African-American drag queens are forced to walk a fine line or get labeled 'angry and confrontational'

For the drag community, you would have had to be living under a rock to not be up-to-date on the extremely controversial topic spreading across the nation about the drama that has been unfolding as a result of a heated conversation on a recent episode of "RuPaul's Drag Race".
If you aren't aware of this particular conversation, it centered around two African-American competitors, Monet X Change and The Vixen, and one of their Caucasian counterparts, Aquaria. On the episode of "Untucked", a discussion centered around the way African-American drag queens are viewed if they express their opinions in a boisterous manner to a drag queen who is not a minority.
Aquaria made a statement that was a bit shady to The Vixen, and when The Vixen responded and defended herself, Aquaria began to cry. This particular exchange, and the subsequent tearshed, sparked much debate. The Vixen, after Aquaria began to cry, made a statement that many African-American queens quietly (and some not-so-quietly) have voiced over the years.
The Vixen shared that although a non-minority person (in this case a drag queen) may begin an altercation with an African-American drag queen, and then when the African-American person responds in kind, and if the non-minority breaks down as a result, no one will remember that the non-minority started the altercation; all anyone will focus on will be how the African-American individual verbally attacked the other person.
On "Untucked", The Vixen accused Aquaria of setting up a scenario where no matter what the outcome, and no matter how their altercation began, The Vixen (the African-American drag queen) will be vilified by the viewers and seen as an "angry black drag queen".
(If you are unfamiliar with the episode, here is a breakdown.)
This particular issue has caused a tidal wave of heated arguments and discussions within not only the drag community, but in all communities across the board. It resonates on so many levels, and as an Old School glamour drag queen diva, I wanted to take a few steps back from the issue and look at it from all sides before offering up my two cents.
Never one to back down from any heated discussion, I will serve it up true to form ...
I must agree wholeheartedly with The Vixen's assessment of the situation, and not totally for the reasons you might assume. I do see The Vixen as a sort of a rebel who likes to bring uncomfortable issues to light, and at times she does go slightly overboard.
In my opinion and putting this in terms of the drag community ...
Being a vocal African-American drag queen, our race has endured this reputation for longer than I've been on this Earth. We must always try to walk a tightrope when we need to respond to any issue that we are targeted with in the scene. As President Theodore Roosevelt said, and the words hold true for the African-American community ... "We must speak softly and carry a big stick!"
Not sure if you know it or not, it was actually originated from a West African proverb. And the African-American community, and in this particular case the drag community, have to do just that so our voices will be heard. If we scream it at the top of our lungs, we are viewed as angry and confrontational.
I'm sorry, but I'm done with the shackles being placed on me.
I'm going to share with you exactly why this is all so restraining for me, and perhaps you will understand why The Vixen's words resonate so deeply with me.
When I'm onstage performing my drag, especially when I'm being judged in a competition, I found myself morphing into someone deemed "cute and sweet". One recent competition in Philly, Cycle 9 of Philly Drag Wars, I felt like I had no choice but to go overboard and be so far removed from any semblance of being angry or confrontational that I started to see myself as a shell of my former self.
I just needed to be liked and seen as a sweet, non-confrontational ingenue during the judging process - or I'd be discounted. And during the judging process, I know that if I'm viewed as an angry black queen, I might never get booked or find work in the drag arena. All of that thinking pushed me into a downward spiral, one that I was afraid would be detrimental to my drag career.
One of the judges during the competition said something so very disrespectful to me and treated me with such disregard that I was so very close to the brink of showing my Bernadine. For those who truly know me, they understand that there have been times in my past that I came across like I was a reincarnation of Angela Bassett's character Bernadine from the hit movie "Waiting to Exhale". So ever since then, some affectionately refer to me with the nickname Bernadine.
So when I felt like this particular judge was going to fall victim to the Bernadine treatment, I made the difficult decision to back away from the competition.
Was it a difficult decision? Yes.
Do I regret my choice? No.
See, I made a promise to myself that I would never allow anyone to see Bernadine again. And it was a promise I kept. So when this judge was so vicious to Miss Savannah Georgia, I didn't want me to be labeled "The Vixen" to the judge's "Aquaria".
