Miss Katherine invited Dita into her front parlour to discuss ballet, travel, fame and flowers over a hot cup of afternoon tea.
Miss Katherine: I just have to ask, are you a Perth girl?
Dita: Yes, I am a Perth girl. I grew up in the Fremantle area.
K: How long have you been doing drag for?
D: 13 years. I am now 28.
K: You are so sexy on stage. Have you had any formal dance training?
D: Thank you! Yes, I was a ballerina for seven years for Dianna Davoss. She was also my dance teacher.
K: And who makes your fabulous clothes?
D: I buy old clothes and cut them up… and make new outfits out of them.
K: [coughs] You make them yourself?!
D: Yes.
K: How clever! They look divine… Do you have a drag mother?
D: No, but my first drag sisters were Sheila Mann and Delta Force… I had already been doing drag for five years, but moved to the Gold Coast for two years with my other job and met them when I returned. It was great to be able to do shows with new people.
K: Oh goodness! I have read about them…. Do you have any hobbies?
D: I like to travel. I have been to Europe, all around Australia and Asia.
K: Have you done any shows overseas?
D: Yes, Chlamydia, myself and Swish performed in Malaysia in Kuching, which is the second largest island in Malaysia. We stayed there for awhile and did shows. The audiences there really loved us. I think because we were performing to straight people they were very easy to entertain. They had never come into contact with camp humour before.
K: Are you performing at the moment?
D: Not right now, I have hair on my chest! My last show was at Connections Nightclub.
K: [laughs] Where is your favourite place to perform?
D: I really like the crowd at the Court Hotel because everyone loves drag, The Court crowd is very mixed and people are just starting their night out so they are not just interested in… umm… the pretty lights.
K: Have you performed anywhere else?
D: Yes, Club West. Club West is fantastic. It is a completely different crowd to the normal ‘seen and be seen’ crowd. They go out to just have fun and are an easy crowd to please because they are there to see drag shows for a good cause.
K: Who is your favourite drag queen?
D: I used to love watching Cindy Pastel. She was so entertaining
K: What is your favourite colour?
D: I really love very bright apple green
K: (yuck) Oh really… do you wear apple green?
D: [laughs] I don’t have a single thing in apple green.
K: …and favourite fabric?
D: Velvet with glitter on it… I have worn this a few times, so I have to re-powder it up with glitter!
K: If there was anywhere in the world you could live, where would it be?
D: I would need to see New York first, but if I liked it I would live there. Of the places I have already been to Barcelona would be my favourite.
K: Favourite actor?
D: My favourite actress has to be Cate Blanchett. I think she is brilliant. I don’t have a favourite male actor… hang on… yes, Alexis Arquette, she is my favourite actor! She played Boy George in the movie ‘The Wedding Singer’ and reminded me of Marilyn from the ’80s. And now, my favourite hair colour? [laughs]
K: No, hang on! Favourite flower?
D: Callas Lilies.
K: Favourite magazine?
D: Famous.
K: Ha, ha, ha.
