NYC Drag Queen Of The Week – Vicky Boofont
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 Vicky Boofont.
How did your family react to you coming out?
I think I was always out. My mom used to wear wigs when I was growing up so I have wonderful pictures of me in wigs or wearing my mother’s heels.
So you were always a little queen?
I was always a big queen. Nothing was ever little about me.
Describe your look.
Definitely larger than life, campy, fun. I love the 60’s style. I’ve always been a fan of big hairdo’s and crazy colors and prints. That’s the basis of Vicky Boofont.
One of two on air appearances on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.
What is a Vicky Boofont show like?
Definitely a lot of audience participation. I love old school numbers but I’ve been known to do some rap too, some Missy Elliott. I love to do modern songs with a twist.
You started doing drag when you lived in L.A. Now that you live in NYC can you compare the two scenes?
I don’t think there’s a different in the level of talent or commitment. Downtown L.A. has more cutting edge drag, like Brooklyn has. It’s more like Halloween drag like what Sharon Needles represents. It’s more scary drag. In Queens and Manhattan, it’s more Top 40 drag, more mainstream drag. There’s definitely more jobs in New York. I work more in New York than I did in L.A.
When you lived in L.A. you were friends with Richard Simmons, right?
I used to work out with Richard Simmons and I used to be his personal make-up artist before he retired and went into seclusion.
Did he ever see you perform?
He did. He did not like it. He thought I became a different person. He thought I was a bitch when I was Vicky. He would make me late for shows because he’d ask me so many questions about my undergarments and my make-up and about the look.
Photo Credit- JA Photography
What’s the best part about being a drag queen?
Some of my best nights in drag have just been hanging out with other drag sisters, just talking about how much fun we had. After a night in drag just being with my other girls at one of the diners in Hell’s Kitchen. I never had that sisterhood in L.A. That’s been the most fun.
What’s been your worst night in drag?
I had just finished a show and my husband was DJ’ing the show and someone had roofied his drink and he passed out at the bar. They had to question him at the hospital without me there because they thought maybe I did something to him. They asked him, “Sir have you been abused?”. We can laugh about it now but it was very scary.
What advice would you give to a queen who wants to break into the New York scene?
Get out there. Get your face out there. Get your name known but come up with something original. Everybody looks the same to me. I meet these girls and I can’t tell any of them apart. Come up with a signature look and stick to it.
To see where Vicky is performing follow her on Facebook and Instagram.
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