Well hello there Vicki St. James! I am so excited to be talking with you this evening. How is spring shaping up in the Hoosier State?
It’s finally decided to actually show up. Indiana is one state that can never decide whether to be winter or summer
Are you a lifelong native of Indiana?
No ma’am. I was born here and lived here until my parents divorced and then my Mommy and I moved to Atlanta to be near her sisters. There she married my stepfather and we moved every year or so between Florida, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia.
Wow! How do you feel that shaped you growing up on the move like that? What brought you back to Indiana as an adult?
It was hard! I knew I was different. But I didn’t know how. So I was always the new kid. And a girly awkward one at that. Growing up in a churchy family, it was hard to fit in or feel comfortable. I never knew when we were going to pick up and start over. My mother and stepfather finally divorced and we moved back home to Indiana to be close to my grandmothers and my Aunt. Then she and I started over. We finally got to put down roots when I was fourteen.
So when did you start to realize you were a little different growing up? Did you think you were gay when you were young?
I knew at age four with clarity. I can remember the exact time and place. We lived in Lafayette, Indiana and I begged mommy to “make me a girl”. She of course gave me the speech about her not being able to do that and that God made me a little boy. I remember I still knew she loved me and I didn’t feel scolded. I felt disappointed. Eventually she knew I played dress up and she even played me with me a few times. I remember I called myself Connie Kitt. *Laughs*
Did you have any exposure to drag at that point?
Only Bugs Bunny, Flip Wilson, Milton Berle and Gilligan’s Island.
So how did you end up getting involved in drag?
I would always dress up when Mommy was gone. I came out at 17. And I then moved out on my own. I met local queens and they put me in face. I loved it actually good makeup. Felt pretty and “normal “Then tried finding names again . Maxine Priest ( because I had a crush on the singer Maxie Priest) Then I settled on Vicki with no last name after my Yorkshire terrier. Then I met my first love, moved with him to college he was attending IU. After moving to Bloomington in 1992, I met bar queens and came up with the last name.
What was the drag scene like in Indiana at that point?
Drag was huge! Indiana had BIG names from here, Chelsea Pearl, Jeana Jones, Netasha Edwards. The scene was very big on pageants.
Bloomington is where Indiana University is, right? So was it a young gay crowd, college kids and such? How did you find your niche in a big scene?
Yes. It had a popular gay bar, Bullwinkles, and due to the university, it had one of the biggest gay populations per capita. I started as the girl that just helped out backstage. I was in beauty school so they trusted me to do hair and some makeup. Then one day I was around when someone canceled and I got my first booking.From there, I grew in local popularity. I ended up getting a gig hosting the largest student-run drag pageant and that turned into a 23 year hosting gig. We grew from 200 in the audience to audiences over 3000 people and holding it at the IU Auditorium!
So you had already transitioned before you got to Bloomington with your first love?
No, I was only dressing for fun. He was ok with drag but not transitioning. I started getting deeper in my desire to be full time. We broke up and then I started transitioning in 1995. No one forced me. I did it trying to be myself or what I thought would make me feel more like myself.
What was it like transitioning in the 90’s? I would think there were a lot less resources available to you back then.
Way less resources! We got our hormones from older queens and we all shared the same bottle or got pills from overseas!
How did that affect your transition? Was that a start and stop situation for you? Was there concern about possible danger or risks from overseas hormones?
It was never consistent. Sometimes it was American hormones, other times it was Greek hormones, often times there were hormones from the Thailand area. some were pills and some shots. There there was a hesitation at times because I was worried about it, but like I said earlier, there was a desperation to be more feminine because hormones made me feel more normal than I did without them. Yes, there were always mood swings and often times we were making up our own dosages. Sometimes your best bet was to get the hormones from Greece if you were getting shots because they were in a little glass vile. Sometimes a girl would fill that bottle with baby oil and sell you a shot for $20 or $50, and you would be getting a shot of baby oil or mineral oil or God only knows what! It could’ve been legitimate hormones or it could have been watered down. You just never knew, plus doing hormones on your own is not a recommended thing. I’ve learned that taking those doses the way that we did increased,our risk for strokes or aneurysms, so I think we were all pretty darn lucky. I enjoy getting my hormones now from a doctor. I have now been on the patch for about two years. It’s not enjoyable. I’m allergic to adhesives so I do have a little bit of a rash from the patches, however, over the age of forty, being on hormones with injectables runs the risk of a stroke. That’s my knowledge, of course, not a medical quote.
