Mon 2 Mar 2015 In: Hall of Fame View at Wayback View at NDHA
Dakota Vegas has won the tough Miss Drag Pride competition at Auckland's Family Bar. She tells us how she started out, wanting to bring something different to the NZ drag scene. Tell us a bit about yourself? Well where do I start? I'm a 95% ass cheeks and 20% sexy so in theory I'm 115% of a person. How did you get into drag? I started out wanting to bring something different to the New Zealand drag scene, so I tried taking as much clothing off as possible. I've always had an itch to do it but always denied myself the freedom to express myself as a drag queen and then I moved in with these two amazing guys who introduced me to drag race and basically helped put a wig and a dress on me the rest is Herstory now. How long have you been doing it for? My first ever night in full drag was 30 May 2014 and since then it's been a big blur of booze, nails, wigs, eyelashes and creeps sending me nudes on every possible social media forum I have. How did you decide on a name? Well I won't spring my inspiration by full name but I named myself after a very dear friend of mine whose stripper name was Dakota and then she worked at somewhere called Vegas. As a person she was such a huge inspiration to me and in her fashion style so we agreed it would be a fitting name. Who have been your inspirations? If we're talking mainstream drag queens? Obviously Willam Belli, that mouth of his needs a good slap but then so does mine haha. In the Auckland Drag Scene I try take a little bit from every queen I meet being anyone from Kita Mean, Tess Tickle, Betty Ford or Daisha Jackzon (sometimes) I try take anything I like about them or anyone and apply it to myself and trial it out. How tough was the competition? The competition was super tough! There were some fierce competitors. I mean did you see Yuri's head pieces? And then Elektra busting out with six back up dancers? And then at last minute my previous back up dancers had to pull out and then I had to completely restart! How much work did you put in? I can't say I stood entirely alone in this competition. My mother Daisha Jackzon has been there every step of the way reminding me to step it up and take it to the next level. Other than that there was lots of work and planning I think I had about four shows put together by the end of this competition. So that was a lot of stress and deciding which works the best What does it mean to you to win? Well to start it means the Haus Of TCD are now all title holders! It means a trip to Hawaii clearly........ In all seriousness though for me it means that my hard work and my ability to be able to do different looks and follow a different style of drag was recognized. It also means I'm buying ear plugs so I don't have to listen to Ribena snoring while I'm in Hawaii with her. Tell us a bit about your life outside of drag? My life outside of drag is AMAZING! I'm a hairdresser by trade but my life is fun and full of lots of love and friends. I spend all my spare time I can doing things that make me happy. I refuse to ever stop! What music do you love? I must admit I'm a black woman trapped inside a white drag queens body. If I can twerk to it you can guarantee it's on my playlist. I am the biggest Nicki Minaj Fan anything from the Young Money Family is on my playlist. Who are your style icons? Anyone who likes to get naked! If people are looking to keep their clothes on then definitely Carmen Carrera, Gigi and Willam Belli. What rules do you live your life by? I don't live by rules if it makes me happy then I will it or him. The one phrase I try to incorporate into my everyday life is 'always live with forgiveness' Anyone you’d like to thank? Yes definitely I'm going to start right back at the start. I'd like to thank Tess Tickle and Grady Elliot for being the first people to ever put me on stage and giving me a platform to perform. I'd like to thank Ribena and Trinity Ice for hosting such a great competition and believing that I could win this! I'd like to thank my flatmates for putting up with my constant mess there are all sort of stuff floating in our house. Certainly not least Daisha Jackzon and everyone around her (Betty Ford, Dee Dee Vine) for supporting me Daisha mainly for being my mother taking the time to understand me and for always encouraging me to do things that people shouldn't do. She has been my biggest supporter and fan in this competition and without her in my life, it becomes a life not worth living. Also a quick thank you to the judges and everyone in the crowd/online who supported me. Without you none of this would be possible. Jacqui Stanford - 2nd March 2015