DANCASSAB
VOICES
AQUARIA
Aquaria. Seven letters, that’s all.
Actually, it doesn’t take more to cause a rumble; with enough weight as a backing, the right name can generate quite a ruckus ― in the best sense of the word. Winner of the tenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2018, Aquaria has garnered great fame and success across the globe: not only has she ventured into the world of music and beauty, but she has also made it to the cover of Vogue Italia and become entertainment editor at Dazed. Her style has led her to become the first drag queen to walk the Met Gala carpet, to model for Moschino and H&M, and to walk the runway for Savage x Fenty, RiRi’s brand!
We had the opportunity to chat with Aquaria, who shared with us a little piece of her soul — without further ado, let’s dive into her world.
DC: WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS LIKE? HOW DOES THE AQUARIA VISION COME TO LIFE?
A: My process can begin in a lot of different ways and also take many turns until I create a finished product. I don’t necessarily identify the steps of my process and normally just try to tackle projects in any way possible for the given assignment.
DC: WHERE DO YOU DRAW INSPIRATION FROM?
A: I’m a huge fan of dramatic and daring fashion choices. Runway and editorials definitely help guide my creativity. Additionally, I love taking inspiration from film and animation. I often will draw visual cues from particular styles or references in media and have always strongly related to flamboyant queer (or queer-adjacent) villains and characters. Many people are critical of how queer people can be depicted negatively as villains in media, however, I find a lot of power through said characters’ freedoms of dress and expression.
DC: DO YOU FEEL MOST AUTHENTICALLY YOU IN OR OUT OF DRAG? OR IS IT A COMBINATION OF BOTH?
A: It’s definitely a combination of both for me. Of course, drag allows me to express my visions artistically, however, I’ve learned to cherish the time I have out of drag since that is such a major element of my life as well. Finding a balance between the two is essential for me.
DC: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THE YOUNGER GENERATIONS ON BEING THEIR TRUE SELVES?
A: Know yourself and never let anyone convince you that you deserve anything but the best in life. Be prepared to make mistakes and experiment through all of life’s trials and tribulations. At the end of the day, our purpose in the world is to make life easier for future generations, so it’s best to always strive for that.
DC: WHAT ARE SOME ACTIONS EVERYONE CAN TAKE TO SUPPORT THE LGBTQIA+ COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW?
A: I think the most meaningful support people can give to the LGBTQIA+ community comes from putting in the time and effort to learn about our past/current struggles as well as what actions and advocacy you can do to create a positive change. It’s important to celebrate our victories, but there can’t be festivities unless everyone has a reason to celebrate. Donating to charities that uplift and support transgender people, specifically, will help these marginalized groups catch up to achieving the justice, freedoms, and rights they so desperately deserve.
DC: WHAT’S A MESSAGE YOU WANT TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD?
A: I think my best advice would be to try to continue throughout life striving to be more selfless and aware of what’s going around you. No person is perfect and there are always many ways we can each grow to be more kind people. Recognizing that everyone makes mistakes and doesn’t understand is a great step towards fewer mistakes and a greater understanding for all.
Bjork
