MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

TIFFANY FANTASIA

Fiercely independent, no one would ever accuse South Florida drag legend Tiffany Fantasia of being coy.  But what would she do to avoid being lynched?

PHOTOGRAPH BY MRJJBLANCO@INSTRAGRAM

Where did you grow up?  In Miami.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  All of my life!  What part of South Florida do you live in?  In South Beach.  What do you like most about living here?  The weather.  What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone?  The Coliseum.   Where do you hang out in South Florida, and why?  Hotel Gaythering and Molto.  I like a nice, quiet atmosphere with familiar faces.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I’ll tell you when I’m famous.  How did you come up with your name?  It was given to me.  What’s the best gig that you ever did, and why?  Mykonos, working the Dsquared party.  I got to wear something that was worn by Beyoncé, but unfortunately, it was too small for me.

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The star-studded and sidesplitting follow up to The Andy Cohen Diaries, Andy Cohen’s latest book Superficial, features Tiffany Fantasia.

What’s the most important gig or event that you ever did, and why?  Miami Beach Gay Pride, when I had to stand up to protesters.  It was a test of strength and courage.  What’s your dream gig?  A Broadway role, where the theater is sold-out.  How would you like to be remembered?  As person that gave her heart and soul to the audience!  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked?  I was asked to have sex with a straight couple.  What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  Queen Latifah.  She saw me perform, and she loved it.  But then we spoke, and I acted like such a fan.  Who would play you in a movie?  That little boy from Moonlight.  He could play the kid version of me.  I’m not sure who could play the adult version of me.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DALE STINE 

Will you ever retire?  Yes, when I die or I hit the lottery.  What’s the last that you looked at online?  Porn.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why?  Curacao, because the island is beautiful and multicultural.  What the last thing that you watched on TV?  How to Get Away with Murder.  What’s the craziest thing that you ever did?  Go to the gym.  What’s your favorite book?  Superficial, by Andy Cohen, because I’m in it.  What’s the best concert you ever went to?  Mary J. Blige concert!  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  That you can’t eat like a teenager when you’re an adult.  What did you learn from your parents?  To not be so trusting.

What performer do you admire, and why?  Whitney Houston, because that voice is everything to me!  What’s your best characteristic?  The ability to see past the bullshit.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  By myself.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  None.  They’re too skinny for me.  Who do you admire, and why?  Tiffany Arieagus.  That woman can perform for twenty-minutes straight, and you will be entertained from beginning to end.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  My mom, because she was my rock.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  Nowhere, because they would lynch me for being too black and free.  What would your last meal be?  Grits, scrambled eggs, sausage, and corn-beef hash.  And a big glass of Kool-Aid.

What do you worry about?  Being broke.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why?  The saxophone. That’s one sexy MF.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  It depends on how I wake up in the morning.  Who are you closest with?  My bestie, Cindi.  What would your autobiography be called?  How the Hell Did I Get Here?   What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  R&B.  Particularly, the My Life album from Mary J. Blige.  What’s on your bucket list?  To live a long life.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  Putting work over family.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  That I don’t fart rainbows.  Where can we see you?  At Drag Brunch Miami, Hotel Gaythering, Molto, The Palace, and at Miami Beach Gay Pride.

 

 

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

SHERRY VINE

From crack whorehouses in Hollywood, to men getting fisted next to her on a movie set while she’s putting on her makeup, international drag star Sherry Vine tries to make the most out of each and every day 

PHOTOGRAPH BY JAX KOYOTE

Where did you grow up?  In Columbia, Maryland.  What do you miss about Columbia?  Absolutely nothing!  Where do you live now?  In NYC, in the Hell’s Kitchen area.  What’s something that’s unique about New York that would surprise most people?  People always say, “There’s too much concrete.”  And I say, “Honey, there’s this little thing called Central Park.”  Surprise!  What New York venue do you miss that’s gone?  Many of the ones from the 1990’s: Bar d’O, Jackie 60, Squeezebox and BoyBar.  If you had to live somewhere else, where would you live, and why?  Barcelona.  It’s my favorite city for culture, food, beach, art and men.  I’m always content there. 

