March 29, 2020April 12, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN Local Interviews

RAJEE NARINESINGH

In the midst of these unsettling times, here’s a story of inspiration from someone who triumphed over health challenges, and she managed to do it all with a smile on her face. Meet Rajee Narinesingh.

PHOTOGRAPH BY WWW.ELEGANTPHOTOGRAPHICS.COM

Where did you grow up? I was born in New York, but I grew up in Philly. What do you miss about it there? I miss the season of fall. It’s usually so hot here in South Florida. I love fall because it’s not too hot and not too cold. How long have you lived in South Florida? I arrived in South Florida in January of 1989. So, it’s been 31 years. Why did you move here? It was time for the birdy to leave the nest and spread my wings and fly. My dad and I were clashing horribly. He said that I needed to get the hell out! What part of South Florida do you live in? I live in Hollywood, Florida. I always said that I would make it to Hollywood, but I should have been a little more specific (laughs). What do you like most about living here? I love the cultural diversity of the area and the sunshine. The palm trees are beautiful, too.

Rajée’s story is both inspiring and devastating in equal measure. An outcast literally from birth, Rajée has had to fight racism, prejudice and ignorance her entire life. Through a series of events that would have broken even the strongest man, Rajée emerged as a butterfly does from a cocoon into a beautiful spirit, yet the cruelty of life has deprived her of the traditional facial value.

What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone? In the 90’s the clubs down here had a certain electric energy to them, but after the internet advanced, the energy is gone. For LGBTQ people it was somewhere we gathered to be ourselves and connect. The great thing about the internet is now you can literally talk with someone across the world. Where do you hang out in South Florida? I usually hang out in the LGBTQ city of Wilton Manors. It’s where a lot of the outreach organizations are that I do my activist work with, and I also feel pretty safe doing social outing there. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? I’m a firm believer that everything that I have gone through makes me who I am at this moment. What’s the best performance that you did so far? I think my performance in Bella Maddo as the character “Aunt Norma.”

What’s the best movie or TV show that you’ve been in so far? I would have to say the reality show, Botched. It’s given me a platform around the world. What’s your dream gig? I would love to have my own show. Will you ever retire? Because a lot of my work now is activism, I think that I’ll be an activist until I die. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? If I have a porno I can send them. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? David Bowie on a flight coming back from England to the U.S. in 1986. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? My Facebook inbox, which is flooded (laughs). How do you take your coffee or tea? I am a coffee girl. And it’s usually the coffee-flavor Starbuck’s in a bottle. When I wake-up in the morning I put one in the freezer to get it cold and slushy. I love the rush of the coffee with the coldness. It really wakes me up.

What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? I’ve been to Canada, Trinidad, England, New York, and Los Angeles. I think that my recent trip to Washington, D.C., for the Trans March was the best in the sense that it was a full-circle moment for me. Growing up my family would go to D.C. in the summertime to visit. I have some fond memories of being with my family together there. And here I was so many years later marching for my rights as a transgender American. Who would play you in a movie? I’m not sure? What are you superstitious about? Nothing really. Do you believe in aliens? We would be pretty arrogant to think that in this big universe we are the only beings. What’s the gayest concert that you ever went to? I have not been to many concerts. I went to the Prince’s Purple Rain concert. And the Jackson 5 Victory concert (laughs). If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? For the love that I gave to the world.

What do you want to live long enough to see? I want to live long enough to accomplish my spiritual mission here and to touch at least seven billion people with my love. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That you can’t please everyone and that you hurt yourself trying to. What corrective surgery that you had was the roughest? The fourth facial surgery I had. They pulled back both sides of my face, and I was on the table for about six hours. What did you learn from your parents? From my mom, that niceness goes a long way. From my dad, to be precise. Who’s your favorite performer? Bruno Mars. What’s your best characteristic? My kindness. How do you enjoy spending your time? I love being in front of a camera filming. I also like to be home watching Locked Up Abroad and To Catch a Smuggler.

