Grizzly Kiki | Pop Culture & Interviews With Queer Artists

This episode is dedicated to Divine, one of the most influential Drag Queens of all time. Born Harris Glen Milstead in Baltimore on October 19, 1945, Divine always stood out amongst his peers. He was obsessed with glamor and fashion. For him, Elizabeth Taylor was the very embodiment of these things and was his main inspiration when he first went out in drag.    These were the seeds of the over-the-top character of Divine, who Glenn would become shortly after beginning his artistic relationship and friendship with the underground filmmaker, John Waters. Divine would become the name by which Milstead would be known and loved, which his closest friends shortened to "Divi." Her collaborations with Waters, Mink Stole, and Edith Massey, among many others in his circle, led to a level fame that Divine could never had anticipated. She was the queen of trash and glamor at the same time, always channeling her idol, Liz Taylor.   Joining us for our discussing is former GK guest, Ari Kiki, who cites Divine as one of her principal inspirations. We are talking about Divine in the context of the documentary, "I Am Divine," which can be streamed on Netflix.

Jamaican-born and raised in New York, Shequida is the personification of elegance and class. Not only is she a talented Drag Queen, host, and New York legend, but she is also a classically trained opera singer.   Shequida was discovered while out one night at the Roxy, an institution in and of itself. Hired on the spot because of her eclectic look put together by her and some friends from the theater, she didn't even have a drag name before she became a fixture in New York nightlife. After settling on her name, Shequida planted her flag and conquered New York. Today, after 25 years in the business, she is one of the most well-known queens in the business, with gigs all over the world and shows no signs of slowing down.   Listen to our interview and Shequida's beautiful voice as she takes us back to when nightlife in New York was both legendary and infamous.

Summertime is the worst time of year for Drag Queens: makeup melts, hairstyles are sweated out, and the burden of padding can be a nightmare. This is true for just about everyone except for RagaMuffin. She was born on Pride and this year's celebration marks her one year Dragiversary!! Raga, as she is more commonly known, is a Southern Gentleman who moved to New York over two years ago to pursue his career in performance and dance. This boy from Nashville slowly but surely blossomed into the elegant Southern Lady that is RagaMuffin, making her mark on the Brooklyn drag scene. Tall, lithe, charming, and effortlessly gorgeous, Raga has a unique aesthetic that evokes images of 90's supermodels. She is a queen who doesn't pad or wear breasts, using her own body to highlight the unrealistic proportions of women's clothing - which she just happens to fit into just fine. Go Figure!!   Under the tutelage of the Certifiably Insane Thorgy Thor and Maniacal Ruby Roo, Raga has taken a foothold of This N' That Bar in Williamsburg. It is there that she can be found being held captive and forced to perform alongside the aforementioned Terrible Twosome every Monday at their show, Mondays. So, if you want to free her, visit her there and tip her generously so she can bribe John Lowther and escape!!!   HAPPY BIRTHDAY RAGAMUFFIN!!!!

"Feel Like A Lady" is where we sit down with a Queen to discover what brings to life the persona that she is creating through her art. There are many things that Drag Queens draw upon to activate their drag, but every girl has those two or three things that they just can't do without and we’re going to find out what they are.   Joining us for the first episode of our "Feel Like A Lady" series is the Queen that feeds the children of Brooklyn, Lady Quesa'Dilla. A former Grizzly Kiki guest, Quesa gets to the root of what makes her a lady, literally! Her love of hair and lashes runs deep and is an essential part of what brings her to life!

Crimson Kitty is a Ferocious Feline who just happens to inhabit the body of the most well-known Female Drag Queen - or Lady Queen, as she says - in New York. The fact that Crimson is a "biological" woman is something that many people never pick up on when they first encounter her - Not that it should matter, of course. However, she is a woman working and performing in the world of Drag Queens, a space which is traditionally dominated by men. As a result, Crimson, who had a career in burlesque prior to being a Queen, has had to work harder to obtain respect, standing, and gigs. The result is a fearless, intelligent, and well-versed queen who makes sure she has the biggest hair, lashes, costumes, and most importantly, boobs, in the room!! Crimson Kitty was born and raised in New Jersey, much like Grizzy KiKi Co-Host Robert. Growing up in a house full of women and cats, Crimson knew from an early age that she had the power within to steer her own ship and be whoever she wanted to be. She moved to New York a few years ago because she couldn't handle the notorious delays on NJ Transit that she endured traveling back and forth between gigs. Her emigration to NYC made it possible for her to fully explore the art of drag and use her many influences to bring Crimson Kitty to life!! We sat down with Crimson and her partner, Nella, for a KiKi that ended up with us all falling in love with each other and bonding over pizza and wine. Nella makes a guest appearance on this episode, commenting every so often on Crimson's personality, style, and anal retentive nature. Crimson can't help it - she's a Cancer and Jersey Girl. That's a fierce and formidable combination. Feel free to fall in love with Crimson as you listen to her interview and then go out and support your local Lady Queen!!!