We as African-American drag queens are forced to walk a fine line. And before you read me the riot act, I know that all races in the drag community can be labeled as "angry and confrontational". That's the way of the world we live in. But I wholeheartedly agree that African-American drag queens of all ages face this burden on a much higher level, and until we continue this dialogue that The Vixen has shoved to the forefront of the discussion, we will never rise above the chaos and begin to make serious changes.
So I want others to reach out to me, and further the discussion. I seek out your input and opinions, whether you agree with me or not. Because until we feel comfortable discussing uncomfortable topics, there will never be progress.
Hugs and kisses,
Miss Savannah Georgia

Never sell out your drag aesthetic just to please others or get bookings; it's not worth it in the end

I will admit it ... busting through the door to some of the drag scenes can be difficult. And it's going to be inevitable that some drag queens who have been in the scene a lot longer may not make it easy for the newer ones to share the spotlight.
That's just the way things go in any industry. So sometimes it may seem like the newer queens are being pushy or overly-anxious. That's not always the case.
So I'm going to preface this blog entry by saying that this is my opinion, and not what I've heard from other newer queens. These are the thoughts and feelings courtesy of Miss Savannah Georgia.
I spent the first year of my drag career by strictly focusing on performing at drag queen competition shows, benefits/fundraisers, and shows open to strictly amateur queens. I made that decision when I first started this journey because I was well aware that I would have to pay my dues. And I don't regret that decision one bit. I've learned so much and it cultivated me into who I wanted to be.
This is why I decided to compete in the Philly Drag Wars weekly competition last year. I had so much fun, and it also helped me to realize that I might be more suited to work in the Philly drag scene, in addition to NJ's drag circuit. Philly seemed to afford me more of an opportunity to showcase my Old School glamour drag, and there are so many fierce queens in the Philly area who opened their hearts to me.
I also felt a bit out of place doing my drag in NJ sometimes because ~ and don't kill me when I write this ~ I felt as though NJ was very much more interested in the pageant queens, their sister pageant queens, and their performances. I wasn't sure if the drag queen pageant scenes were for Miss Savannah, so I wanted to analyze my feelings and desires for competing in drag pageants before I dipped my toe in that pool.
Not sure yet how I feel about Miss Savannah competing in pageants, so time will tell.
But I must open up about something that has been on my mind for a while about the drag scene and being inviting to newer queens. And I know that this opinion might not be popular because there's always been two sides to this issue.
It has bothered me that despite doing any and all shows ~ whether it be competition shows or benefits, not many seasoned queens will open the door and let us in. It's always a fight, and sometimes I feel as if I will forever need to bulldoze my way into the drag scene. It can be disheartening at times.
Now don't get me wrong ~ I know that it is a process and we all have to struggle, claw and scratch our way through the doors of the drag shows. It just feels as if some queens have to struggle harder.
And I'm not saying that I'm the ultimate drag queen performer; not saying that in any way, shape or form because I know that I'm not at the top of my game just yet (so don't tackle or read me if you think I'm saying that; you'd be mistaken). But when do the more seasoned queens allow the newer queens into the doors? A year? Five years? Longer?
Now the reason why I ask this question is because these things get into my mindset and it causes me to fall into thoughts of slight insecurity. When this happens, I tend to get into my head and think that I may have to alter Savannah Georgia to suit others' needs.
For instance, this happened recently when I was competing in another cycle of the Philly Drag Wars competition and I felt like I had to "pop-tart" my performance for one of its judges just to win her over. I went overboard, and my performance suffered; in fact, I hated my performance as well because I felt like I was giving something up in Savannah to do something I'd sworn I'd never do ~ PLEASE ANOTHER PERSON WHILE ON STAGE!
The last few weeks I've beat myself up so bad, that when it came to the next challenge, I literally went broke trying to cultivate a five-star performance by renting things for the show and spending big bucks just to, once again, prove something to one of the judges who I felt hasn't ever given me a chance because (rumor has it) she isn't too hyped on older drag queens performing. I had no idea or proof that was true, but it got into my head very deeply.
