NYC Drag Queen of the Week – Boudoir LeFleur
There is no shortage of drag queens in NYC. You can’t throw a rock without hitting some twink in a dress thinking he’s got what it takes to shantay down the runway just because he’s seen every season of Ru Paul’s Drag Race while practicing YouTube makeup tutorials. There’s a difference, though, between learning how to just paint your face and turning that face into a work of fucking art. This weekly series highlights the queens who stand out from the crowd and rock those heels til they bleed.
Meet Boudoir LeFleur.
Describe your look.
She is leather and lace. She is lady of the night. The name ‘Boudoir’ really works for my drag because I have a really relaxed and wild feel about my drag the way I would be in the bedroom. I want to be able to relax and get wild and I bring that out in Boudoir. She’s definitely almost always wearing undergarments. I pretty much do most of my shows in a bra and underwear.
Does New York do drag better than anywhere else?
Yes, I think, absolutely. New York City has been the center of talent for so many different art forms. You have to be at a certain level in New York whereas a lot of other cities around the country don’t have as many people going to one place competing with each other and sort of fighting their way to the top. There’s so much talent condensed in New York City. As New Yorkers we pride themselves on being cutthroat and taking no bullshit so when you have that attitude about drag it puts you in another echelon.
What advice would you give to a new queen who wants to make it in the city?
A lot of queens in New York City come up really, really fast because they’re surrounded by so much talent. There’s so many designers, so many choreographers, everyone’s got back up dancers and everyone’s shooting fire out of their pussy. If you want to make it in New York City you have to find your gimmick and you have to build your team and you’ve got to do it fast.
What makes your shows stand out from other queens?
I’m brave. My performances are full throttle. I like to be a little wild in my performance sometimes. I’ve been known to leap and jump off the stage. I use my modern and classical dance training in a way that a lot of people haven’t seen in drag. I will run and do a baseball slide 15 feet across the floor if there’s floor space for it. When it comes to all the frilly things about drag like sequins and dresses- not so much, but when it comes to a dynamic performance I think that’s where my heart and soul lies.
What’s been the highlight of your drag career so far?
My proudest moment so far was when I won Miss Cherry last summer. I just joined the pageant to let everybody know that I was a new queen and I planned on doing my best and putting on a good show and it turned out I took the crown. I was completely shocked.
Is it expensive to be a drag queen?
Oh god, if you’re a drag queen all of your money goes to drag and food and that’s pretty much it. Hopefully once you’re a drag queen you have those gigs where they let you drink for free. If you’re a drag queen and you’re spending a lot of money on booze you’re an alcoholic and you need help.
Follow Boudoir on Facebook and Instagram.
Catch her live Monday’s 10pm at ICON in Astoria, Wednesday’s 9:30- Midnight for WhipCrack Wednesdays “Bingo with Boudoir” at Cherry’s On The Bay and Thursday’s 10pm with Kimmi Moore for Cut Throat Thursdays at Cherry’s On The Bay.