Answers To 3 Questions Blog

I wrote this message up on Facebook as a response to the questions. What made you start doing drag? What makes you continue to do it? and Where do you want to be 10 years from now, drag wise? I thought you all might like to see this as well. I hope you enjoy reading through this.

As for me, there wasn't a definite moment when the light went off, and I decided drag was for me. When I was a kid I used to apply my Halloween makeup as "girl makeup" and used to pretend I a girl. It was fun, and thinking back on it, theatrical.

When I first moved out on my own and away from my parents at 20 years old, and was learning and exploring my "gayness" I got really obsessed with drag queens. There was a mystique there that I wanted to get to know more about. I bought makeup at Wal-Mart, but didn't have anyone to teach me how to apply it. I went out by myself a few times in really bad drag. Thinking back that was not a good idea. SO dangerous. But I quickly realized at that time I didn't have a talent for it, and I gave it all up.

Then in 2007/2008, I watched Chris March on Project Runway. Even though I knew about Divine, for some reason it never occurred to me that there were large plus size queens. I always thought because I was bigger, that I couldn't do it. But after seeing Chris' website (http://www.chrismarchdesign.com) and seeing a lot of myself in him I thought, "Hey, if he can do it, so can I!"

So I started buying makeup one piece at a time. I got it all from Wal-Mart, and drug stores. I did internet research, watched YouTube videos, and of course studied the www.carriefairfield.com tips and tricks section. I tried to get all of the products mentioned. I wasn't too hung up on actual colors at that time, I just wanted the products to get a feel for them. I figured once I had foundation, powder and everything else figured out, I could then work on getting colors to suit me.

After I had gathered enough products to do a full face, in secret mind you, I didn't even tell my partner at this point that I was interested in drag. I called in sick from work so I would have the whole day to myself, and played with my makeup. I will admit I was TERRIBLE. Oh, it was bad. But I sent Jay the pictures I took to see what he thought. I was halfway expecting a "What the hell were you thinking???" response, but what I got instead was more of , "So, what does this mean? Where are you planning on taking this?"

At this point I didn't know. I didn't know I would want to make YouTube videos, or anything else. I was just playing, and working more from a gut level.

After that it quickly snowballed. LOL. The videos started, then everything else happened.

I have realized lately, that I don't think performing in the traditional sense is for me. I am not a get on stage, and dance, and lip sync type of person. I have physical problems that make moving about on stage hard for me, so I just don't feel confident in it. So I have decided to take my drag knowledge in another direction, and focus more on makeup, and teaching that part as opposed to "performing".

Why I stick with it?

I continue to pursue drag because of how it feels every time I open my email box, and see a comment on one of my videos. I am sure its the same other queens feel when performing, and seeing the faces enjoying what you are doing in the audience. Its just such a wonderful feeling.

Plus I want to do my part in passing the art form in whatever way I can on to other people. I want straight people to realize that drag queens aren't perverted freaks. I want the gays to realize that this is something they can do. It IS an attainable art form. If I can do it, a 300 pound, balding, gimpy, effeminate gay man, anyone can. But I am going to do it being myself, and not putting on a show. I am going to show what is inside, while hiding what is on the outside. lol.

And where do I want to be in 10 years?

I would love to be right here, doing what I am doing right now. Celebrating 10+ years making YouTube videos. I would love to hold seminars and teach people in person how to paint. I would LOVE to open some kind of makeup school just for queens. But above all I want to be continuing to learn new techniques, and bringing them to as many people as are willing to watch my videos, and interact with me online. :)

Ok.....So wow. I didn't mean for that to be quite as long as it came out. But yeah.. Thanks for reading through it. I think we all have similar goals in this thing called drag. be the best queens WE can be. And  I would like to show that not all queens are royal bitches (I do love a royal bitch though. lol), who will cut you over a weave. Some of us are kind, goodhearted, and welcoming of everyone.

Bonus!

First Drag Picture Ever Taken Of Me.

Last Drag Picture Taken Of Me.

Drag Queen 3 Color Foundation Technique

Recently there was a post on the Carrie Fairfield message board asking about foundation. I decided to write up a reply and give info on how I do mine. I a,m going to repost that message here with a little more info, and a video tutorial. Enjoy! :)

When I go out, and know I am going to be wearing makeup for a while this is what I do. I start with a good clean washed and moisturized face. Then around the sides and on my nose, and where I know I get shiny, I apply MAC Prep and Prime Skin Refined Zone primer. This was a limited item that came out earlier this year, but you can still find it in MAC stores (At least I have seen it in a few). I let that sink in and dry for a few minutes before continuing. Then over my whole face I apply Monistat chafing gel. I get this at Wal Mart for $4-$5. Its a wonderful foundation primer. Works very similarly to the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. This gives a slightly powdery finish to the skin, and helps the foundation go on smoothly. It has some of the same base ingredients as Urban Decay Primer Potion.

For foundation, I have been using three colors. I use two Ben Nye cream foundations, and one Max Factor Panstick. I use a light Ben Nye cream color called Ultra on my forehead, down my nose, and on my upper lip, and chin. Then on the sides of my cheeks I use Max Factor Panstick in Deep Olive. Under the chin, on the neck, and on the sides and top of my forehead I use Ben Nye Matte Foundation in Pale English. Then I use a flat synthetic foundation brush (Like the MAC 190). I use a three different brushes to bend each color into the adjoining one so that it doesn't get muddy. (The ELF foundation brushes are good for this, and they are $1 each. WOO HOO)
	Over all of this I use Ben Nye Translucent Face Powder in Fair. This helps all of the colors to unify and it gives a completely matte finish. Then I do my contouring with Ben Nye Burgundy Matte Eye shadow on my cheeks, and Black Radiance Tawny Beige Powder on my forehead and under cheeks. I tend to like a redder color on my cheeks, and a browner color on the forehead and neck. For the final facial highlighting I use Coty Powder in the color Naturelle. I apply it to the middle of my forehead, upper cheeks and chin. This powder is a light pinkish off white and it gives a final highlight to the face.

After that I am done with the contour (Other than doing my eyes and lips of course. lol). I usually do the contour step after I have finished my eyes, but before my lips because applying the powder covers any eye shadow fallout I might have. I know this was a lot of information, but I just wanted to be complete in my foundation routine. I hope this helped some. Here is a picture of my finished foundation, with contour done, but before any work was done on the eyes..

Also check out the video tutorial I posted on YouTube as a follow up to this article. It shows how the products are applied, blended and powdered.

New Video: 3 things I like, 3 things I dislike about myself.

I was tagged by Jessica aka TheKillerBurrito. The video was 3 Things we like about ourselves, and 3 things we dislike. It sounded like a fun theme so I decided to do it. Take a look. and I hope you enjoy it. :D