Social media star and Southern Belle turned rapidly rising star of NYC drag, Ara Besque Starr is here to shin and slay the first weekend of Spooky Season! [Cover photo: Tony Haute]
Thotyssey: Ara, hello! Thanks for chatting today! We are officially in the Spooky Season, are you a fan of this time of year?
Ara Besque Starr: Yes! I am a huge fan of the Halloween season. It’s actually my favorite time of year! I find that sometimes by this point in the year, inspiration when it comes to the drag world can get a little stale. But with the Halloween season, there are just so many references to draw from–whether it’s movies, artwork, music, etc. It just feels like a time where all creatives really put their all into creating beautiful work!
You’re a fairly new arrival to New York, but not to the world of drag! Can you tell us a bit about where your from, how you became a queen, and what brought you to NYC?
I am originally from Birmingham, Alabama… born and raised! I grew up as a dancer and theatre kid, so needless to say I’ve been on the stage my whole life. I started drag in 2018 (eight years ago) at the age of seventeen, sneaking into bars and clubs to perform before I was supposed to! I began in the drag scene because I came out as a trans woman, and living in Alabama it wasn’t the safest place for people like me. My mom didn’t want me to present female until I graduated high school, for my own safety. So I looked to drag as a way to still be able to express my femininity!
I always wanted to live in New York since the age of 14, when I felt like the time was right. I was finally at a place in my life where I was experiencing so many different things, good and bad, and realized there was never going to be a “right time”–and that I had to just make the leap and figure it out once I got here! So within two weeks of some big life changes back home, I packed up my things and drove cross country!
How might you describe the drag you like to do today?
When I first started in my drag career, it was a little more roughs around the edges. The inspiration was more of the nineties-early 2000s hip hop and r&b. While I still use and love those inspirations, I have developed into more of a glamour and hyperfeminine character. I’ve always said my ultimate goal in drag is to be unattainable. Over the past few years, I’ve really started to settle into more vintage references with a modern day twist… while still keeping the fun ever so present.
Love that! You’ve already accomplished quite a bit as far as making a name for yourself in this city. How different is southern drag from NYC drag from your POV, and was it intimidating to try and break through here?
Southern drag and New York drag are so different, yet still so similar. Back home we really pride ourselves on the pageantry of drag and the polish. While that still happens in New York, I feel like there is a higher level of a “relatable-ness” to the drag here. In the south, we’re doing shows and every number we do has an outfit, shoe, and hair change. Sometimes even the makeup changes! But up here, the outfit you leave the house in is what you’re wearing all night. So that took me some time to get used to.
As for breaking through: I was very nervous, because the New York drag scene has an outside perspective of being difficult to find your way into. I believed I was going to be competing only in open stage competitions settings for months before I was working anywhere. Luckily, I made very strong connections with some queens very quickly, and they proceeded to take me under their wings and push me forward into the nightlife!
I believe that while yes, the connections were a big help… I also believe that my work ethic, performance ability, hosting skills, and professionalism also spoke for themselves and is a big reason I’ve been able to work as much as I have been.
Extraordinary! You also have a pretty massive social media following that most queens would kill for… how did you accumulate that?
I work very hard at my social media! I post very consistently with at least three times a week, but usually more if time allows me to! I had a few videos go viral this year on both Instagram and Tik Tok, simply because of consistency and quality of video… which led to a huge spike in my following! I am very thankful to all of my followers and supporters, and hope to continue to grow and grow. I started 2026 with a goal of hitting 5K by New Years, and now we’re on the road to 30K! It really is unbelievable. I cannot wait to see what the new year will have in store for me in the aspect of opportunities!
Do you have any plans to do big pageants here in NYC, and do you have any history of that?
I was definitely a big pageant girl back home; it’s in my family! I come from a drag family with a long history of amazing pageant queens from all systems you could think of, and it’s my job to continue that legacy! As far as the pageants and competitions up here, I may or may not have my eye on a few of them coming up. You’ll just have to wait and see!
In the meantime, you’re gonna have a busy weekend! First off, you’re part of “The Chromatica Ball” Lady Gaga tribute show at Balcon on Saturday night.
Yesss! I’m so excited! [Show host / producer] Nick Gaga and I met at one of my first shows performing here in New York. She came and saw me perform, and enjoyed what she saw, lol. We then talked after the show and clicked like we had known each other for years. She then invited me to come and watch the Gaga Ball in August, and I was obsessed! It was genuinely one of the best drag shows I’ve ever seen, and I knew then I needed to be involved. And before I could ask to be a part of it, she offered to have me at the next one–which I was so honored to be asked!
Then it’s a two show Sunday, starting with: brunch at Kween in Astoria with Freeda Kulo! Are you a Day Drag Girlie?
I was a big brunch girl back home! It was so freeing, and a great opportunity to try out new things and explore. I find that in a bar setting, people want the dancers who do the songs they wanna hear. However, a brunch crowd is much more open to all styles and drag and performances, and they are just there for the vibes!
Then later that night, it’s a true rite of passage: you’re headlining your very first Stonewall Invasion! Congrats! What’s in store for us?
Yes! I’m so excited! First of all to be doing drag in such a historic space, that as a black trans woman means so much to me! I’m very excited, but also nervous seeing as this is my first solo hosting gig in New York! That’s a lot of pressure, but I truly believe it’s going to be an amazing time! I’m going to be joined by QueenLee Stars, and the reason I asked her is because I know that when she’s in a show she always brings looks that are fully thought about from head to toe, as well as amazing energy on and offstage–which is arguably even more important. As for me, you can expect to see so many aspects of my drag from high energy dance, to comedy both on the mic and in my performances, a heart touching ballad, and maybe a live vocal!
What else is coming up for you?
Nothing in particular coming, so I’ll just say the best way to find out what I have going on is by following me on Instagram as well as on TikTok. I go live multiple times a week showing you all how to do my makeup, since it’s the question I get asked the most! All platforms I can be found at: @arabesquestarr.
And let’s end with: given that it’s Halloween Month, have you ever had any paranormal encounters with ghosts, UFOs, psychic phenomena, etc.?
The only kind of paranormal experience I’ve had would be when my ex-stepdad passed away many years ago. After he passed, our dog would randomly stare into empty corners of the house and just bark nonstop… and no matter what we did, even if we took her to another room, she would run right back and continue to bark! He was a football player and his number was nine, and for what felt like the next few years the number nine was appearing everywhere on everything!
A beautiful message from beyond! Thanks, Ara!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Ara Besque Starr’s upcoming appearances, and follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
