The World of Sasha Velour: Part One

by: morena (she/her)
​Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with revolutionary drag artist and performer Sasha Velour about her upcoming show– The Big Reveal: Live Show!– coming to the Michigan Theater this January 17th. Part One of “The World of Sasha Velour” will delve into the details of our interview– but don’t forget to come back for Part Two where I will cover the live show itself after seeing it in person. Please enjoy!!

Most people know Sasha Velour as the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season nine in 2017; however, she has been keeping herself booked and busy ever since– from creating her own comic books, to executive producing, and more. In this interview, I was able to speak with Sasha directly about her new live show, what effective LGBT representation in the media looks like, the importance of drag in 2024, and more! So, please enjoy this exclusive interview and go see Sasha in her one-queen show, The Big Reveal: Live Show! at the Michigan Theater this January 17th. . .


Q: What would you like your audience to take away from The Big Reveal, especially given the 2024 election results and the rise of anti-queer and anti-drag rhetoric? How do you feel we should combat that rise of anti-queer rhetoric? 

A: “I hope people can see that drag is really fun and silly, as well as deep and layered. [Drag] can be really creative- it can be important for all kinds of audiences, queer or straight,” 

“Unreasonable and incorrect hatred and fear of people for being different… as much as it's depressing, it's hard to fight when you feel that way. Finding ways to turn it into art, to connect with each other over how ridiculous it is, that is how I think we keep the strength to fight for what is right and to keep living and to keep thriving.” 


Q: For any mainstream pop girlies who are familiar with Chappell Roan, she has recently expressed that she feels her drag persona is an “art project”, separating her character from herself very distinctly. On the other hand, Rupaul agrees that drag is an art form but says drag is actually “the truth of who we all are”. Do you feel a similar way about Sasha Velour? How would you describe your personal relationship with drag? 

A: “Drag is both performance and a fantasy…it's an expression of who I am and my truth and things that are true about the world. It almost comes back to [the question of] who is art for? For me, it’s about distilling these emotionally true things, about life, about my life, to explain to other people for connection.,” 

“Fantasy is maybe the only way to show others the full picture of who we are and what's true about us. What could be true in the world, a level of fluidity and possibility that maybe isn't my lived experience but is still truthful to who I am .”



Q: Speaking of expressing yourself through drag, how has your involvement with HBO’s “We’re Here” impacted your perceptions of the importance of drag and did you have a favorite part about working on a show of this nature? 

A: “I've never had an experience like “We’re Here”... Going to Oklahoma and Tennessee, seeing people doing drag in places where there are laws against it. I was struck by how similar drag is all over the world, how similar people are all over. [Through this experience] I have met many queer people who don't live in accepting places like New York; but yet we all talk the same, we dress the same, and have the same dreams for the stage…” 

“[During my time on the show] I was only thinking about my drag kids, and what they needed, helping them realize their dreams on stage and showing there is so much possible in the world.” 


Q: In relation to the rise of LGBT participation and inclusion in television, what would you like to see going forward? For you, what would you describe as effective queer representation in the mainstream media?

A: “On the other side of TV, the promotion and events, trying to get people to watch your show– it's such a gruesome business, and there aren't a lot of queer or trans people in the rooms getting to have a big voice at the table. We're still fighting, even in a space where we fit in so well; we know how to put on a show, we know about  designing exciting costumes, but we are still fighting to have our stories told accurately, to have inclusive and accurate representation in the media.” 

“[For me, effective representation] would definitely be stories that aren't so focused on pain. One of the things I love about drag is that we lead with joy and silliness, in a world that is difficult. I think that [Rupaul’s] Drag Race gets that,”

“The only place that drag stories appear is in documentaries or reality TV, but what we do is fantasy. . . I would love to see fantasy and horror and mystery and suspense that queer and trans writers come up with. I think we need more queer and trans people in writing and producing; [after all] who knows better than us what is an authentic story that resonates.”



Q: Something that sets you apart from other drag queens is your production process– your own production company House of Velour and you yourself are responsible for writing, directing, and producing this show in its entirety. Do you think it is important that drag queens are active in that creative process (and are more “hands on”)? 

A:  “Each person works differently; I loved filming [Rupaul’s] Drag Race for instance, I loved showing up and playing around in someone else's framework. I think drag more than any other art is very good at being adaptable. We show up with our performance art, in any conditions– we never know how wet the floor is going to be, how small the dressing rooms will be, etc. but we still have to be entertaining and do a good job… We are multimedia artists. We are storytellers, comedians, dramatic actresses, singers; therefore, it's natural for us to run the production ourselves. It is self-made even if we are collaborating with other people; [drag] follows the queen’s vision for what she wants to do. It is the hand of the artist who is leading– I don’t see why that shouldn't be the case on the business side of art too.” 

“However, I think it's important for artists to have ownership over the art they create. I have never been a fan of a producer to own art you create ... artists should consider who holds the keys to the production of their own work and it should always be the artist.”  


Q: What would you like the audience to take away from this interview, and from your work overall, given the current anti-trans, anti-queer, and anti-drag rhetoric being shared loudly across the country? Do you have any recommendations or advice for queer students or aspiring drag queens who are scared to express themselves in this way? 

A: “I think the best thing in life is trying something you don't already know how to do. Particularly in the arts, because the risks are very low– a disastrous art piece is the best thing in the world. I think that's the best thing, the only way to learn is to get your hands dirty and try it.” 

“I hope, I love to inspire people to make art, whether they consider themselves as artists or just get excited that I’m twirling around on stage and want to go home and do the same. That is the measure of success for me, people inspired to do their own thing. I feel like a Sasha Velour fan is someone who wants to make things immediately– We all need more beauty in this world, and we all need to contribute to make that happen. I hope that there is more love and acceptance for all people, especially queer people. I think we are going to need some extra love due to political shifts causing fear and hate for different people … just come to the drag show, and we will figure out how to keep surviving and resisting.”



There you have it! This interview was so inspiring for me as an artist, and more importantly, as a queer woman just hoping to put some beauty out into the world. Getting to speak to someone who has not only inspired so many queer people, but also continues to inspire queer people through her art was an immense privilege; I can not put into words just how encouraging and thoughtful this queen was. I want to take this opportunity to thank Sasha Velour personally, as taking the time out of her busy schedule to interview with a local queer student organization was very sweet, and something not all artists are willing to do. 
Sasha, if you happen to read this article, thank you. 



*This interview would not have been possible without the help of the Chief Operating Officer Alicia Pani, from the Marquee Arts organization. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alicia and the Marquee Arts organization for connecting us with Sasha and the House of Velour for this exclusive interview. 

Next, I would also love to give a big thank you to Johnny Velour for the opportunity to conduct this interview with Sasha for the Michigan Gayly. To take a chance on a local student organization is something that I feel more artists and producers should be doing; I feel so lucky to have been able to speak with you and make this interview happen. 

Finally, Sasha Velour, thank you so much for your kind and inspiring words throughout this entire interview process. Not only do your illustrations and drag performances fill the world with so much positivity and hope, but you constantly inspire others to do the same. Even in the short amount of time we were able to speak, I can confidently say that you have inspired me tremendously. 

On behalf of the Michigan Gayly: LGBT Issues, thank you Sasha!