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Will you do anything fun while you’re in South Florida?  Yes.  I’ll go to the mall (laughs).  What’s your claim-to-fame?  International drag darling, YouTube sensation, and the creator and star of She’s Living for This.  How did you come up with your name?  There was a building on Vine Street in Hollywood that looked like a crack whorehouse.  Appropriate.  Other than your own TV series, what’s your favorite TV show or film that you’ve been in, and why?  Scream, Teen, Scream.  We had so much fun filming it, and 20 years later, it’s still funny.  Did you watch the sex scenes being filmed in The Raspberry Reich?  No, but someone was getting fisted next to me, at 7:00 a.m., while I was doing my make-up.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JEFF EASON

What town did you perform in that was most unique, and why?  Bisbee, Arizona.  It’s the strangest mix of people: gays, lesbians, trans, bikers, and copper miners.  But they all get along, and it works.  What’s your dream gig or role?  My own variety show, like She’s Living for This.  Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now?  Folding sweaters at Benetton.  How would you like to be remembered?  “Sherry made me laugh when I needed it.”  Will you ever retire?  I hope not!  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked?  “Why?” (laughs).  Literally, that’s what was asked.  A guy came up to me and just said, “why?”

ADVERSTISEMENT

Featuring Sherry Vine, Canadian sexploitation filmmaker Bruce LaBruce goes to Germany to write and direct the satire, The Raspberry Reich, inspired by real-life ’70s radical group the Baader-Meinhof gang.

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  Carol Burnett and Madonna.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  Press-on fingernails.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited, and why?  Budapest.  It’s a stunning city.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  How to peel away the layers of bullshit and the things that don’t matter, and how to focus on what does.  Let go, girl!  What did you learn from your parents?  Unconditional love and empathy, and how to laugh.  If a politician that you didn’t like was drowning, would you save him or her?  Yes. 

What’s your favorite drink?  Jack Daniels and ginger beer.  What’s your most treasured possession?  I’m not materialistic, but I treasure my photo albums.  Do you believe in ghosts?  Yes.  Either living or dead, who would you love to have lunch with?  Carol Burnett.  What performer do you admire, and why?  Jackie Beat.  She’s lightning fast.  What’s your best characteristic?  That I genuinely care.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  Watching the same Marvel movies over and over.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Joe Manganiello.

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If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  Douglas Sanders, who passed away too young.  He was my best friend and co-conspirator in theater.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  To Studio 54, in the 1970’s, so that I could dance and party!  What would your last meal be?  Popeyes fried chicken and a milk shake.  What do you worry about?  The next gig (laughs)!  What are you afraid of?  Spiders.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why?  An electric guitar.  It’s so sexual.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  Both, depending on my mood.  Who depends on you?  I don’t think that anyone depends on me, actually.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JUSTTOBY

Who are you closest with?  I’m very close to my parents.  I’m also close with Josh, Erik, Bruce and Jackie.  Oh, and Joey Arias.  What would your autobiography be called?  Little Votive Nights.  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  I play the guitar.  It always lifts me up.  What’s on your bucket list?  I don’t have one.  I try to do what I wanna do as it comes up.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  Je ne regrette rien.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  I’ll never tell.  Where can we see you?  You can see me this Friday and Saturday at The Pub.  I’m also all over the world with lots of exciting shows.  Check out my website for my schedule!

MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Events

2018 BEARSURRECTION FASHION SHOW

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Bearsurrection Fort Lauderdale, according to the organization’s website, aims to “provide comradery within the bear community” and to establish a world-class annual bear event.  The hallmark of their week-long event was the second-annual Bearsurrection Fashion Show, which played to a packed house at Hunters on Wednesday.  With categories in club-wear, swimwear and business casual, the show featured designs from the popular Nasty Pig line and from local artist/designer Chris Lopez.

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Nasty Pig Hook’d Up Sport Socks 2.0 – $16.90

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