Exclusive Interview - Pure Bent

Pure Bent! Welcome to Spill the Tea darling! I have to start with your hilarious name! How did you come to choose it?
My boy name is Ben and I’m yano.. *gay* so it felt fitting. I use the world pure in every single sentence as it’s proper Belfast slang so merged the two together to create Pure Bent!

“There is so many drag performers in one smallish city. There’s an absolute array of different drag too, comedy, dancing, looks, live vocals, drama, alternative the list goes on. The thing about Belfast people is we are a rare breed, our humour is hilarious, we aren’t afraid to make fun of ourselves and each other”

Did you have any rejected names and if so, what were they?
Yes I do actually. My original name was going to be ‘Neb’ - it’s Ben spelt backwards and it’s slang for nose in Ireland and because I am blessed with a massive Neb I was going to choose it. I still cringe.

You are fairly new to drag, what made you want to start?
I’ve wanted to do drag for not even joking nearly 10 years. Never had the balls to just go for it or kept putting it off until lockdown hit and I just started practicing make up in secret and not letting on to anyone, after a few months I told everyone and I haven’t been able to stop since.

What would be your tip to anyone else starting out?
Do it, do it, do it, do it and do it at any available time, any place, any where! Message bars, queens, locations you want to perform at and don’t be too critical of yourself. I love figuring out who I am and having fun whilst doing so.

How would you describe your drag?
A hot Belfast millbag mess, who loves the craic and putting on a fun show. I like incorporating all the Belfast/Northern Ireland culture I grew up with in everything I do.

I have never been to Belfast, tell us what’s the drag scene like there?
Amazing. There is so many drag performers in one smallish city. There’s an absolute array of different drag too, comedy, dancing, looks, live vocals, drama, alternative the list goes on. The thing about Belfast people is we are a rare breed, our humour is hilarious, we aren’t afraid to make fun of ourselves and each other - everyone is a mad c*nt which makes for even better entertainment. You’ll need to come visit sometime! Plus our food is parful.

What can people expect when coming to see you live?
Chaos. Me running round like a woman not well. Usually to some back of bus dance anthem.

Shout out time! What one other Queen, King or queer performer deserves a shout out from you?
I could name like 30 drag artists here but two queens that have really supported me is Onya Becks and Fierce Injection, Onya is a staple in the Belfast scene a proper professional that likes to help out all the new queens on the scene, she’s definitely the hardest working woman about town ha! Fierce Injection has only been doing drag less than a year and is completely smashing it, you need to check them out.