Violet Chachki

I feel like I have a legacy that I've built. I feel like I've made my little notch in history.

I perform in theaters, international stages with people screaming for me, and then I go back to my hotel room, take all my makeup off, and I'm alone.

I'm not a social justice warrior - that was never my goal, to be a political figurehead.

A Lot More Me' is the culmination of 10 years of work as a drag artist.

I've always dreamed of creating my own show.

I don't want to look like a woman. I want to look like a drawing of a woman.

I'm a visual person, and I love visual extremes and aesthetic discipline.

No one should be gatekeeping clothing of any kind.

Much of life is performative.

There's something really intimate about getting in drag in your bedroom in the safety of your own home.

I've always been into subcultures. In the '50s and '60s, what Pierre Molinier was doing was super subculture - he was taking self-portraits, it was very private, very intimate. I think that's actually how I started my drag - in my bedroom, taking MacBook self-portraits.

My drag character is very dominant and domineering, and that's a quality that I am inspired by.

I always have been excited by taboo things, especially growing up, going to Catholic school.

Getting success really quickly - overnight success - it's a bit jarring at first, for sure, to transition into that.

Drag Race' is a huge opportunity for us to elevate drag culture, to tell our stories. It really is a career-maker.

I was constantly getting in trouble, constantly trying to break the rules. Even when I was coming up in the drag scene, I was known as sort of the rule breaker, the rebel, the bad girl.

I've always been a rule-breaker and a rebel. For me, drag has always been about rebellion, but also escapism. I think being able to creatively direct your own world is super powerful - and it's beautiful.

I have an amazing collaborative relationship with Albert Sanchez and Pedro Zalba. They always understand my vision and also have their own references to bring to the table, the results are always incredible.

If you were supposed to be a drag queen, and that's what you wanted to do, you'd be doing it already, you wouldn't be in my DMs asking me how to do so. When I started I was ugly, but I didn't think I was ugly. You have to not dream it, but be it - that's it.

It feels like a lot of times when I'm watching people perform, they're just going through the motions and checking boxes. Costume - good, hair - good, make-up - good, death drop - good; it's like they're just going through a checklist of what makes a 'good performance' but it's not entertaining, it's very disposable.

It's not my thing to dance in my living room on a livestream, so I'm really having to figure out ways to elevate the digital world and bring it to the level that I've held my drag at for so long.

I mean, casting gender non-conforming people in campaigns and editorials and on covers of magazines is a risk for any business because there's going to be controversy, but I think they need to take the risk and believe they're moving in the right direction.

Showing variety in representation in casting is super important, it gives minorities a platform and I think it definitely creates a safe space for conversation and progress.

There's so many different identities out there and I think they all deserve some visibility.

I've always put a lot of stock in aesthetics and visuals. I truly believe a picture is worth a thousand words and that fashion and glamour have the power to transport and transform someone.

I can definitely make sample size work.

Every old Hollywood starlet would sing in movies, there'd always be some big dance sequence. Think of Marilyn Monroe singing 'Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend.'

My whole confidence is almost a 'fake it 'til you make it' kind of thing.

I've always been inspired by vintage clothing and vintage styles.

I've always been inspired by strong, confident, powerful women.

I'm living and doing my work on my own terms. It's a lot of pressure, not just for the audience, but for myself.

When I was smelling Heretic for the first time, I was impressed because it was organic-smelling and light and refreshing and natural and not overbearing at all and not too synthetic or floral. It doesn't smell like you're wearing cotton candy.

A word of advice for all the aspiring drag queens out there: be resourceful.

I'm from Atlanta, which is the capital of drag, so very competitive. For my first booking in 2011 I was paid $35, I did three performances and a call back so that's four looks.

I don't pretend to be an eco-warrior; I need to perform in an air-conditioned space otherwise my make-up will melt off. But I definitely buy clothes with longevity in mind; I love the idea of a shoe that lasts a lifetime.

I've always been interested in androgyny and a lot of my work explores gender identity.

The costume world - whether it be movies, television or drag - and the fashion world have this weird, ugly stepsister, love/hate relationship. I'm somewhere stuck in the middle of it, and it's so much fun.

A reveal should be unexpected and clever.

I've always been inspired by Thierry Mugler and John Galliano.

I think Atlanta has been a drag capital for a long time. A lot of people get there start here.

I just love a little bit of tinted moisturiser or an SPF on days where I don't have to wear any makeup. Giving your skin a break is crucial and there's actually a bit of glamour in beautiful skincare and no makeup days.

Oh I love not wearing makeup, that's like my favourite thing.

In the drag community it's mostly women in the audience, even for burlesque. I think people look at strippping as a male gaze thing and I think the actual neo-classical burlesque community is more about women supporting women and their creativity, along with freedom of expression.

I think I always knew aesthetically what excited me the most, and I think I was always looking for that aesthetic in other people and it didn't really happen. I decided to take it upon myself to be the change I wanted to see in nightlife.

I get asked really dumb questions.

I really would like to be an advocate for LGBT youth or transgender youth, or transgender people in general.

I don't necessarily like being a TV personality, I just want to be an artist.

I definitely think that I, as a drag queen, can endure pain a lot better than most people.

It's probably the best feeling ever, taking off your corset after a long night.

I've traveled to the most glamorous places in the world, the biggest capitals of culture, and I've traveled to the biggest fuddy-duddy, slum life nowheresvilles... so I've seen a ton of stuff. I've been physically attacked at a McDonald's in Perth, Australia, in full drag.