Ultimately, that week's performance was postponed due to a heavy snowstorm and I had to go through rental costs for a second time (which I had no funds to do so). Then, I got into my head that if I can't pay for a stellar performance, I'm not going to get ripped apart for doing something less-than, so I'd better bow out.
Then one morning I took a long look in the mirror and realized something ... Why am I putting my ultimate love of drag at risk just to please others??? Why am I selling my Savannah out just to make someone happy??? I'm Miss Savannah Georgia, and as long as I am happy with my Old School drag style, the hell with any naysayers!
Those things that had laid doormat in the back of my mind:
"Some people need Savannah to perform the pop-tart artists who inundate the airwaves these days. Some people need Savannah to be much more current. Some people need Savannah to dive into the pageant circuit to be appreciated. Some people need Savannah to sell out a little to appear on my stage."
Well ... this is bunch of bulls&*t!! And now I know it and I'm no longer getting in my head about this issue ~ thank heavens!
Miss Savannah Georgia is an Old School glamour drag diva performer, and she performs to Old School divas like Diana Ross, Patti LaBelle, Minnie Riperton, Natalie Cole, Dinah Washington, Stevie Nicks, Pat Benatar, Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, early Whitney Houston, Annie Lennox, Anita Baker, Donna Summer, Alicia Bridges, Cheryl Lynn, Teena Marie, Taylor Dayne, Deborah Harry, Irene Cara, Patty Smythe, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, etc. ~ the list goes on. And it's Savannah's job to teach the audiences about those divas, the old school divas who paved the way for the divas who are in the forefront these days.
I entered the drag scene with that purpose in mind, and I've been content with doing exactly that.
But then people got it into my head that to actually get bookings, that I may have to sell out a little to make it happen. And then a few times that I've done this, especially in competitions, it has turned out somewhat disastrous. And then I look at myself in the mirror and want to throw a brick at the person looking back.
Well NO MORE of that thinking, because when all is said and done, I need to stay true to Miss Savannah Georgia and her Old School drag! And if some people in charge of booking shows won't or can't enjoy the ride with her and see the need to not open up their shows to the Old School glamour drag diva, I'll just have to bust through the doors any way that I can. Even if I have to travel the country with all my stuff in the trunk and appear in every bar in every state!
I'll continue to prove myself, and as long as there is a stage for her to step on, Savannah will keep it stepping.
And no more being in my head, thinking I've got to change to get gigs. It's a waste of my time, energy and spirit.
So my plea (of sorts) in respect of my fellow newer queens to the more seasoned queens and show producers ~~ open the door a bit wider, because there are more drag queens who are patiently trying to bust through those doors.
Editor's note: A special thanks to a few who have sought out and booked this little 'ole queen, such as The Lady Marisa (drag host of Georgies' Glitter & Glam show in Asbury Park, NJ), Paradise's Bitchy Bingo drag host Holly Girlington, and Sugar Babylon/House of Trash/singer for Tight Lipped and fabulous friend, stylist and show producer Joy Vay (who has me perform at her shows at Brighton Bar in Long Branch, NJ).
Hugs and kisses, Miss Savannah Georgia!

One year down for Miss Savannah Georgia; dozens more years to go for this fierce queen!

Hey y'all! It's my one year anniversary!
I'm not even going to say that I didn't think I was going to make it past year one, because I knew that this determined drag queen could do anything she wanted to do.
If you want to read all about how I made my way into the drag world, you can read it here. It definitely does make for an interesting read, if I must say so myself.
But I digress.
I have learned so much during my first year in the industry. I learned that it's totally perfectly absolutely fine to be an Old School glamour drag queen. We may be considered a dying breed, but we sure can't be kept down. I also learned that people will help you, and yet some others will hurt you by not helping you. They may think they've hurt Miss Savannah, but honestly they haven't. They just made me work harder to do it by myself, and that makes me a hell of a lot stronger than them.
