04. An Interview with Vinchelle: From Brady Bunch to Beyoncé!
We sat down with Philadelphia's Vinchelle to talk everything from how she started her Drag journey, to what keeps her going! Step into her Beyhive and see why everyone's buzzing about this talented Queen!
DQE: How did you first discover drag, and what inspired you to start performing?
V: I first discovered Drag through RuPaul watching the Brady Bunch movie and I was inspired by performing through musical theater. I had always been performing a lot throughout my childhood in theater!
DQE: The Brady Bunch?! That is too funny! When did you officially begin your drag career? Do you remember your first performance or a moment that made you realize this was your path?
V: I officially started my Drag career in 2015. My very first performance was for a Drag one night competition called “Cash for Queens” and I definitely remember my very first time performing. I knew right after I was done performing, drag was what I was meant to do for the rest of my life.
DQE: What has kept you motivated through the challenges of building your drag career?
V: Honestly, my love for Drag and my supporters kept me motivated to keep going and to never stop doing what I was born to do!
DQE: And you truly were born for the stage! How has your style or approach to drag evolved since you started? Are there specific lessons or phases of growth you want to share?
V: Oh yes! I absolutely have evolved so many ways with my Drag. I have not only evolved with my make up and my costumes, but I’ve also evolved as a queen within myself. I have really updated all of my looks. I have really updated my make up since I have first started. That is the very first thing you can notice about me! The biggest lesson I want to give out there is to never stop growing and never think that you have learned too much! always continue to grow, always continue to evolve and learn new things. I am constantly growing and learning new things…that is what makes Drag so amazing!
DQE: We love growth! With all of that growth over the years, how has your perception of drag and your role in the community changed since you started?
V: This is a great question! At first, Drag was just for show and stage performance, but I realize getting further and deeper into it that Drag is also a social platform to use that and voice your opinions on things in the community and the world for good. Now that I’m a leader I have to do more and say more because that is what I have set myself up to do, but I would not have it any other way.
DQE: What is the biggest message or lesson you want your audience to take away from your journey?
V: I want people to know that you can do whatever you set your heart out to do and you can lead with talent and love and professionalism, and you can make it far and that is my journey, and I want to showcase that you everybody out there that has watched me and what I have done within this past decade.
DQE: You've obviously used your voice to do some incredible things with Drag over the years, and we'd love to shine light on one of your most powerful shows. Can you tell us about the creation of Black Girl Magic in Philly? What inspired you to start it, and what has it accomplished?
V: I wanted to create a safe space for Black entertainers in the Philadelphia area because there was a lack of that in the city at that time and I am so happy that I was able to curate a show that booked over 14 to 15 black entertainers in one show at one time. I can humbly say that from season 10 of RuPaul‘s drag race The Vixen absolutely started black girl magic in Chicago and I received her blessing if I can start one in Philadelphia and that’s what I did and I have since had her in black girl magic in Philadelphia and it has been amazing. She is amazing and I am so happy that I have been able to do the show successfully for six years.
DQE: That's amazing to hear! I'm sure she loved seeing BGM bloom on another coast! How has your work elevated or supported the Black drag community in Philadelphia?
V: I would say that I have truly uplifted a lot of black entertainers in the city and while I can’t take credit for being the one and only black entertainer to start a movement, I can say that I for sure am a part of a big movement in a city where things did change and I am so happy to see it change and I am happy to see black entertainers being celebrated and that’s truly all I wanted and I’m very blessed and honored by that!
DQE: You've already done so much and created so much change with your voice, but it seems like Drag is contstantly evolving and changing. How do you see the future of Drag, and what role do you want to play in shaping it?
V: I think the future of Drag is now based off of social media but also I do think it is very quick with hot topics and relevancy and amazing opulent looks and I’m hoping to shape that by continuing to bring all of that into it!
DQE: You LOVE Beyoncé! How has she influenced you as an artist and performer?
V: I have loved her ever since Destiny’s Child. She’s always stood out to me. She’s always been someone that I have loved, looked at look up, and absolutely admired. I knew once I became a drag queen that she would be a heavy influence in anything that I did/everything that I did lol.
DQE: Do you have a favorite Beyoncé performance or song that motivates or inspires you?
V: Asking me that it’s like asking if the sky is blue and the ocean is wet, I truly have no answer every performance she gives… GIVES!!!
DQE: LOL, okay fair! How do you incorporate your love for Beyoncé into a Drag performance?
V: I perform...a lot of Beyoncé! I do a lot of her original choreography and I truly just embody a lot of what she does on stage. When I’m on stage, I might not look exactly like her, but I will give you the essence of Beyoncé at all times!
DQE: Lastly, how did you feel when you seen your face on the Big Screen in Beyonce's: Renaissance Film?!
V: I was SHAKING! Absolutely one of the most incredible moments of my life!
DQE: We all know you do A LOT of Drag. Tell us, what does a typical day look like for you when preparing for a show or event?
V: I love to start off my day with a good coffee a good nap to get myself together for the show but then I also love to make sure everything is set in together. Listen to my music several times and make sure everything is all set up at the show!
DQE: What challenges have you faced balancing your advocacy work, your love for Beyoncé, and your drag career?
V: So many challenges, I faced, but with hate comes love, and I am OK with that. I am literally looking towards the positivity nowadays and the older that you get the more mature that you get for most people and you truly just block out all of the hate and you continue to do what you love to do.
DQE: I couldn't agree with that more. What moments of pride or fulfillment make you really love being a part of this community?
V: Anytime I see someone succeed I get so excited I get so much pride! I’m one of the producers of a competition called Snatcharella 3000 and it is absolutely amazing to see the new talent thrive in the city and take over and I love seeing that because that is what community is all about!
DQE: How do you want your audience to feel after reading about your journey?
V: Inspired, empowered, entertained? Truly, all of the above I want people to feel good I want people to be able to start a journey that they haven’t been able to start before I want people to go out there and do things that they feel like they never thought that they could, but then I also want people to get a good laugh because I’m a hoot in the holler!
DQE: What do you think makes your drag style or performance stand out from others?
V: I am truly a unique queen because there is only one of me! You can get queens that look like me, you can get queens that sound like me, but there’s only one VinChelle ever in this world!
DQE: Are there themes, messages, or characters you love to portray in your drag?
V: I love love, love, housewives, so I will always give you some good bravo content with my Drag. I love doing Disney. I love a good reality TV, so anything pop culture I love to give in my Drag love that.
DQE: What advice would you give to aspiring drag performers looking to start their Drag journey?
V: The best advice I’ve ever heard is the only advice I’ll ever give to new performers and that is two words…. SHOW UP!!!
DQE: Are there upcoming projects, events, or initiatives you want to promote?
V: The main thing right now I would like to promote is my Cowboy Carter tour Beyoncé show that I am doing at Fabrika on Thursday, August 14.. get tickets at vinchelle.com!!
DQE: This has been so much fun! Before you go, could you share a favorite quote or mantra that guides you on those days when you're down?
V: "If you can’t love yourself, how the hell you gonna love somebody else”
DQE: Is there anything else about your story or vision that you want readers to know?
V: I am just so honored and blessed and I’ve been able to do what I’ve been doing for the past decade and thank you all for being on this journey with me and I’m so excited to continue on for another decade to give you more Drag and more excellence!!!
DQE: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us Vinchelle, it's always a pleasure! Be sure to follow Vinchelle [@vinchelle] on Social Media!