What celebrity do you have crush on? Drake, Prince Royce, Dev Patel, and Rick Gonzalez. Who do you admire? The fact that Nelson Mandela went from prisoner to president. Princess Diana’s global appeal. Harriet Tubman’s determination. Kyle Jenner’s wealth and social media following. And Dr. Ernest Holmes. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? My dad, so we could have a conversation about the relationship we had and life, since he’s been on the other side. Also, Jesus, Marilyn Monroe, and Gandhi. Where would you go in a time machine? I would go back just for a little bit to when Jesus was born to see how the story really played out. And then I would go 1,000 years in the future just for a little bit to see how the world will be then. What would your last meal be? A Korean bulgogi platter. What do you worry about? That I’m doing what I came here to do. What are you afraid of? That one day hate will conquer love.

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? Probably a choir instructor. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A sheep that has toughened-up through the years. Who depends on you, and for what? My mom, and the LGBTQ community, for the activism that I do. Who are you closest with? My mom and a few close friends. What would your autobiography be called? How A Botched Beauty Touched the World! What’s on your bucket list? That I only go after I have completed everything I need to do and that I can die with the feeling of divine completion! What’s your greatest regret in life? That I started to believe “the haters” from a very young age. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? Damn, so much of my story is out in the world, but I don’t think that many know that I had sex behind a church once. Where can we see you? Google “Rajee Narinesingh” and you will see me all over!

January 21, 2020February 23, 2020 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

ERNIE GLAM

In the vein of those who have parlayed themselves from that rare moment in time known as New York Club Kids, Ernie Glam is no exception to that rule. From portraying the infamous Clara the Chicken in the 1990s in the club kid scene, to a successful career as a journalist, author and fashion designer, Glam did it all in the glow of the nightlife.

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up? In Sacramento, California. What do you miss about it there? The warm, sunny weather. If you had to live somewhere other than New York, where would you live? In Paris or Berlin. What’s special about New York that most people aren’t aware of? The various styles of Chinese food. Since you’re a writer, what’s the “interview that got away” from you? As in, the interview that I never got, and now they’ve passed away? Right before our book, Fabulousity: A Night You’ll Never Forget… Or Remember, went to print, I was supposed to interview my co-author, Alexis DiBiasio, but he suddenly died before that could happen. What interview is most special to you? I interviewed a low-income immigrant couple who worked hundreds of hours for a failed nonprofit, in hopes that they would receive an affordable apartment in one of the buildings they volunteered to renovate. They never got the affordable apartment in the buildings they renovated. When the failed charity’s buildings were to be auctioned, my story was published and the auction administrator announced that the couple would receive monetary compensation for their volunteer work.

69 Hangovers chronicles a year of partying by journalist and nightclub personality Ernie Glam, who moved to New York City in 1984 and immediately began clubbing. Ernie Glam has a preference for flamboyant scenes and 69 Hangovers is a photo-documentary of parties where DJs played house, techno, EBM, goth rock and pop.

Who’s your dream interview? Iggy Pop. What’s the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you during an interview? The battery on my recorder died within two minutes of starting the interview, so I got nothing and had to request a repeat interview. What article or expose are you the proudest of? An expose on school-cafeteria cleanliness violations, because it forced a school district to properly clean its cafeteria kitchens. What piece from Project X Magazine is the most special to you? A fashion spread with Milla Jovovich and Tony Ward, for which I wrote a narrative that was a poem in the spirit of Dr. Seuss. What other journalist do you admire? Ofeibea Quist-Arcton from NPR, because she sounds so polite, and I love her accent. Other than yourself or Michael Alig, who’s the most important club kid? I don’t consider myself very important. I’d say Richie Rich, because he was most successful at monetizing the club kid phenomenon.

What club kid is underrated? Onyx Noir, because his designs for Kanae & Onyx in the early 90s were brilliant and fun. Other than yourself, who’s your favorite designer? I’m not even in my top-10 favorite designers! I love Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander McQueen. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? My first job as a teenager washing dishes in a restaurant. How did you come up with your name? I’m sure you’ve recounted that before, but I can’t quite recall. Sorry, I was a big fan of glam rock from the early 70s. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As a fun man. What do you want to live long enough to see? Recreational cocaine decriminalized. Will you ever retire? I’m legally retired from my 20-year news-reporting job, but I may never retire from nightclubbing. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? I’ve spent most of my adult life surrounded by people who can be considered very weird, so consequently, nothing seems weird to me.