I just have to give a shout-out to some of those sister drag queens who've done so much to help me out, help me learn my make-up styles, helped me learn the ins-and-outs of the drag world, and have helped me cultivate this stunning, fabulous, fierce creature we have all come to know and love as Miss Savannah Georgia.
First off, I must thank Lea Sky (Jason Marquez). She's not my literal drag sister by family, but she is my sister in drag who I consider family. A former Miss Paradise who demonstrates all the qualities of a Queen, sister, family and true friend, this beautiful queen did my make-up for the first time and gave me the confidence I so desperately needed to take that stage and look fierce while doing so. (If you read the other blog from the link I supplied earlier, you will get the full story). I love Lea to the sky and back, and she has always been in my corner.
I must send love and a hearty thank you to Lady Marisa (Anthony Sabato). Another former Miss Paradise, this lady sets the bar high, and not many can reach her. But in all seriousness, Lady Marisa has been so very supportive of me. She has helped me at times with my make-up, given me the honor of her vast knowledge, helped me navigate this thing we call drag, has helped me backstage on numerous occasions, and to top it all off, she booked me for my very first show, her weekly hosting show Glitter & Glam at Georgies Bar in Asbury Park. I don't know what I would have done without her.
I also must thank a few other drag queens:
Rhedd Rhumm (Richard Elliot) and Mancie Mandell ~ both of these queens have helped me do my make-up and have given me invaluable tips that I still use and will forever use;
Albert Smith, who has helped me so much getting ready backstage on numerous occasions and has offered this queen supportive words and encouragement all of the time;
Jolina Jasmine (Todd Devyn), another former Miss Paradise, who has given of her words of knowledge, her help to me backstage on many occasions, and one of the best wigs I have to date;
Vinchelle (Vincent Leggett), a true friend in every sense of the word. She is one of Philly's biggest, most successful drag queens, and who served as my mentor when I performed in Philly Drag Wars. This Queen has given me encouragement, drag tips, help with song mixes, and has helped me to show grace under pressure throughout the competition;
Mimi Imfurst (Braden Chapmen), one of the fabulous queens from RuPaul's Drag Race Season 3 who served as host of Philly Drag Wars. She was not only a mentor, but she made no bones about kicking my butt into gear (a much-needed kick I must confess) when I was one of the contestants. She gave me some encouraging words (which I use to this day) ~~ "You have a special kind of drag, one which this competition hasn't seen in awhile. You represent the old school style of drag, the LADIES of drag. We need that here, and that's one of the reasons why you are here. Don't forget that, and don't give us the young girls' drag because you think that's what we want. You can run circles around these 20-something queens, so please do that. We want to see you be YOU, and then you can take Savannah Georgia to the end!"
Holly Girlington (Joseph Garofolo), one of Paradise's top shelf drag queens who booked me to co-host her weekly summer show, Bitchy Bingo. A true comedy queen, her encouragement has helped to give me the ability to merge my style into what it is today.
My sisters during my stint in Philly Drag Wars Cycle 8, who showed me love and introduced me up-close to so many different styles of drag! My debt to those girls will never be repaid, because they still inspire me. I miss those girls and cannot wait to share the stage with them once again! Just one of the reasons why the Philly drag scene is my focus from now one, for the most part. I'll get into that entire issue in an upcoming blog post.
I'm sure there are many queens who've helped me that I'm forgetting at the time of this writing, but I will thank them as time goes by.
Also, there have been a few who have let me down in numerous ways during this past year. And trust, I wouldn't be the shady comedy queen that I am if I weren't to mention them over time as well. All the T and shade will come to light - stay tuned!
But this initial blog post for the newest hot topic blog, "Drag me to Georgia", is almost complete. I just wanted to introduce my new blog, let the world know what I'm all about, and take a bite out of some tires. Miss Savannah Georgia has been around for a little over a year, and I'm having so much fun with her.
My next blog will delve into the true reasons why Miss Savannah will NOT be taking part in any more competition drag shows in Asbury Park, and also what her next plans will be.
To find out this and more, stay tuned. Miss Savannah Georgia is just beginning to deliver the T and the shade, so you won't want to miss out!
Hugs and kisses, Miss Savannah XOXO