Meet: Vanila Honey-Bush

So, as most of you know, Vanila Honey-Bush is my roommate. When I first met Ryan (Vanila) he was with Dan, at a Khris Francis show.  And, if I'd realized at that time, that they were not a couple, I could have saved myself some poor decisions made during singlehood...I can't remember if I met Vanila before or after Ryan moved to Connecticut.  I want to say it was before, and I know I'll be corrected later, if I'm wrong about it. 

Anyway, Vanila was the second person to respond to my plea for research help.  And, it's always good to find out more about people you live with anyway, right? Especially, those with multiple personalities...

If you read the Meet: Bunny Wonderland post, you'll recognize the questions, as it's a set set of questions, that I put out there.

How did you get your start in drag?

I started drag when I was 19. My mother had a fascination with wigs and make-up. When she died, I entered a drag competition in Yboy City Florida wearing her hair and clothes.  I started really to pay homage to her but then discovered I loved it!

How did you get your drag name? (I should've, and probably will later, asked who named Delani?)

My original drag name was Delani Stevens. Didn't really have any meaning to it. I changed my drag name in 2012 to Vanila Honey-Bush at the request of my roommates at the time. I was drinking a tea and the name of the tea was Vanilla Honeybush and they said that it was me!

What is your favorite part of doing drag? 

My favorite part of doing drag is the social reactions. I love being the center of attention no matter where I go. Lets face it, queens certainly get noticed.

That's for sure.  Queens definitely get noticed, for a myriad of reasons.  

Queens tend to get categorized (ie. Comedy, Club Kid, Pageant Queen) What category do you consider yourself to be?

 I would probably get thrown into pageant queen strictly for my more "fishy" look, but I like to think I can be a healthy combo of many categories.

Have you ever experienced stage fright while performing? How did you overcome it?

 I have always been ok with the stage and spotlight. Don't ever really have to overcome that.

Have you ever won any titles/awards?

 I have won one title and currently still hold the title of Miss Blackstones 2013

Tell me about some of your (good or bad) backstage experiences with other queens.

Backstage with queens is not pretty. Think about it, most of the time back stage is spent changing and re-applying so tucks are popping and wigs are off.

Is it sad that I was almost disappointed by this answer. I was hoping to hear more horror stories, like the boots freakout. But, I get it. This is a good way to stay on everyone's good side.  Besides, if I grill her more, I'm sure I can get some dirt on some bad backstage experiences...something worse than seeing someone pop a tuck...

Do you do your own hair, makeup, costuming? Or do you have help with some or all of the above?

 I do my own make-up and buy my own clothes. Haven't really been a huge costume kind of girl. When it comes to hair, I buy. I could style my own if I wanted, however I have an awesome friend... Shaunna Rai who helps with that.

Tell me about a memorable adventure that you've had that you would not have had if not for drag. 

Most memorable drag adventure.... hmmmm thats a hard one.  I may have to come back to you on that as most of the times are quite memorable.

She's right with this. In just the year plus, that I've known her, there have been some very memorable times.  I think the one that stands out the most (for me), was when she and Shaunna Rai faced off as Kelly Clarkson and Pink, respectively, in Boston, within days of the Boston Marathon bombing...

When you're out of drag, what do you do? (ie. Work, fun,etc.)

 I tend to be in drag a lot.. I enjoy it. My boss the other day, said to me... I am a 9-5 boy, so I can be an 8-1 girl. I work in International Travel and will be out and about almost every night. Im extremely social.

Tell me anything else that you think might be important for me to know to get inside the head of a drag queen. 

When it comes to a queen don't ever assume you know the reasoning behind why they dress. I find it best just to let it ride.