Originally published in the San Antonio Current. A California native of Russian descent, David Petruschin is admittedly fond of “winged creatures.” As a go-go boy on the SoCal club scene, he dubbed himself Phoenix before developing the drag persona Raven. Arriving on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race back in 2010, the professional makeup…
Style
Texas-Bred Dragon Lady Tiamat Medusa Takes Body Modification to the Extreme
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. On a late-night YouTube binge, I unexpectedly met Tiamat Medusa, a trans woman from Bruni, Texas, who’s shed her human skin to become a dragon. But it wasn’t the tattooed scales that cover her face and body or the reptilian horns implanted in her head that inspired me…
Take an HIV Test, Get an Underwear Gift Card and Meet RuPaul Starlet Naomi Smalls
In an effort to encourage more community members to get tested, Unify San Antonio is offering a a $10 gift card from the Male B Wear underwear shop to individuals who get an HIV test at their office between September 14 and 25. Those gift cards can then be spent at Male B Wear during…
Leighton W Debuts New Collection Following Paris Launch
Local fashion designer Leighton Whittington debuted his brand in Paris last spring but remains as proud as ever for the Alamo City to continue serving as his home base. He will premier his next collection, Collection Quatre, at a show at Brick at Blue Star on September 15. Boasting late 70s and early 80s influenced…
San Antonio Drag Sensation Ada Vox Releases First Single
A couple weekends ago, I decided to fly out of town to kick it with some friends in Boise of all places. While it was nice to get out of Texas for the weekend, I was looking forward to coming back, because … tacos and, of course, because SA is home. Anyway, while walking to…
New Documentary is Fascinating Tribute to Late Fashion Designer Alexander McQueen
During a scene in the 2009 dramedy The Devil Wears Prada, an inexperienced fashion magazine assistant played by Anne Hathaway complains to her boyfriend about the pretentious nature of the fashion world. The magazine’s callous editor had berated her for an innocent, albeit clueless, remark she made about accessories. “They all act like they’re curing…
San Antonio-born Karma Styles Talks About Dancing on Ryan Murphy’s ‘Pose’
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. It’s been almost a year to the day since we first mentioned Karma Styles, one of the original members of the San Antonio-based vogue/dance/art collective House of Kenzo. Karma moved to New York City in 2015 to pursue his dreams as a dancer. Born Charles Wilborn, Karma graduated…
SA Drag Queens to Walk Runway at ‘Horrible Thrift-Store’ Fashion Show
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. As the excellent title suggests, “horrible thrift-store fashion attire is required” at South Texas Museum of Popular Culture’s (aka Texpop) latest — a multifaceted offering benefiting Thrive Youth Center, one of only four shelters in the country specifically geared toward housing and assisting LGBTQ youth who would otherwise…
Documentary ‘Kiki’ Explores Issues LGBT Youth of Color Face, Screening in SA
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. It’s tough to find a review of Swedish filmmaker Sara Jordenö’s 2016 documentary Kiki that doesn’t reference Jennie Livingston’s iconic 1990 film Paris Is Burning. The New York Times went so far as to call Kiki “a spiritual descendant of Ms. Livingston’s film.” Co-written by Jordenö and Twiggy…
SA’s Ada Vox Brings Katy Perry To Her Knees During Latest ‘American Idol’ Performance
Originally published in the San Antonio Current. Now, maybe we’re just projecting this because Ada Vox is from San Antonio, but after seeing this singing drag queen slay last night on American Idol for the top 24 solos portion of the competition, we’re pretty sure she’s going to win this whole damn thing and become…