I know silicone or pumping as it was called was prevalent among queens who were transitioning then, despite being dangerous. Did you end up doing that or know people who did?
Yes I got my first silicone breast treatment on someone’s bed for 300 bucks.
I can’t imagine how painful that was.
Painful! I was desperate to look like my idea of me. I was very underweight. 5’9”, 118 pounds. The lady rubbed my chest and said this will hurt since you have no body fat . So as I was laying there, she shoved six needles in a circle around my chest on each side. Then she started pumping and the skin ripped away from the bones of my chest. One of my girl friends was holding my hand. I wanted to stop and raised my head up to look down while laying there and knew I had to finish because I only had one right boob and a flat boney left chest.
You poor thing! How long did you have to endure that to finish?
It was horrific! I ended up getting pumped several more times from 1996 to 2002 in a desperate attempt to just relate to my own body and honestly, I still am trying. Recently I opted for an orchiectomy, or more bluntly, castration. Years ago in my teens and twenties I was a cutter 95% of the time small cuts on my genitalia because it was the source of my internal pain. Waking up after castration I was worried how I would feel. I didn’t know what to expect. I remember asking myself and I felt like something was “right” Then the nurse told me they had me in a jockstrap and it was packed with gauze! AWKWARD! That was a shock to my head since I hadn’t used one since I was fourteen!
I’m currently on the list for vaginoplasty and some facial feminization. I want to look into getting some of the silicone removed but I’m scared, you know, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. My breasts at this point are mostly meat and potatoes, with a healthy twenty eight years of hormones and about five silicone sessions.I’ve had my forehead, cheeks, lips, laugh lines, chin, breasts, nipples, hips and butt all pumped. I’m a personal floatation device!
Thank you for being so open about everything! So now that we have hopefully opened some eyes, let’s talk about your drag! When did you take on the full Vicki St. James name? Do you have a drag mother?
In 1991 and my Drag Mother is Staci Stevens. She was first alternate at Miss Gay USA at Large. Years later when she kind of quit drag, I was working with Chelsea Pearl and she really taught me a lot about drag and so she is also one of my drag moms.
Chelsea Pearl is one of the real legends of drag that some of the younger people might not know a lot about. Can you talk a little bit about her?
I saw her first at a bar in Indy called The Ten. She was mesmerizing, such a huge stage presence and she made it look easy. Then the next time I saw her she was a contestant for a US of A prelim and she was doing her talent number on a prop that was built about six feet off the ground. There were stairs on the side of it that she was supposed to go down. She was performing and walking towards those stairs, only the stairs weren’t locked in the right place and so she fell off hitting the stage below behind the prop! On cue with the words, she reappeared and continued the number. She broke her foot I think and still won the pageant! That woman was amazing!
I kind of feel like drag might have been more fun then, without the pressures of social media and television shows. What do you think about that?
Social media is a two headed beast. It’s great for reconnecting with people and staying informed and advertising shows but, it’s also so easy to cause harm with. Now if you have beef with someone, you blast them on line and stuff gets ugly. Back then, you had to run into each other in person to continue your argument. Plus these days everyone is a keyboard gangster.
But I can remember once back in the 1980’s, we would drive an hour in makeup to another city to go hang out in drag. Driving home, I had four other queens in my car and we got pulled over. A cop had been following us and pulled us over because he shined the light and couldn’t see through our car because of all the hair. So we got pulled over he asked for my ID which of course was male and he quickly caught on that we were a bunch of drag queens. He made us get out on the side of the highway because at that time there was an unwritten rule that they used to threaten gays with if you were cross-dressing or in drag, you had to have on three articles of men’s clothing in order to not be arrested, so we would all wear multiple pairs of underwear to tuck and then we would use multiple pairs of socks as breasts and we would wear our boy jeans instead of a skirt. So basically he had us strip down to our underwear or at least expose our underwear to prove we were wearing male underwear, and he made us take off our wigs and our bras and take our socks out of our bras. I didn’t get a ticket or anything but it was very scary but also comical looking back on it. I’m quite sure if we had had social media back then it would’ve been a major hoopla!
Let’s talk about one of my favorite topics, drag pageantry. How many pageant would you say you’ve competed in over the years?
I’ve done ten or so pageants over the years and I believe I’ve won eight of those. My first win was Miss Gay Indiana and I was the 17th queen to do so. I went once to Miss Gay America and received a standing ovation in Talent prelim night. Other than that I was very forgettable in that competition. I was really new and if I’m honest I probably wasn’t as prepared as I thought I was at the time . But, you know when you’re young you “think” you have the world by the balls and have everything figured out. After that, I toyed with some local titles and won Miss Terre Haute. Miss Bloomington, Miss Iowa Continental, Miss Queen of Queens, and I am the only one to ever be Miss Indiana Continental twice. And I am the emeritus Miss Gay IU!
