Glamour, Geeks, Filth, and Horror with Auntie Heroine

Auntie Heroine, who rose to fame as the runner-up on Dragula Season 6, has only been in the spotlight for a little less than a year, but is already impressing their fans with their advocacy, snappy comebacks, unique style, and their focus on all things glamorous and nerdy. We had the good fortune of catching up with them during some downtime, and they had a lot to say about their recent time on TV, the friends they made, and being the representation they wish to see in the world.

Igniting the Spark

Auntie Heroine’s introduction to drag came unexpectedly while in college at Illinois State University, planning a conference featuring Bianca Del Rio. “I didn’t know she was (from Drag Race) because I didn’t follow any of that stuff,” Auntie Heroine admits. Watching Del Rio’s performances opened their eyes to the world of drag, sparking a passion that had always been within them. “I’ve always been a performer, an actor, singer. I just, you know, I love being on the stage. I love performing. And this just seemed like one of the best outlets to be able to do that.”

Finding Identity Through Drag

Drag became more than just performance for Auntie; it became a vehicle for self-exploration and community engagement. “This was also the same time that I came out as nonbinary and started using they/them pronouns. And the reason I did that was, I was auditing a queer theory class at school, and I learned about this idea of the binary and how many cultures across the world since the beginning of time have had more than two genders.”

This exploration of gender identity became intertwined with their drag persona. “I think it all kind of culminated into just one big storm of gender identity and exploration, which is really what drag should be,” they add. “It’s, I think, such a way for people to explore themselves and their identity.”

The Alternative Scene and Dragula

Auntie’s glamorous and expressive style found a home in the alternative drag scene. “I’ve always been this way. I’ve always been an emo kid. I’ve always been a weird kid,” they explain. “I’ve been a bit of a weirdo my whole life, not always quite understanding why everybody thought differently than me, or why everybody was different.”

Frustrated by being a glamorous pageant queen who couldn’t get booked because of also being a bearded queen, Auntie looked towards the alt community. “It was really hard for me to connect with certain things; it was really hard for me to get booked, so I had to create my own bookings.” Dragula, with its focus on alternative and unconventional drag, offered a welcoming platform. “When Dragula appeared, that really seemed like a beacon to me. You know, the fires have been lit. All of a sudden, I’m like, Oh my God, there is a place for me.”

Representation and Validation

Being on Dragula provided Auntie Heroine with an opportunity to represent various communities from the nerdy gaming community to the more glamorous side of alt drag. This representation resonated deeply with viewers. “I’m very proud to be able to showcase my love for (nerdy alternative culture) on an international level, to show other nerdy people, or maybe just people that are afraid of showing who they are and what they’re passionate about, to to the world and show them that it’s OK to be a dork.” The positive feedback, particularly from the neurodivergent community, has been incredibly rewarding. “What’s really been nice is having a large internet and in-person community that is just like, ‘Listen, we claim you; we accept you and we love you; thank you so much for representing us.’”

Navigating the Spotlight 

The experience of being on Dragula was overall lifechanging. The outpouring of support from loved ones and the validation of their hard work were incredibly fulfilling. “It was very exciting and validating, especially in the beginning. You have to be quiet for a little while. You can’t really tell anybody. And people know you’ve kind of disappeared for a while and everything. But to be able to then, just like, shout that from the mountain tops, it was very exciting.”

However, those who watched the show can attest to the fact that Auntie definitely got the villain edit. “It was very hard for me to see the edits sometimes of how I was presented on the show. I am a very straightforward person. I’m proudly a cunt, but I’m not an asshole. I never want to be mean.” They elaborate that many times, parts of or precursors to conversations were left out, making Auntie seem more like the aggressor in some situations. But ultimately, they release that’s the MO of reality TV, and they assure us that they have nothing but love for their Season 6 family.

Using Their Power for Good

Looking forward, Auntie Heroine plans to use their platform for advocacy. “I have the gift of my voice. I am very good at articulating things. It’s just one of my passions. It is one of my gifts, and I’m so grateful for it. I have this ability to inspire people.”

They envision advocacy as a multifaceted approach. “I think advocacy is a pie, and I think there’s a lot of times people are like, ‘You should be in the streets.’ Well, one sliver of the pie is protesting, and protesters being in the streets, activism, those kind of things. Another sliver is diplomacy and working on boards. Another is entertainment and using your voice that way.” Auntie Heroine aims to contribute to the larger fight for equality and justice in a way that is both impactful and sustainable.

She leaves us with a few parting words of wisdom: “They want us to be afraid. They want us to crawl into our beds and be quiet. This is an act of terrorism. This is domestic terrorism, in my humble opinion, and the only way to combat it is to stick together and remain visible and speak out. And you have to take care of your mental health as well, and how I do do that is by building health and creating community rather than focusing on this is what they’re doing. We need to stick together and lift each other up.”

Featured Photo by Amanda Lynn Farrey, DiamondPhoto.Co

All other Photos by Joe Galvononi