out for this one?
I saw Tina Burner perform there last year and just love the venue and the people that headline there. I also have been creating a “dream gown” that I’m going to wear I think at the end of the day. It will weigh about 12 pounds, and I just wanna walk around and be a beautiful girly girl!
Gorge! What else is coming up for you?
I have Thee Kashanti’s semifinal competition on August 12th at Red Eye, Miss Fire Island 2026, and I may be competing for Miss’d America 2026 in October.
All very exciting, good luck! Okay lastly, something pageanty! What’s your favorite part about being a queen today, and what’s the biggest challenge?
That’s definitely a two fold answer: [my favorite part is] the ability to create and execute the visions I have garment-wise and production number-wise … as well as the girls. I have met some incredible, kind and talented divas by being a queen.
I think the biggest challenge is the grind. Staying healthy, staying positive and making sure you’re being true to your voice and why you started doing it in the first place.
She’s representing excellence! Thanks, Amnesia!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Amnesia Martini’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
Thotyssey 