Exclusive Interview - Karma Doll
Karma Doll, welcome beaut to Spill the Tea! To start, when did you discover you wanted to do drag?
Growing up I was always dressing up in my mums’ clothes, putting on shows for my family as my drag persona, Majella McCloughlin before I knew what drag was. I moved to London when I was 18 from Derry, Northern Ireland and after a few years of living here my amazing friend Joseph Harwood put me in makeup for the first time and this gave me an itch for drag – and no amount of visits to the clinic were clearing it up! In London me and my friends, like millions of others sat together and watched Drag Race, to see people like me who wear their queerness on their sleeves and turn their art into reality really fired me up. Season 3 was the first season I watched and I was obsessed with Raja and her runways and I was like, that’s what I want to do!
Karma was then born about 2 and a half years at ago at the Pride in London parade – this was before I realised the scorching sun is not a drag’s friend!
“Growing up in a lower class background on a council estate, glamour was so far away from what I knew so getting to live that through Karma makes the wee kid in me scream!”
How did you choose your Drag name?
My initials out of drag are KD and Karma fitted perfectly because I wanted something that represented my personality and values I’m a really strong believer in being a good person and getting that back, and well if you’re not giving out good then Karma is a bitch…
Did you have any rejected names and if so, what were they?
I don’t actually but I have thought that I would love to have been called Mummy, for similar reasons to Karma – I’m just a fucking lovely person haha.
You have a look fit for the cover of Vogue! How did long did it take you to find your style?
Thank you so much (compliments are always welcome, but gifts are preferred). It didn’t actually take that long, I’ve always been a wee poser and I’m never not showing off at the camera, so fash-editorial posey bitch comes pretty natural. Growing up in a lower class background on a council estate, glamour was so far away from what I knew so getting to live that through Karma makes the wee kid in me scream! What people soon realise when they meet me though is that behind all this BEAUTY (and humbleness) there is a really sweet, funny and quite silly person which often surprises people.
How would you describe your style?
Timeless, high fashion editorial babes with a personality.
What is your process when creating a look?
One of two ways:
1. very meticulous and planned out, I put together a mood board using fashion references
2. I put on some music like good old witchy Lana or Fleetwood Mac and I just let my rhythm flow and paint and see where I end up but its always beautiful, its always timeless. Karma doesn’t age ;)
You model a lot as Karma but do you ever model out of Drag?
Its funny because when I first moved to London I did dream about becoming a model and really admired the balls it takes to get up there and say THIS IS ME, DRINK IT UP and I did a few modelling things out of drag but as Karma I really have that confidence on the catwalk that boy me can’t compete with. As Karma I’ve had so many more opportunities like campaigns with OGX Shampoo, Pretty Little Thing and Calvin Klein Pride campaign with Bag Chipz. I feel so much more powerful in Karmas shoes but I would definitely consider more modelling out of drag if it felt right… time will tell.
How has Covid changed the way you do Drag?
It gave me some time to really develop myself and step up my game, my makeup has improved so much for one. It’s also given me the opportunity to create digital content and experience some online gigs, last year I put together several lip sync videos which was so so fun to do. I’m always posting them on Insta and get such reaffirming responses. Check them out on my YouTube: Karma Doll here
What are you most looking forward to doing with your Drag when freedom resumes?
I really miss people, events and gigs. Before Covid I was getting a lot of regular hosting/performing gigs and was really getting into my groove but since that stopped I will look forward to getting myself back into that and also attention, these 4 walls have seen this fierce beauty enough, its time for the WORLD to see me again! I’m ready…
Shout out time! What one other Queen deserves a shout out from you?
My friend and sister Asifa Lahora, Asifa is an incredible spokesperson for our community and completely embodies what it means to be kind, supportive and talented, give her a follow @asifalahore. And finally, SUPPORT LOCAL DRAG and VENUES.. look out for competitions like The Gold Rush run by the icon Taylor Trash and The Crown by TuckShop!
Image Credit with thanks to - Gordon Mills & Ryan Young