FEATURED QUEEN: MS. TER

Ieuan Thomas
Dec 29, 2015
4 min read

Ms. Ter is the bearded lady of Brooklyn. An eye-catching, beautiful and out-there queen whose bold looks and outlandish makeup are sure to leave an impression. Read our Q&A with Ms. Ter below.

(Photo by Andrea Barbiroli - www.andreabarbiroli.com)

When did you start doing drag?

I started doing drag as Ms. Ter about a year and a half ago. But I've been dabbling in gender bending, drag, and performance for over 5 years.

What inspired you to start doing drag?

"Who" would be a more appropriate start to this question, and the answer is Fauxnique. Fauxnique is a San Fransisco queen, who is a cisgender woman who performs as a man performing as a woman. Fauxnique did a talk at my school when I was a freshman in college and it really shaped my ideas of what drag could be. I was fascinated by an idea that she discussed; that drag is an exploration of what our culture considers feminine in order to challenge our ideas of gender. She really lit a fire in me to do drag and investigate my own notions of femininity & masculinity.

How does drag make you feel?

Doing drag makes me feel intoxicated. It's a drug. I go through withdrawals. It's all I think about sometimes. It's my own personal addiction.

Who are your inspirations for Ms. Ter?

HIM from the Power Puff Girls is one of my biggest inspirations. Remember? He's the devil looking character that wore pink and had a beard and lobster claws. HIM is fabulous, weird, and strangely erotic.

Who are your three all time favourite queens?

Milk, Grace Towers, The Boulet Brothers (do they count as 2?)

Do you have a specific look you like to go for, or does your look vastly vary?

It varies so much! I don't like to set boundaries on my creativity. The only requirement is that I think outside of the box, but still come up with a look that's approachable.

What would be your ultimate ambition you would like to achieve through drag?

I come from a performance art background and I would love to somehow bring my drag into the "high art" realm. I'm not really sure what that would look like though.

Where do you perform?

I just moved from Los Angeles to New York, and I haven't been booked for any gigs yet. When I was living in LA I was performing in Laguna Beach at Main Street Bar & Cabaret and in Costa Mesa at Shark Club. I was also hosting Shark Club's weekly WTF Friday party.

If you could only use 3 products to complete your look, what would they be?

Eyeliner, colored contacts & a paper bag with eye holes.

What is your one favourite piece from your wardrobe?

My favorite costume piece is my short yellow lacefront wig that I wear way too often. Second would be my gaff, which holds in my junk.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Working on my masters degree, performing and hosting. Also freaking out about turning 30.

What's your opinion on the recent increase in popularity of drag due to RuPaul's Drag Race?

It's amazing that RPDR has made the world of drag so accessible. I wouldn't be the artist and performer I am today without the show's influence. It really has changed the landscape of drag. However, I feel like drag has now become a spectator sport. People feel like they can unfairly critique performers when they themselves have never done drag. I'm not saying you have to do drag in order to have an opinion or talk about it, but it is important to recognize that drag isn't just one thing. The rise of drag in pop culture has allowed people to put it in a box (a pink furry box?) and it's always dangerous when you define what an art form is and isn't.

Anything else we should know about Ms. Ter?

1) The first song I ever performed was "Gold Trans Am" by Ke$ha

2) I'm usually the tallest bitch in a room (6'3" without heels)

3) I like to watch super hero movies while I put on my face

4) I won the Dragula competition in April 2015 during a trip to San Francisco

5) I love using props during my performances, whether it's a baby doll, lollipops, a volleyball, or a picture of Nicki Minaj

6) My old Boy Scout uniform is an essential part of my drag wardrobe

7) Before I was Ms. Ter, I performed under the name Daisy Chain

8) I wear size 12-13 heels

9) The last song I performed was a mix of "Gotta Move" and "New York State of Mind" by Barbara Streisand

10) I once ate a dollar bill on stage

-------------------------------Thank you to Ms. Ter for this interview--------------------------