FEATURED QUEEN: VERONICA MITCHELLS

Veronica Mitchells ia an 18 year old queen from St. Louis who started drag in 8th Grade after feeling inspired by RuPaul's Drag Race.

Read Veronica's Q&A below.

When did you start doing drag?

I started doing drag in middle school around 8th grade, so about 5 years is how long I've been in drag. The first time I went out in drag was to my school's Winter Formal Dance in my Freshmen year of high school.

What inspired you to start doing drag? I got inspired a long time ago while watching Rupaul's Drag Race. I always loved dressing up in women's clothes and when I was younger I always thought that I wanted to be a women, but then I learned about the wonderful world of drag! I loved watching the makeup and wigs and heels and just the overall look. The idea of transforming into a totally different person inspired me.

How does drag make you feel? Drag makes me feel and act more confident and happy with who I am. Don't get me wrong I love being a guy but when I'm in drag I feel gorgeous and fierce, like I can take on anything! When I'm in drag it gives me confidence, gives me that edge of bitchy-ness, and it makes me known when I walk into a room. Drag to me is EVERYTHING!

Who are you inspirations for your drag persona? I draw a lot of inspiration from models. The runways and walks and fashion shows. Just make up in general is something that I get inspiration from. Person wise, I draw inspiration from Adore Delano, Gwen Stefani, CatWoman, any drag queen in general. I've modeled Veronica after so many inspirations that it's hard to think of all of them.

Who are your three all time favourite Queens? #1 right off the bat, Adore Delano. I've been Adore's fan since Danny was on American Idol. My second favourite I'd have to say Alaska, her attitude and her presence is just amazing! And finally Id2 have to say Detox, no queen has ever made my day besides Detox.

Do you have a specific look you like to go for, or does your look vastly vary? A majority of the time I always go for glamour, I try to change it up now and then but it always ends up back at glamour. From the makeup to the hair to lashes all the way to the fashion, is glamour.

What would be your ultimate ambition you would like to achieve through drag? Like most queens I strive to be apart of the Rupaul's Drag Race family, competing on the show of course. But not only that to having my own regular show in a club. A dream of I've always had is walking a runway, being a

damn good model. Those are only some of the the things I want to do being an up and coming queen.

Do you perform in drag? Unfortunately, in the area I live in performing in drag is for queens who are 21+. Which is why, like most teen queens, use the social media outlet. So in 3 years I hope to be performing in the StL.

If you could only have 3 makeup products to do your complete drag makeup look for the rest of your life, what would they be? Only 3!!! I'd have to say my Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation of course! I'm OBSESSED with flawless skin! Another would be my Kat Von D: Mi Vida Loca pallete! It has literally all the right colors in order to contour, highlight, eyes! You name it! And last I'd have to say a nice big lash, because lashes make the look 10× better!

What is your one favourite piece of fashion or accessory from your wardrobe? Oh god! I barely wear anything! I love showing body! But if anything I love a good body suit! It's sexy, it's fashion forward, you can really pair anything with it! I can't tell you how many cat suits or body suits I've gone through!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time? In five years I hope to be performing part time, going to cosmetology school the other part time and improving

my drag through time and dedication.

What's your opinion on the recent increase in popularity of drag, due to things such as RuPaul's Drag Race? I love it! I love how there's an actual teen queen community within the drag community. Things can get pretty crazy within that though. It shows that drag is never going to become a thing of the past.

Anything else we should know about your drag persona? My first pick for a drag name was Symoná Reneé. I came out in 5th grade My family is the most supportive and loving family I could ask for, with being gay and doing drag. One of my own rules in my drag is I will only buy heels if they are 6 inches or higher. I've been told I look like Adore in and put of drag A lot of queens say I look fishy, but I honestly don't see it. I'm pretty much an open book but very shy.