From Dawn gracing the stage on the latest season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” to Sasha Colby heading on a global tour, drag culture stands at the forefront of a vibrant zeitgeist.
Here, the drag superstars dish out their latest projects, tours and more.
Dawn
Wake up, drag race fans. Dawn is taking over the drag scene.
In January, the 16th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” premiered, and fans were instantly star-struck by the overwhelming amount of talent—from Nymphia Wind and Q to Sapphira Cristál and Plane Jane. One queen that stood out for her otherworldly looks is Brooklyn-based queen, Dawn.
Rivet: Can you walk me through the design process of the denim ensemble you wore during the fifth episode?
Dawn: Getting ready for the show, I wanted to make sure that I presented many different facets of myself. I was very intentional about that, especially coming in as the quirky one. So, in the first few episodes—with my Audrey Hepburn and Cher look—I really made an effort to show versatility. And I loved the denim look that I wore on episode five because it was just the epitome of that cuckoo banana’s Dawn.
Rivet: Where did you draw inspiration from while on set?
Dawn: The other queens that were there for sure. I was [surrounded by talented queens] like Sapphira Cristál who is Philadelphia royalty and Q who makes these grand costumes that you couldn’t even fit in an Uber in Brooklyn. For me, it was just looking at everyone on set and seeing what they were doing that I wished I was doing and applying that to myself. Even Morphine Love Dion with her makeup, I was like, ‘What can I pull from this?’
Rivet: How do you plan on making the most of your moment in the sun?
Dawn: I want to do it all. Well, except make music. I think getting into the internet content space is going to be fun. I started drag as a Covid-19 digital drag diva. So, my whole upbringing was putting together productions for YouTube. I want to move into that space more. I already started producing some YouTube stuff because I feel like I have a unique and odd perspective sometimes, and I enjoy bringing people into that world.
Sasha Colby
RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15 winner Sasha Colby is on a mission to empower fans across the globe one show at a time.
Rivet: One of Rivet’s favorite looks from your time on Drag Race was your “RIP her to SHREDS” denim outfit. Can you walk us through the process of using denim for this look?
Sasha Colby: For this ensemble, I wanted to look like I got caught in the lawn mower, and I knew that denim shreds well since there’s a lot of texture. So, Preston Meneses [a friend of Colby’s] and I decided to do a denim moment. Then it evolved into the gown you saw that was inspired by the 2000s, like a little Britney Spears VMAs look, you know?
Rivet: Toward the end of last year, you released your latest single, “Feel the Power.” Can fans expect you to drop more music in 2024?
SC: Yes, fans can expect to get more music in the future for sure. [In fact,] we’re working on it now, but don’t have anything set to drop just yet. My current focus is my “Stripped” tour which wraps up April 19 in Honolulu. [Tickets are currently available for purchase on Colby’s website with prices ranging based on location.]