NIKKI ADAMS

As a LGBT philanthropist, MC, and winner of multiple South-Florida pagents, as well as the star of lavish productions at The Copa for many years, few can match Nikki Adams.  But what could she turn into that no one knows about?

Where did you grow up?  In a small town called Jennerstown, in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  For 41 years.  Why did you move here?  I had to get out of the small-town mentality.  What part of South Florida do you live in?  In the Hollywood area.  What do you like most about living here?  The weather.  What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone?  The CopaWhere do you hang out in South Florida?  At home, because I get enough social activity through work.  What’s your claim-to-fame?  I’ve been a performer and community activist in South Florida for a long time, and I won the Miss Florida Pageant in 1981.


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What contribution to South Florida LGBT community are you proudest of?  Raising millions of dollars over the years for charities.  What’s the best gig you ever did, and why?  A New Year’s night at Ozone, when the audience crowd-surfed me from the stage, around the bar, and then back to the stage.  How did you come up with your name?  I was named by my drag mother—Tiny Tina—after a 60’s sci-fi actor—Nick Adams—who was blonde, with blue eyes.  How would you like to be remembered?  As alive!  Will you ever retire?  That’s doubtful.  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked?  “Can I get change from that $5 that I tipped you?”

WITH HER PARENTS

What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  All of the ones that I’ve met.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  Shopping sites.  What’s the best place that you’ve visited?  Paris.  And I’m going back for my fourth trip there in the spring, because I love that city.  What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older?  Patience.  What did you learn from your parents?  To love and to be loved.  What performer do you admire, and why?  Latrice Royale, because she’s made her way with grace and humility.

What’s your favorite movie?  Auntie MameWhat drives you crazy?  Stupidity.  How would you feel if your pet was the master in heaven, and you were the pet?  I’d feel awesome!  I’d be fed to my content and I’d get belly rubs!!  Would you give a kidney to a relative or close friend?  Yes.  What’s your best characteristic?  Honesty.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  By relaxing with my pets.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Adam PascalWho do you admire, and why?  My dad.  He’s the smartest and most compassionate person that I know.  If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  My mom, because I miss talking to her.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  To the future, when we elect a new president.

What would your last meal be?  A ribeye steak, asparagus with hollandaise, and chocolate cake.  What do you worry about?  Bills!  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be, and why?  A piano, because it can play many notes at once.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  Neither—I’m a cougar!  Who depends on you?  My pets.  Who are you closest with?  My friend, Melissa.  What would your autobiography be called?  Live, Live, Live!  What music do you listen to when you’re upset?  Broadway music.  What’s on your bucket list?  To visit the Far East. What’s your greatest regret in life?  I have none.  I learn from my mistakes.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  That I could easily be a recluse.  Where can we see you?  On Tuesdays, for Trivia Night at Smarty Pants.  And in a city near you!

GUY DEGIACINTO

Canadian native and West Palm DJ Guy DeGiacinto talks about unsnapping bras at The Palace and what he’d do for a day if he was Oprah

PHOTOGRAPH BY GUY BROOKSBANK PHOTOGRAPHY

Where did you grow up?  In Cornwall, Ontario, which is the same city that Ryan Gosling is from.  How long have you lived in South Florida?  For three years.  Why did you move here?  To escape the brutal Canadian winters.  What part of South Florida do you live in?  We live in a community called Andros Isles, in West Palm Beach.  What do you like most about living here?  Until early January 2018, I would have said the warm weather (laughs)!  What South Florida venue do you miss that’s gone?  The CopaWhere do you hang out in South Florida?  Mostly in our yard by the pool, which is like a mini-jungle.  It’s filled with many different types of orchids.  What’s claim-to-fame?  A DJ at many different venues, including Gay Days and Le StudHow would you like to be remembered?  As kind, compassionate and empathetic.  Will you ever retire?  Not as long as I remain relevant and my passion doesn’t become my “job.”


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Who would you like to be for a day?  Oprah, and the day when she yelled to the audience, “You get a car!  You get a car!  You get a car…!  Everybody gets a car!!”  Do you believe in the afterlife?  Yes.  Who or what is the greatest love of your life?  My husband, Charlie DeGiacinto.  What talent would you most like to have?  To be a good singer.  What talent do you admire in other DJs?  Their ingenious creativity, and the ability to remain approachable and well-grounded (for those that do).  What kind of music do you like that might surprise people?  French-Canadian folklore music.  What’s your dream gig?  Headlining at World Pride.  What’s the weirdest question that a fan has asked?  “Could you unstrap my bra so that I can let these babies out to bounce to your phat beats?”  That was said to me at The PalaceWhat celebrity did you act like a “fan” around?  Madonna.  What’s the last thing that you looked at online?  Beatport.com, to buy some new music.

What the best place that you’ve visited, and why?  Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica.  It’s a Pacific Coast city that’s very gay friendly, and I loved being part of nature, with the many species of wildlife.  What did you learn from your parents?  To always treat everyone with respect.  What performer do you admire, and why?  Charles Aznavour.  He is 93-years-old and still performing.  He could have retired a wealthy man many years ago, but his life is his music, and he will perform until the very end.  What’s your best characteristic?  That I’m an eternal optimist.  How do you enjoy spending your time?  Producing music in the studio, hanging out by the pool in our yard, scuba diving, travelling, and learning something new.  What celebrity do you have a crush on?  Well, until recently, it was Kevin Spacey.  But I’ve always had a crush on Tom Selleck as well.  Who do you admire, and why?  I admire Tony Moran.  He’s a legendary singer, music producer and DJ, but somehow he’s remained grounded, approachable and such a nice person. 

If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be, and why?  My mom.  She passed when I was 15, and I never got to come out to her.  And—although I know she accepted me unconditionally—I would have loved to spend more time as an adult with her, which is when we develop a special friendship with our parents.  Where would you go in a time machine, and why?  Actually, I wouldn’t be going that far back.  I’d like to return to the Olympia Theater in Paris in 1960 to see my all-time favorite singer Edith Piaf live in concert.  What would your last meal be?  Definitely a large pepperoni pizza with double everything!  What do you worry about?  Getting old, and remaining relevant in a youthful industry.  If you were a musical instrument, what would you be?  An accordion.  Are you more like a sheep or a wolf?  A wolf.  Who depends on you, and for what?  Our white miniature schnauzer, Cody!  I take care of him as my child, as he really is the child I never had.

Who are you closest with?  Our friends Jim and Jerry, my BFF Karen Torrie-Racine (who’s someone I don’t see often), and my husband Charlie.  What would your autobiography be called?  Aucuns RegretsWhat music do you listen to when you’re upset?  French music—like Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour and Michel SardouWhat’s on your bucket list?  To visit and DJ in Australia.  What’s your greatest regret in life?  I was asked by my ex-partner in the 90s to choose between my music or a relationship.  At the time, I chose the relationship, but somehow I lost both, because I wasn’t happy without my music.  What’s something that you never told anyone else?  I once dated a high school teacher, who, after I fell in love with him, told me that he was really a priest.  I was crushed.  Where can we see you?  At Gay Days in Orlando, from May 30th to June 4th.  The details about my set will be posted online very soon!

PHOTOGRAPH BY SERGE BLAIS