Would you consider Miss Continental to be your prefered system?
I would most definitely. I would watch old VCR tapes over and over time and again. I fell in love with it and its formers. To me their opening was always the best and the parade of formers had me hooked every time. I have enjoyed working with many of them over the years. I have competed there total of three times and while I don’t think I’ll ever go back, I would love to switch over and do Miss Continental Elite at least once. I am pretty sure that’s the plan. I may get there and want to go a few times but, I do enjoy my solitude at home with my babies and my yard.
Now by babies you mean the four legged type?
I do! I currently have a longhair dachshund, a Toy Fox Terrier and a Chinese Crested, my girls!
But you’ve already raised two legged children as well with your ex, yes? What was that experience like for you?
The highlight of my life! We adopted his sister’s two boys and got them out of foster care to stop them from being passed from family member to family member. They are grown now, 32 and 33. I really loved being a mom . I worked at the bars on weekends and traveled, then I was home all week , making dinner, doing homework, riding bikes as a family. My husband worked during the week so after school, the boys and I would spend a lot of time together.
That’s such a wonderful story. As we know in our community, family can be what we make of it.
Yes that is so true. I also have a slew of drag children and they have been scattered across my career. I love them and I have a different relationship with each one.
What was the biggest thing you had to learn about being a mother?
Gosh that is tough. I had an excellent mom so I knew what I wanted to do. I just guess I had to learn how to balance and juggle it with my drag career. My boys never had a loving mom before coming to live with me. They were never nurtured. It made me angry at their mom. They deserved better and so I tried to be that mom that made cookies, let them drag home pets, have fun excursions but also, we still had chores, rules and responsibilities and a little more normalcy than they had prior. I was even a room mother when my sons were in the second and third grade for their school.
That’s wonderful. I am sure with parenting like that, they have grown up to be successful adults. I’m sure you’re a proud mother. Shifting gears again, what do you think have been the biggest changes to the drag scene from when you started to now?
The biggest changes has to be it seems there are so many types now. The focus isn’t on being as polished and passing as a woman while being entertaining. It’s more like a variety show and it changes everyday. I honestly can’t keep up. But everyone has a right to be themselves and follow their own path and I think that’s a good thing.
Okay not to startle you but we have reached……THE LIGHTNING ROUND! Are you ready?
Let ‘er rip!
Must have makeup item?
Almay mascara because it doesn’t mess my contacts.
4 AM post show food craving?
Cracklins. Embarrassing. *Laughs*
The best part of drag?
It’s the one time I feel like I’m pretty and achieved my childhood dreams of being a celebrity.
The worst part of drag?
The haters within our own community.
Most surprising thing about you that people might not know?
I’m a genealogist.
Drag artist you would pay the most to see?
Right now Probably Jaida Essence Hall. I’ve been a fan since Drag Race.
Last movie to make you cry?
I recently rewatched Stepmom and lost it
Death Row last meal?
Probably Prime Rib.
Streaming Binge recommendation?
WENTWORTH !!!! I can’t recommend it enough times!
Disney character you relate to the most?
I always loved Dutchess in The Aristocats. Not sure how much I relate though.
In the movie of your life, who plays you?
It would have to be Cate Blanchet, she’s my favorite.
Final question, most embarrassing song on your phone?
Aww, I keep a recording of You Are My Sunshine. It makes me feel close to my Mommy It’s the first song I ever remember her singing to me…. Now you’ve made me cry. See? Embarrassing.
*Pulls a tissue out of my bra* Let it all out lady! The good news is, you’ve survived THE LIGHTNING ROUND!
Whew that was harder than one might think!
So as a queen of a certain age, do you still have anything on your proverbial drag bucket list you’d like to accomplish in your career before you hang up your pantyhose?
I have never made top 10 at Nationals and I would love to do that once!
Well Vicki, I think we have just about reached the end of our time together here. We’ve known each other online for over a decade now but I am so glad we got to talk so I could learn more about you! I wish you nothing but continued success and health. Do you have any final words of wisdom to leave the WERRRK. com universe with?
It’s been a pleasure. I guess if I had to give advice right now it would be important to remind people to vote. It’s so important right now and I know we’re going to get tired of hearing that phrase this year but GET OUT THERE AND DO IT !
Thank you so much !
Love ya Lady