Drag Race Holland contestant ChelseaBoy discusses sexuality, Lady Gaga and the Dutch drag scene.
Perfect: How were you first introduced to drag and the art form?
ChelseaBoy: Ironically enough, my first introduction to drag was not through a drag-queen but by encountering a new upcoming artist around the time I was learning tools to express myself fully. Her name was Lady Gaga. She inspired me to start doing drag at a young age. Not having any clue how to put make-up on or whatsoever, I modelled my self-expression and art after her. She lead the way for where I stand today in my early years.
Perfect: When did ChelseaBoy come to be? How would you describe them?
ChelseaBoy: When I first started my drag journey I used the art form to embrace my feminine energy, a part of me that had been mostly suppressed throughout my life because of societal pressure. There came a moment where I realised I had discovered most of what I was searching for at the time, and the realm of female impersonation, started feeling limiting of exploring other areas of my identity.
This is when ChelseaBoy came around: my self-created vessel to explore my inner world through the eyes of a powerful character. Up until this day ChelseaBoy is there to help me understand what sexuality and the gender-spectrum as a whole mean to me. Over time, my focus might shift to other parts of my identity and I've created this character with unlimited space to allow this shift to manifest, because that's how all-encompassing Chelsea is for me. I see Chelsea as my muse (external) and at the same time they represent the epicentre of my creative spirit (internal).
Perfect: What is your creative process when putting together a look?
ChelseaBoy: For me, an idea usually starts off on a micro level. It's usually first an element of the look that pops into my brain, like a shape, texture or colour-palette. I like to see it as a tiny spec of light that floats its way towards me. As an artist there is no way I'll allow myself to ignore it when this happens, as it can be very rare depending on where I am in my creative flow. It's a calling from the source, which is art itself. It has no specific timing. There are many moments it keeps me up late at night. From this initial epiphany I instinctively start associating, de-associating, experimenting, researching, expanding the idea into a fully realised concept. I'll then collect the resources that are needed to bring the look to life. A translation of an idea in the mind's eye into physical reality is the most exciting and powerful thing in the world to me, because it showcases time and time again how our reality is self-made.
Perfect: How would you describe the Dutch drag scene?
ChelseaBoy: We're living in the golden age of drag, where the art form of drag is getting more and more momentum, visability and is given a platform. What inspires me about the Dutch drag scene is the immense variety of drag that we have, and through all these individual styles, a unity is formed that is built on mutual understanding and respect. Drag encompasses so many artistic disciplines and we're fortunate enough to have a platform where drag artists can inspire each other and the drag-fans on many different levels.
Perfect: What do you enjoy most about drag?
ChelseaBoy: The most rewarding thing about drag is learning what encountering my art can mean for people's journey. It's for them to realise that whatever they think they see in me, they can only see if it's already inside them. I aspire to be an instigator for confidence, courage, vulnerability, creativity, self-acceptance, and maybe even self-love.
Perfect: What advice would you give someone who is interested in starting drag and exploring their gender?
ChelseaBoy: Play by your own rules. You create your own reality so never limit yourself by social constructs. Look for these constructs that you've held onto in life and kindly break them down. They've served you well, you no longer need them. Thank them and tell them goodbye. It's playtime baby! Keep on rising to new cosmic dimensions!
