Miss Katherine enjoys tea and caramel sponge in her front parlour with her dear friend, fashion guru and drag icon Glamourpuss, who excitedly discusses her return to the stage, art, roses, fashion and… Death by Drag!
Welcome to my parlour Glamourpuss! How does it feel to be back in drag after a long and well-earned rest?
Thank you! It is fun to get back into it again and fun to be amongst all the happenings on the scene.
As one of the judges at Connections’ Friday night Death by Drag, how are you finding the new drag babies?
Well, I have not seen too much yet, but there is a bit of promise there – a few interesting faces and I am quite interested in seeing what comes next.
Connections has a new general manager – is it nice to see Gavin again after all these years?
Yes, it is nice to see a friendly face. I probably would not have wanted to come back and done anything if it had not been for him. I feel really comfortable because he is really about the fun and happiness of the drag scene.
Where does your drag inspiration come from?
I have been very interested in the fashion industry my whole life, so my inspiration comes from there as well as art and film. My favourite fashion designer by far is Vivien Westwood, I love her evolution from her originations in the punk world to the high fashion that she is now.
In your other life as Matthew, an award winning senior stylist and hairdresser at Head Office, you must see fashion colors change all the time. What is your personal favourite colour in clothes?
That is a hard one! I really love wearing black in drag; it is not a color I wear at any other time. Out of drag I love bright aqua blues and bright yellows.
What is your big fashion colour forecast for this year?
Definitely jewel purples, deep and rich like amethyst, especially for the evenings.
Drag Mother?
Not as such, but Strykermyer and Cindy Pastel were my mentors when I was very young. I have been doing drag since 1993.
Do you have any advice for all the drag babies out there?
Yes, look outside the box, don’t look to drag queens within your own subculture, but look for inspiration from around the world – from international drag queens, from magazines, film, fashion and music – to find something fun, original, exciting and innovative.
Favourite drag queen of the moment?
I can’t go past Dita. I know she has just retired, but she is my favourite. Aside from Dita, it would have to be Sheila Mann.
Drink of choice?
Champagne – I love Verve.
Favourite saying?
[Taking in a majestic deep breath, flashing a beautiful Cheshire cat grin, blues eyes glistening with mischief, head tilting regally forward and speaking in very slow Queen’s English] ‘There is no need to chew my head off!’
Yes your majesty! I love you your majesty!