ROn this episode, Robert and Daniel talk about an Aussie couple that vows to divorce if gay marriage is passed in Australia, Pastor Steven Anderson's hate campaign against Caitlyn Jenner, The Atlah Worldwide Church, and new legislation in Mexico that may lead to country-wide marriage equality.

On this episode, we KiKi with our friend and fierce Drag Queen, Viki Villainess. Don't be fooled by this pint-sized performer, as she truly embodies the saying, "Good things come in small packages." The son of two Baltimore Baptist ministers, Viki was raised in a religious atmosphere that didn't really suit her personality or ambitions. An aspiring fashion designer, she came to New York 10 years ago to start a career in fashion. However, that was somewhat sidetracked by her interest in nightlife, resulting in the birth of her club kid persona. The club kid turned into a Drag Queen and Viki Velez was born. A spicy Latina with a taste for short skirts, big boobs, and big hair, Ms. Velez lasted a short while on the scene. Viki Villainess soon emerged: a spooky, couture queen with purple hair and a penchant for custom looks that would never be seen twice. Since adopting the "Villainess" within, Viki has turned many looks, including a Voodoo Doll, Mid-Abortion Teenager (She once hit Daniel in the leg with her dangling, unborn fetus), Burn Victim, and The Joker, among many others. Our personal favorite is what we call "The Walk of Shame," where she pinned condoms into her wig and used makeup to simulate semen dripping down her face, causing her bottom lashes to come undone. Now That's a LEWK!!! Viki is also an accomplished and award-winning FIT graduate, Miss FIT 2014, and fashion designer. She hand crafts every single one of her outfits. In a true display of decadence, She throws her clothes in the back of the closet at the end of the night and rarely ever wears them a second time. After all, she can whip up another one whenever she wants. Oh, and then there was that time she destroyed a couture-inspired gown made of tabloid magazines onstage! Viki is the stuff of nightmares, but she is also among the kindest queens in New York. She is a member of a drag family that includes former GK guest Ari Kiki, club kid/drag queen/androgyne Sasha Naomi, and Ari Kiki's drag daughter, Lola Michele Kiki. Those girls create the most diverse drag family in New York. As a result, Viki knows how to support her fellow sisters and other queens by being a friend, making outfits for other queens (check her out, she's amazing!!), or by providing a reality check when needed.

Required Reading is dedicated to the films and people that have leftan indelible mark on Queer History and Drag Culture. In honor of Pride Month, the inaugural episode of Required Reading focuses on the life and work of Marsha P. Johnson, who was immortalized in the 2012 film, “Pay It No Mind: The Life and Times of Marsha P. Johnson,” a documentary dedicated to the life of a woman who was a catalyst of the Stonewall Riots and among the earliest trans activists. Joining us is our friend and regular Grizzly KiKi guest, Miz Jade!!

"Sherry Vine was born in The Amish country. On her 16th birthday she discovered she was adopted and actually Jewish. Running away from home, she became a “show girl” in Las Vegas…..” That's what Sherry Vine would like you to believe is her origin story. That being said, it's the perfect way to describe the sense of humor being channeled through a character that has become an international sensation via her YouTube music video parodies and live performances. Although based in New York (for longer than we are allowed to reveal), Sherry has toured the world and performed with the likes of Joey Arias, Jackie Beat, Madonna, and many other mediocre queens. We were honored to be invited into her home and record her story, which is a doozy! Born in Florida, Miss Sherry Vine moved to Baltimore City at the age of 6 months to pursue her career as a Divine impersonator. Growing up in Baltimore was not easy for Sherry. She endured endless taunting and bullying throughout her adolescence, hiding it from her parents and finding creative ways to avoid her tormentors. However, in true "It Gets Better" fashion, Sherry survived high school and went on to enroll at the University of Baltimore, where she studied theater. Proving to her father that this truly was her path, she was able to leave Baltimore for the West Coast and go on to graduate school at USC. Sherry's trajectory was set from then on and she went from flamboyant theatre kid to the drag queen we all know and love. Sherry's talents are many and varied, but don't ask her about hair or clothes. If she's not having fun, she's not interested. She is a comedian, singer, actress, and parody master. Listen to our interview and find out what words can't describe about Sherry Vine!!

