Interview - Victoria Carriage
Victoria Carriage, welcome my love to your first interview with us! To start when did you first discover that you wanted to do Drag?
Hello my darling,
Thank you for asking me to do this interview with you. It’s an absolute honour. So I’ll get into it ... How did I decide on my drag name ... so over the years I’ve had many different names until I fully settled on one. So one afternoon a friend and I were walking to get a coffee and fully engaged in conversation about something random and he said to me ... “that’s an absolute miscarriage of justice”. Miscarriage was the word that suck with me. Miss Carriage (as in justice). I thought it would be quite the controversial name so I added an accent on the á giving it a slight twist. And then I chose Victoria because she’s my absolute favourite Spice Girl.
How would your describe your Drag?
How would I describe my drag ... to be honest I don’t think there is a way to describe my drag. It’s a little bit of everything and nothing all at once. I’ve had times where I’ve been glam and I’ve had times where I’ve been casual AF. I do however like to think that I’m at least funny. That’s my main love and passion when it comes to drag. I love making people laugh. I think if anything, you can always expect there to be face, body and comedy at a VC show.
How did you come up with your Drag style and what were your influences?
I think my style in drag is ‘wannabe glam’. I feel like I’m always pretty well put together with nice accents and a few rhinestones but wouldn’t necessarily fit into and kind of style category. When it comes to buying clothes I simply buy what I like. It’s normally bodycon and low cut (to show off my boob contour). I think playing with style is important for drag to keep it fresh. I’ve been in a pageant when I was in a gown and I’ve worked in the nightclub in a bodysuit and that’s what’s fun about drag, you can switch up style and fashion all the time. The only style influence I love ... animal print. And lots of it!
“I do however like to think that I’m at least funny. That’s my main love and passion when it comes to drag. I love making people laugh.”
What is your go to lip sync song and why?
Ok so the go to lip sync song for me ... there are a couple I could choose but I think my favourite one is Raise Your Glass by Pink. It’s an absolute banger that everybody knows. It’s got a great beat to dance along to and it means that I can encourage the audience to raise their glasses and drink with me. There is no greater feeling than watching an audience interact with you while you’re on stage.
What can fans expect when coming to see you in a show?
What to expect at a VC show - camp, crass, comedy and crap! Hahaha. I think the best way to describe what I do is old skool drag comedy. I really do love it when I can make people laugh and that’s my whole aim during my shows. I want people to walk away and say that they had a really good time. I like to think that I’m actually pretty good at taking the mick out of myself and my audience. Insult comedy is one of my favourite things. So if you’re not comfortable with me picking on you ... probably don’t come to a show.
Your Drag daughter Krystal Versace was the first Queen we ever shot after we fell in love with her on stage. How did you become her Drag Mother?
So you wanna talk about Krystal Versace? That bitch! First of all I think we can agree she is bloody gorgeous... and I hate her for it. Both Krystal and Dede are just incredible and I’m so proud of them both. I first met Krystal last year at Tunbridge Wells Pride. Her and Dede entered the talent competition that we were running and no surprise they killed it, won the competition and were offered a performance slot for the Pride main stage. It was during pride that I was able to spend some proper time with the girls. They were just starting out performing and after a few beverages we got to talking. I was able to impart some of my knowledge and experience to the girls. It was clear from the start just how talented they were and I wanted to grab them before anyone else could! Haha. The rest is history I guess.
Photos above from our exclusive shoot with Krystal Versace, to read the interview click here.
What are you like as a Drag Mother?
I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a drag mother. That’s not the way I view myself. More of a mentor I guess. When I started drag I was very much on my own. Navigating my way around this new world was difficult and at times scary. All I’ve ever wanted to be was the mentor that I would have wanted on my journey. I’ve been able to talk with Krystal and Dede about so many different things. Advice on performing, hosting, being funny. All that general crap that just helps to boost their confidence. They already have so much talent there isn’t a lot else I can offer them. However I make sure that I alway tell them how proud I am of them and their journey in drag. Just like any mother I am so incredibly proud of them and what they have achieved. And I will always be there if they need me for anything. But let’s face it ... they’re all grown up now and out there doing it all on their own.
What do you love about Krystal’s Drag?
It’s so difficult to talk just about Krystal. It feels like I’m favouring one of my children which is something I could never do so I’ll have to continue to talk about them both. For me they are both so similar but so different and compliment each other perfectly. Krystal’s Drag is just so polished. That girl has makeup skills that I can only dream of. And don’t get me started on that body! Urgh! I wish I was 18 again. I think the thing I love the most about Krystal and her drag is the dedication. She honestly never stops. Always styling hair, making wigs, creating outfits and forever perfecting her makeup skills. Without dedication and commitment to what you’re doing, there is nothing worth seeing. That’s what I love the most about her. That dedication and passion. The same for Dede as well. The pair of them are powerhouses and shouldn’t be slept on.
RuPauls Drag Race has pushed drag into the mainstream however, there is more to drag. Why is supporting local drag important?
So there is a lot to be said about RuPauls Drag Race. In one respect it’s pushed drag into mainstream and for that I know I personally will be forever grateful. It’s allowed people to see performers in a while new light and become appreciated for their art. No longer are we the clowns of the world and are now taken seriously as artists. The one thing I think people need to remember is just because a performer hasn’t been on a TV show does not mean that they are any less valid. In fact I think local performers need to be appreciated more. We live in a country where tipping isn’t common practise so there is only a flat performance rate. Those who have been on Drag Race are paid vastly more than a local performer. That’s where the divide comes in. Local performers are still out there making costumes, styling wigs, stoning outfits and doing everything they can to perfect their craft. I think that an audience only sees what is presented on stage and forget everything that goes on behind the scenes. The validation comes from having an audience that actually turns up, pays attention and enjoys what you’re doing. Something as simple as a follow on social media or sharing the post really helps to get their name out there and be seen. I know I personally have had gigs where the audience has talked over me and paid me no attention. At the end of the day, under the layers of makeup and costuming we are still performers at heart and I think it’s important for those attending a drag show to remember that. We are trying to make a living doing what we love to do, entertain people. I urge everyone to go out and find your local performers and show them some love. A TV show doesn’t define talent.
What one Queen would you like to give a shout out to?
A queen that I would love to shout out will have to be Miss Luna LeStrange. Luna and I met along time ago now and it’s rare that you meet someone in life who you click with the way Luna and I did. From there we developed such an amazing friendship, one that I absolutely cherish. When I first started drag I didn’t know what the hell I was doing or who I was. Meeting Luna and working with her started to show me who I was and where I was going as a performer. To look at us on the surface we couldn’t be more different. She’s a spooky horror queen with a love for music that I’ve never even heard of, I’m a campy comedy queen performing 80s and 90s classics. But something about is works and the banter and connection we have is so organic and natural. I don’t know where I would be without her in my life and honestly if you’ve never heard of her ... go check her out at @misslunalestrange on Instagram.
What does the future hold for you?
I have no idea what the future holds for me. I’m not pushing for anything to happen with my drag and I’m super happy with the trajectory I’m on right now. I work full time and drag is an aside however I would love to do drag more full time. I guess it’s a pretty cliche answer but I would love the opportunity to be on Drag Race. The platform is can provide is invaluable and there are many things that I would like to use that platform for. Keep an eye out and let’s see what happens.
Any last shout outs?
Shout outs go to all local performers around the country who continue to put all that drag on and go out and kill it for little money. Keep pushing my darlings. You are valid. You are amazing. You are special. I’ve had such an amazing time meeting and working with many local performers all over the U.K. who are INCREDIBLE. Get out and show your local girls some love.
Much love to you all
💜VC