What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? David Bowie. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Job ads. What’s the best place that you’ve ever visited? Ephesus, Turkey. Who would play you in a movie? Desmond is Amazing. I’m in Party Monster for about two seconds during the outlaw-party footage in the subway. What are you superstitious about? I’m not. Do you believe in aliens? If that means microbes on other worlds, then yes. What’s the gayest concert that you ever went to? Grace Jones’ one-man-show in 1981 in Philadelphia. She licked my hand towards the end of the show. What’s the most times that you watched a movie or read a book? I’ve lost count how many times I’ve watched the Rocky Horror Picture Show. I’ve watched it enough times to know most of the song lyrics. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? How to compromise in romantic relationships. What did you learn from your parents? Good manners. Who’s your favorite performer? David Bowie. What’s your best characteristic? My sense of humor.

How do you enjoy spending your time? Dancing. What celebrity do you have crush on? Most of my celebrity crushes are dead. Who do you admire? Salvador Dali. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Leigh Bowery. Where would you go in a time machine? To my college years to correct all my bad choices. What would your last meal be? My mom’s chiles rellenos. What do you worry about? I don’t worry about anything. It’s a waste of mental energy. What are you afraid of? Donald Trump. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A castanet. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf. Who depends on you, and for what? My family, for moral support. Who are you closest with? My husband. What would your autobiography be called? Dizzy Chicken. What’s on your bucket list? Visiting assassinated-presidents’ resting places. I only have one left. What’s your greatest regret in life? Not being able to say “I love you” at a younger age. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? That I vacationed in Southeast Asia hoping to try dog or cat meat. Where can we see you? In nightclubs.

October 15, 2019December 29, 2019 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

HEKLINA

What does a tambourine, rats, Iceland, and a Halloween party in San Francisco have in common? Answer: Heklina!

By Mike Jeknavorian

Where did you grow up? Iceland, Minnesota, New York, and Boston. What do you miss about any of those places? I miss Iceland, because it’s the one place I can relax. What’s something special about San Francisco that’s not common knowledge? This is a hard question, as the city is a mess right now. A lot of the special things have been drained away, but it’s still the city I look forward to getting back to whenever I travel. If you had to live somewhere other than San Francisco, where would you live? Well, I bought a house in Palm Springs, so there for sure (laughs). Also, Iceland, and perhaps Puerta Vallarta. What’s the most outrageous thing that you’ve ever seen at Trannshack? Oh my god, there were so many things, it’s impossible to narrow one down. But perhaps the first most shocking thing was when the club first opened in 1996. A queen named RunRig popped popcorn off a hot-plate on her head, and immediately after her performance had to be rushed to the hospital for life-threatening burns to her scalp!

Who’s the most underrated drag queen? Anyone not on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Has drag become too mainstream and lost its send of the irreverent? Yes. Of all the films spoofs that you’ve been in, which one was your favorite? The favorite thing I do is our Golden Girls LIVE production! Who’s your favorite film performer? Wow. I guess Elizabeth Taylor… Or Divine. What’s your favorite film? The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a film I can watch over and over. It’s clichéd, but true. Which one of your old jobs least prepared you for what you do now? Data processor in the navy. If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? For the things that I’ve created—Trannyshack and Oasis—and the fact that I never fucked anyone over or was dishonest in getting where I am.

What do you want to live long enough to see? The death of Donald Trump of course! Will you ever retire? Yes. What’s the weirdest question that a fan’s asked you? Nothing seems weird to me. What other celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Bjork. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Porn. What’s the best place that you’ve visited? Rio De Janeiro. What politician don’t you like? I don’t like any of them! What’s your favorite drink? Coffee. What’s your most treasured possession? My cat, Dexter. Do you believe in ghosts? Absolutely. Either living or dead, who would you love to have lunch with? Judy Garland. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? Don’t sweat the small stuff, and—for god’s sake—don’t try and solve arguments online.

What did you learn from your parents? What not to do. Who’s your favorite performer? David Bowie. What’s your best characteristic? I’m loyal, if you don’t fuck me over. How do you enjoy spending your time? Going to shows—concerts, theater and films—and traveling. What celebrity do you have crush on? Chris Evans! Who do you admire? David Bowie. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? David Bowie (laughs). I love Bowie. Where would you go in a time machine? Back to 1975. I was just a baby, but I’d like to be an adult during that era. Glam rock, disco, and punk! What would your last meal be? Barbecue! What do you worry about? Climate change. What are you afraid of? Rats and heights. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? A tambourine. I don’t wanna be bothered too much.

Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A wolf, for sure. Many boys who cross my path can vouch for that. Who depends on you, and for what? My cat Dexter does, for the obvious things. My employees do, for a livelihood. My audience…? Who are you closest with? Pippi Lovestocking, Peaches Christ, and Matthew Martin. What would your autobiography be called? That’s It? What’s on your bucket list? An African safari. What’s your greatest regret in life? Wasting all my time as a youth taking drugs and clubbing. But it’s also the thing I remember most fondly. What’s something secretive about you that people don’t know? I’m actually a really nice person. Never trust anyone who is not a cunt. Where can we see you? At Oasis! Also, at the Victoria Theatre this December for Golden Girls LIVE!

March 13, 2018August 5, 2018 MIKE JEKNAVORIAN National Interviews

AMANDA LEPORE

Not many can claim that they have a watch, a doll and a rubber duck made of them, on top of being a LGBT icon. But beneath the glitz and the glamour, and beyond the whimsical tips about hair bleaching and other ephemeral precepts, what’s the one thing that Amanda Lepore regrets in life?

Where do you live now? In New York. If you had to live somewhere else, where would it be, and why? In Paris, because it’s so pretty and it’s the “City of Love.” What New York venue do you miss that’s gone? The Diamond Horseshoe. It was such a gorgeous venue—very glamorous, with an old Hollywood vibe. What’s your claim-to-fame? Working with David LaChapelle, and being his muse. What’s your favorite LaChapelle photograph? Addicted to Diamonds.

Doll Part, by Amanda Lepore. A must-have collector’s item for readers eager for a glimpse into the unique world of a fearless chanteuse. A thoroughly enjoyable hybrid of flashy pictorial, artsy production, and outspoken autobiography.

What’s your ultimate goal in show business? I would love to have my own show. Something beautiful and elaborate, like Zumanity in Las Vegas. How would you like to be remembered? For making people happy. Will you ever retire? No, not anytime soon. Since you’re known for makeup, did you ever read Joan Crawford’s book, My Way of Life? I never read it. I do love the movie Mommie Dearest, though! What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked? Nothing weird. My fans are amazing and super respectful—I’m a fan of my fans!

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Traci Lords. It was such a treat to work with her recently, since I admire her so much. I think she’s so smart, especially with how she turned a scandal around and formed her own company to keep the rights to her work. And then she went on to do real movies, TV and became a singer. As you can see, I’m a “fan-girl” to follow her career like this (laughs). What the last thing that you looked at online? Shopping. I’m always shopping and looking for unique items to make my own costumes and accessories.

What the best place that you’ve visited, and why? Ibiza. It’s a continuous party there. It’s like an extended, twenty-hour version of one of my shows (laughs). What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? Not to overlap bleach. What did you learn from your parents? When I was picked on as a kid, my mother would tell me to hold my head high with pride, and to always be myself. Other than Marilyn Monroe, what actress do you admire? Jayne Mansfield. She’s a cartoon version of Marilyn Monroe. What performer do you admire, and why? David Bowie, because he was ahead of his time, gender-fluid, gorgeous, had great style, and he made great music, too.

What’s your best characteristic? My petite hour-glass figure, and my lips. How do you enjoy spending your time? Working on looks for my shows, and working on new costumes and accessories. What celebrity do you have a crush on? David Bowie. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why? David Bowie, for all the reasons that I previously mentioned! Where would you go in a time machine? I like to stay in the present. What would your last meal be? One cornflake. What do you worry about? I’m too busy. I don’t have time to worry.

Amanda Lepore’s latest EP. Released February 16, 2018. Get it for only $3.96.

If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why? A violin, because of its hourglass figure. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? A sheep, duh! I’m soft, curly and blonde. If you wrote a sequel to Doll Parts, what would it be called? Doll Parts II. What’s your greatest regret in life? Not being born genetically a female. It would have saved a lot of time and a lot of money! What’s something that you never told anyone else? That I’ve had plastic surgery (laughs)! Where can we see you? At Deryck Todd’s STRUT! at Acme on 3/13/2018, at Suzanne Bartsch’s Bareback Follies at The McKittrick Hotel on 3/16/2018, and at the Twisted Circus Tour UK from March 30 to April 7.