After over three months of competition, crying, fighting, and look galore, it is down to the Top Three on Episode 14. Who will be crowned the new America's Drag Superstar and carry on the title after Bianca Del Rio? Listen as Robert, Daniel, and special guest Pissi Myles recap the finale and weigh in on the decision made by RuPaul, the producers, and everyone on the interwebs!!!

On this episode, Robert and Daniel get to know Sir Honey Davenport. A gender-defying drag artist, Honey began her journey seven years ago when she toured the world with the legendary Peppermint, a former Grizzly KiKi guest herself. At first, Honey refused to let drag knock down her door, but little by little, she embraced the art form. However, she refused to be placed in a box and developed a style of drag that was both genderfuck and pageant. The use of "Sir" in her drag name is a clear indication of this and that her performances and productions are nothing short of spectacular. Honey has spent her drag career competing in pageants, making music, and making audiences gag!! She is not only the current Reigning Miss'd America but won the title of Miss Stonewall shortly after we recorded our interview! CONGRATULATIONS HONEY! During our interview with Honey, we talk about her upbringing in Philadelphia, her drag evolution, her dragtastic wedding, and that one time her mother gave her all the money she had saved to see her in a pageant so that she could buy everything she needed to compete. The family that drags together stays together!

On this very special episode of Grizzly KiKi, Robert and Daniel honor the legacy of contestants past and discuss their picks for the 10 most unjustly eliminated in the history of RuPaul's Drag Race. Over the past seven seasons, there have been several emotional, confusing and controversial eliminations. We have combed through the archives and to determine who we believe should not have been sent home when they were. After you've listened to our picks, head over to FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram and sound off about what you think!

On this episode, Robert and Daniel interview Laganja Estranja, the deathdropping star of RuPaul's Drag Season 6. A native of Dallas Texas, Laganja was never fond of outdoor activities, instead preferring to stay inside and pursue the interests that would make her the Queen she is today. Laganja became the standout star of her season of Drag Race by not only serving fierce drag looks, but also boy looks which she planned in advance before even leaving for the competition. Throughout the course of her season, she was often criticized by the other queens for her behavior and manner of expression. However, regardless of anyone's opinion of her, she always stayed true to herself. While many queens who have competed in the show have been forgotten, Laganja - much like her drag mother Alyssa Edwards and sister Shangela - never will!! In our interview with Laganja, we discuss her drag name, product line, tour, and drag style. Listen for a very insightful conversation with one of Drag Race's most intriguing characters. Oh, and before we forget.....Laganja Estranja is our 50TH INTERVIEW!!!!

Condone Yourself! Listen as Robert, Daniel, and Miz Jade discuss the final girls and who should walk away with the crown. (Spoiler Alert: It’s the Purple One.)

Ames Bexxx is an artist who has had several lives. Growing up in Massachusetts, they attended Bridgewater University and moved to New York soon after graduation to pursue a career as a standup comedian. They worked with Howard Stern, toured the East Coast, and performed at many benefits and events. Meanwhile, they had begun to study digital photography, which is now their main form of expression and artistic output. Ames is synonymous with New York's underground nightlife scene. Their subjects include drag queens, burlesque performers, and adult film actors of all gender expressions, sexual orientations and body types. We first met Ames after they photographed us in drag at Stonewall unbeknownst to us, capturing a side of Mary and Betty we had never seen before. As we became familiar with their work, we realized that they would be a perfect Grizzly KiKi guest because of the intimacy of the photos they produced of the very artists we ourselves were interviewing. When we approached Ames about an interview, they said yes, as long as we would be a part of their newest project, "Gorge." A series of 40 photos of subjects of their choosing, "Gorge" is best described by Ames themself: “Gorge is a photo journey about food and obsession. In photographing a diverse group of people and food, Bexxx challenges what we consider ‘Gorgeous.’ Our relationship with our bodies can have the ability to affect us in unhealthy ways. This is not only the story of Bexxx’ life but the story of many of our lives. We struggle daily with acceptance of perceived physical flaws. Beauty comes in many flavors and forms” We were honored to have been invited by Ames to participate and after we had our portraits shot, we sat down with them to discuss their life, art, and future. Listen and find out what Ames is all about and then visit "Gorge" when it is on display at the Chelsea Eye Gallery at 157 West 19th Street from June 5 on.