Blackberri (left) and Barry Mii Dandy (proper) are two of Houston’s most beloved drag performers…they usually’re simply getting began.
This story is a part of our “Causes to Love Houston” package deal, revealed within the Spring 2025 difficulty.
Houston has traditionally been, and nonetheless very a lot is as we speak, the core of Texas’s LGBTQ+ tradition and advocacy. Archivists and documenters work arduous to protect native queer historical past so it’s not misplaced to time. Many nonprofits are on the bottom in Houston’s serving to individuals with their particular wants. And drag continues to be alive and properly…we even have drag queens and drag kings. We spoke with Blackberri and Barry Mii Dandy about what drag means to them.
Blackberri, the drag queen slaying round city.
Generally known as “The Bearded Fantastic thing about Texas,” Blackberri is a nationally famend performer who has appeared on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula and received a number of native awards solidifying her as Houston’s favourite drag queen.
How did you get into drag?
Blackberri: I went to highschool for musical theater in Louisiana. I actually didn’t get pleasure from it, so I moved to Texas, after which I began to go to highschool for vogue design. I had a buddy that did drag, and I might assist them with their costumes and repair zippers and tighten attire and stuff like that. And at some point I used to be like, “I feel I can do that.” I signed up for a neighborhood drag competitors right here in Houston, and I had no expertise in any respect, like, by no means put make-up on my face. And I simply sort of figured it out. I threw it on, after which I simply began doing drag. It simply sort of occurred as, like, a dare to myself.
What do you get pleasure from about it?
B: I feel getting onstage and making individuals snort and have an excellent time. That was the factor that introduced me pleasure, seeing everybody else’s reactions and them not worrying about what’s occurring exterior of the bar. That’s what made me get pleasure from myself.
What went into creating the Blackberri drag persona?
B: I bought the title “Blackberri” from being Black. Additionally, as a result of I’m thick and juicy. I used to be attempting to consider one thing that went with that. Within the homosexual group, we’ve got one thing known as “bears,” that are larger guys with facial hair. And since I’m a bearded queen, I believed that may be actually cute to have “Blackberri.” Nevertheless it’s additionally “bear…” I used to be being actually meta.
What have been some of the highlights of your drag profession?
B: I did a Fb Tremendous Bowl business that was out of nowhere. It was life-changing. After which final 12 months, I used to be a contestant on The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula season 5, and I made it to the finale. I virtually received. These gave me a chance to tour throughout the nation, carry out in entrance of tons of and tons of of individuals. I’ve been capable of journey throughout this lovely nation simply doing drag.
The place do you see the drag scene in Houston going sooner or later?
B: There’s so many entertainers which have blown up in Houston just lately, like myself and Mistress Isabelle Brooks from RuPaul’s Drag Race. And final season on Dragula, that they had one other contestant from Houston. I feel the doorways have opened up, and I really feel just like the world lastly has its eyes on Houston. I really feel like we’re solely simply starting our ascent into greatness.
Barry Mii Dandy, the drag king who’s making area.
OutSmart journal named Barry Mii Dandy its “finest new drag king” in 2022, and two years later gave him their “favourite drag king” award.
What are your favourite issues about drag?
Barry Mii Dandy: I’ve all the time liked vogue and dressing up. And even earlier than I did drag, I might put on wigs on a day-to-day foundation. So I feel with the ability to put my creativity in eager to mess around with make-up and vogue and making a personality. Outdoors of drag, I’m very shy, so I feel drag additionally gave me an outlet to have the ability to wish to have consideration, however in a method that I’m performing it. I’ve all the time danced my complete life. I’m not classically skilled or something. As I all the time say, “I’m simply Mexican and I bought rhythm!”
What evokes your fantastic, very detailed costumes, just like the hilarious Elf on a Shelf?
BMD: Actually, I really like an excellent theme. If someone provides me a theme to work off of, I’ll provide you with one thing to suit that. I really like motion pictures. I really like music. I really like bands. I really like a bunch of stuff. My mind simply works so properly with some sort of immediate, I suppose.
The place do you hope to take your drag profession from right here?
BMD: I really feel like I’m a really day-to-day sort of individual, but when I used to be to attempt to have a aim, I might love to have the ability to carry out on each single stage in Houston. That’s a feat {that a} drag king normally doesn’t get right here in Houston. So I might love individuals [to] see me and it’s like, “Oh, OK! I get it.” Outdoors of Houston, I’d prefer to, in some unspecified time in the future in my profession, journey across the nation.
How would you prefer to problem your self each time you hit a brand new stage?
BMD: My aim for this 12 months was need[ing] to attempt to get larger and considerably extra elaborate costuming. I do like to create my very own accent items and headpieces and stuff like that. If I’m able to go on extra levels, I will create larger issues. So it’s extra to take a look at, as a result of I really like little particulars. I really like just a little extra-ness.
What would you prefer to see for the drag group right here in Houston, shifting ahead?
BMD: I feel we’re already very numerous, however I really feel like the principle levels that we’ve got typically aren’t probably the most numerous. I might like to see extra kings. I might like to see extra nonbinary performers. I might like to see extra artsy performers, as a result of we do have levels for all of this, however I really feel like they’re very pick-and-choose-y. I really feel like it will be wonderful to have the ability to see totally different types of drag.
