Keeping things a little sexy and a little scary, Brooklyn draglesque star Valentine may just be the heart of the next Mx. Nobody prelim. [Cover photo: Seek Axiom]
Thotyssey: Happy August, Valentine! How was your July?
Valentine: Hey! It felt like it was three months long… but I can’t complain because I love to stay busy. Plus it’s also my birthday month–Happy Leo Season.
Happy birthday! Do you have common Leo qualities?
Oh, I absolutely do. I fully believe that’s why I love the spotlight and to preform so much. As a kid in dance, I would cry if I wasn’t in the front for performances. But also Leos are known to be very protective and family oriented, which I fully relate to. I I think it’s in my nature to want the spotlight, and want that for everyone in my life. If I eat, we all do.
You certainly stole the spotlight the last time I saw you, when you competed in Queer Talent Show at Metro a few months ago! Let’s just say your number involved a lot of spilt milk and titty-crushed bear cans!
That was such a fun night; I’m so glad you were able to see that for yourself. That number fully sums up Valentine. I love extremes, and I love coming up with an idea and seeing how much further I can take it. Valentine the character has stemmed from my experience as a sex worker. I got tired of preforming for cishet people, and for only being one type of sexy. To me, sexy can be more than just “look at me, I’m hot.” I like to push my body to its full potential. I’d rather be pouring milky cum lube on myself and crashing beer cans or–for lack of better words–using my holes as a pocket for gags, lol.
Can you share a bit of your origin story with us?
Originally I grew up in a small hunting town in Pennsylvania. It was one of those towns where there’s a Catholic Church on every corner. I grew up extremely Roman Catholic, so there’s no denying my Catholic upbringing has played a part in my drag (I did a lil’ prayer the first time I pulled a rosary out of my pu$$y for a number before).
After Pennsylvania my family moved to Florida, which is where I claim as home–especially since I got arrested there at 15. It feels like I earned my Florida Man flowers. Both places were very “redneck” types of places, and there’s no denying the influence of “white trash” in my drag. I like being wild and backwoods-esque in my drag.
My biggest influences are my grandmothers and the women in my family. My grandma wore green Maybeline eyeshadow and bleach blonde hair until the day she died. She was a bitch, and I wish I could smoke a Newports with her. Growing up with alcoholics and being from a redneck upbringing comes with its own trauma, and I’ve decided to turn the circle into something beautiful (drag).
Another influence for me is that I have been watching horror movies since I can remember. My favorite show growing up was 1000 Ways to Die. I remember as a kid binge watching those episodes, and always finding beauty in the gore. I love the grotesque nature of the human body, both physically and mentally.
How did your journey as a New York drag / burlesque performer begin?
I started drag three years ago; the first place I ever performed at was an open set at All Night Skate. My good friend and now one of my drag fathers, Bri Joy, knew I wanted to try drag and asked if I would do the open set. I did a country song in my work pleasers, and was shaking like a leaf. But in that moment, I felt like I found my home. As much as I love drag, I feel like my art lives in its own universe. It’s not quite burlesque and not quite drag, but a version I have mended together. I also am very honored to be engaged to Selena Surreal, who has been mentoring and guiding me in the world of sideshow. Because of that, I like to think that what I do isn’t fully defined by labels. I love to entertain.
Congratulations on your engagement! Do you and Selena have a duet number yet?
We have talked about it. Funny enough, both of our art comes from very similar viewpoints… but with different perspectives. So we have not found a middle ground yet. I think our plan would be that, for our first duet, we actually want to co-produce an American Dad shadowcast show. I think people expect us both to do needles and sideshow, but instead we just want to get a little silly with it.
Have you had an all time most memorable, or strangest, on stage moment?
Ooh, great question! I’ve done a lot of crazy things on stage I’m very proud of. I think the best way to answer that is that I have a list of objects I have pulled in and / or out of me for numbers. I have done rosaries, a popsicle, a $20 bill, lip gloss, a pair of panties, a joint, a bouquet of flowers, and probably something else I’m forgetting. Honestly. my most memorable stage moment is any time I do my milky beer can number. I love to hear the audience gasp every time I open my mouth and the liquid pours out of my mouth; it gives me such a rush, I love it every time.
You’re might to be partaking in some new strange reveals, no doubt, when you fill in for Selena on Wednesday as co-host of Purgatory’s open stage show, Revision!
I’m so excited for that. Mx. Signals and I are gonna play up that we’re both from Florida, and just kinda riff back and forth. I’m very excited because I absolutely love having the mic; sometimes I prefer it to doing a number. If given the mic, I can yap for forever.
This is also my first open set I’ll be hosting, which I love. I got my start from the open sets, and I love going to them to watch. You truly see some of the most crazy, new and refined talent at open sets. It’s one of those things you never know what you’re gonna see, and I love the newness and freshness that comes from it.
Next, you’re gonna be competing in the third and final preliminary round of the epic Mx. Nobody pageant at TV Eye on Saturday… this is huge! Mx. Nobody showcases some of the most out-of-the-box performance the city’s nightlife and counterculture has to offer. What made you want to be a part of this, and can you spoil anything for us?
I absolutely adore and admire what Mx. Nobody and the whole collective of The Nobodies has done for Brooklyn nightlife. As someone who doesn’t feel sometimes like I belong in more traditional nightlife spaces, The Nobodies have welcomed not only myself and my art with open arms but art like mine that normally doesn’t have a traditional space to do so. Since I started three years ago, I have been trying to compete… and I am very fortunate and lucky to finally been given the opportunity to compete in a competition that feels like I belong.
My number I have planned is just so authentically me. I won’t spoil too much, but I will say it starts nihilistic and then at the end it’s just classic stunts I pull. I like to mix emotions, and to blend both sadness and humor to make something borderline shocking and entertaining.
Looking ahead, on Wednesday, August 12th you’ll be at C’mon Everybody for a drag tribute to Panic! At The Disco! Or actually, is it an “anti-tribute?”
The anti-tribute is one of those things of separating the art from the artist. Panic has some absolute bangers I would listen to at 7am on the way to school like most ex-Tumblr kids… but at the same time, fuck Brandon Urie. I’m excited to see what everyone brings; it’s a stacked cast, with everyone picking some of the best songs. I believe no one is doing songs from after Death of a Bachelor like the good Lord intended, because we all know the good stuff was from before that album. I have a very incredible sideshow duet planned with my friend and one of the co-producers of the show, Baby Blue. We’re both have been bouncing off ideas; I’m so happy to have found like minded artists.
What else is coming up for you?
In September I’ll be stage managing Inferno: a Transgender Rager [at 3 Dollar Bill]. It’s a trans dance, drag, and sideshow retelling of Dante’s inferno directed by Baby Blue. As much as I love being on stage, I absolutely love running behind the scenes and making sure beautiful art has a stage to be present.
Amazing! Okay, lastly: what’s your favorite item in your drag bag, cosmetic or otherwise?
I would have to say all the loose pasties (the blood soaked ones), my staple gun, beauty supply store lip oil I buy once a week cause I lose them… and my cum lube.
Thanks, Valentine!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Valentine’s upcoming appearances, and follow them on Instagram.
Thotyssey 
