The drag scene might have faced a lot of attacks in the last few years, but drag performers continue to survive and thrive. To celebrate the joys of this unique style of entertainment, we put together a slideshow of 24 performers you can catch around Louisville or even just follow on Instagram.
As always, this list is both unranked and non-exhaustive there’s no way we could choose one queen to rule them all. (Our readers apparently can, though, since we have a “Best Drag Queen” category in our annual Readers’ Choice issue. Go figure.)
Check out our list in the gallery above.
@gildawabbit
You may have seen her on “Camp Wannakiki,” but you’ve almost certainly seen her in the original “This is the future that liberals want” meme. She hosts events at Play Louisville regularly.
Photo via gildawabbit/Instagram@missjadejolie
This former Playmate at Play Louisville (and Taylor Swift impersonator) dressed as Swift in the music video for “You Need to Calm Down,” which starred other LGBT celebs like Ellen DeGeneres, Billy Porter and RuPaul.
Photo via missjadejolie/Instagram@anya_androvna
Androvna, who describes herself as “Louisville’s PREMIER androgynous drag queen,” was one of LEO’s@scarletenvy
You know her from the viral “Is it me? Am I the drama?” audio clip, but did you know she’s also from Louisville? The former “Drag Race” contestant hosted a show/meet-and-greet at Purrfect Day Cat Cafe in 2022 called “Purr, SLAY, Sip.”
Photo via scarletenvy/Instagram@zsazsagabortion
Zsa Zsa Gabortion designs and sews outfits for other queens, including Jade Jolie. Unrelatedly, Gabortion once dressed up as “sexy Colonel Sanders.” Very fitting for a Kentuckian drag artist!
Photo via zsazsagabortion/Instagram@dustyray
Dusty Ray Bottoms might live in New York City now, but she hails from Louisville originally. (In fact, Dustin Rayburn left Kentucky because of their experiences with conversion therapy, for which they starred in a recent documentary, “Conversion.”)
Photo via dustyray/Instagram@theaubreyjae
Aubrey Jae won Best Drag Queen in LEO’s Readers’ Choice Awards last year. She hosts drag brunches and Board & You and The Hub.
Photo via theaubreyjae/Instagram@themayonays
Very fittingly for a queen with a food name, May O’Nays loves to cook — and she even teaches cooking (and gardening) classes in Louisville!
Photo via themayonays/Instagram@lyra.so.naughty
This drag queen is also a scene queen: she loves emo/goth/pop-punk looks.
Photo via lyra.so.naughty
/Instagram@steviedicks666
She might be named after the ethereal Fleetwood Mac singer, but Stevie Dicks is no stranger to performing as terrifying characters: Voldemort, Swamp Thing, the Evil Queen from “Snow White,” Freddy Krueger and more.
Photo via steviedicks666/Instagram@lelehalston
Leah Halston hails from Texas originally, but you can find her hosting shows at Play Louisville three nights a week. Oh, and did you know she’s also a Kentucky Colonel?
Photo via lelehalston/Instagram@thesydnihampton
Sydni Hampton is a podcast hostess, an ordained minister and a frequent performer in Louisville.
Photo via thesydnihampton/Instagram@uminaughty
Umi Naughty is a queen of many pop culture costumes. Whether it’s Lady Olenna from “Game of Thrones” or Dexter from “Dexter’s Laboratory,” you never know which character you’ll meet next.
Photo via uminaughty/Instagram@shes_champagne
Champagne is a queen with a bubbly personality. You’ll see her performing her best dance moves at Le Moo’s drag brunch.
Photo via shes_champagne/Instagram@melodyxvalentine
Melody Valentine is the self-proclaimed “semi-educated bimbo” of the Play Louisville scene. You can often catch her posting photos or hanging out with Lexi Love.
Photo via melodyxvalentine/Instagram@tana.boots
Tana Boots calls herself Louisville’s “glamour clown,” but you won’t see her performing with a tiny car. Her costumes and performances pay homage to classics like “Saw and “The Mask.”
Photo via tana.boots/InstagramPhotos from Instagram@vanessademornay
This self-described “life-sized Barbie” has a number of titles under her belt that come from more than a decade of drag experience.
Photo via vanessademornay/Instagram@chyna_versace
Chyna Versace is all glitz and glamor. This queen was crowned Miss Play Newcomer in the Kentuckiana Pride Foundation’s Court in 2022.
Photo via chyna_versace/Instagram@bevhellz
Beverly Hellz is a host at Play Louisville’s “Haute Mess Wednesday.” This vivacious gal is often found raising hell at Le Moo, too.
Photo via bevhellz/Instagram@mslexilove
Lexi Love is a playmate at Play Louisville whose performances will tug at your heartstrings. She’s also very good friends with Melody Valentine.
Photo via mslexilove/Instagram@uv_dragon
You might see Uhstel H. Valentine at Play Louisville for a heart-stopping performance.
Photo via uv_dragon/Instagram@vytchtryells
This former Miss Gay Lexington doesn’t just do drag — she also does ballet! She’s also placed in LEO’s “Best Drag Queen” category in Readers’ Choice several times in the last few years.
Photo via vytchtryells/Instagram@therealdianarae
Diana Rae is the featured “plus size showstopper” at Play Louisville, where you can see her multiple nights a week.
Photo via therealdianarae/Instagram
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