ALL DOLLED UP

Cult-favorite drag star Linda Simpson is known as the queen of kitsch nostalgia. She granted us unprecedented access to her life and spilled secrets about her 30+ years of performing in the NYC drag circles. Photographer Johnny Miller raided her 1980s purple caboodle to snap Polaroids of her colorful makeup collection.

“BEING IN DRAG IS LIKE OPERATING IN THE WORLD AT AN ACCELERATED VISIBILITY.”

–LINDA SIMPSON

LOVE LETTERS: WHEN DID YOU FIRST DO DRAG, AND WHAT DREW YOU TO IT?

Linda Simpson: I started doing drag in the late 1980s, and I goofed around at first for Halloween. But then I became interested in the East Village scene, because it was so campy, edgy and wacky, and it really appealed to me in a theatrical sense. I was hanging out a lot at the Pyramid Club. The kids there were having so much fun that I decided to join the fray. First, I was just doing drag occasionally at parties, but then, like any good drag queen, I got a “night.” Mine was atthe Pyramid, and it was called Channel 69. I had to learn fast how to be a drag performer and do drag. Big learning curve at that time. Back then doing drag was not as popular, and certainly there were no YouTube tutorials, so I learned drag from other queens. You really had to search for the right makeup or for shoes that were big enough. You had to search also for shops where you could try on wigs or accoutrements without getting horrified looks. I didn’t have a drag mom . . . more like drag sisters. I didn’t even know that there was such a thing as a “drag mom.” We were all the same age then.

Luckily, though, being on stage came more naturally. When I was performing, it was easy for me to converse into a microphone. That’s half the battle. I managed
to be somewhat witty, with my dry sense of humor. I did have to find an audience, though. Not everyone “gets” me the first time. People have different sensibilities of what they are looking for in a performer. Being dressed up on stage gave me a bit of armor, so I didn’t feel self-conscious.

DID YOU IMAGINE THAT DRAG WOULD BECOME A WAY OF LIFE, A SORT OF LIFESTYLE FOR YOU? WHAT IS THAT LIKE?

I didn’t think about it at the time. I was doing it for fun. Drag was not careerist back then, when I started. It’s a viable profession now. In the ’80s and ’90s, it was about artistic expression. As I became more involved in the scene, I realized that drag was a vital part of my life, and after years, I decided to make it my only job. That was a real goal of mine, and I achieved it. But I didn’t have a clear-cut career path. It took many years to be able to do drag full time. I didn’t take it as seriously as I maybe should have. For so long I had to supplement my income with temp jobs. I was also a journalist at Time Out, where I was the editor of the gay and lesbian section for a few years. Sometimes I did journalism as my drag persona, writing for nightlife magazines was about using my flamboyant voice. I was a “personality,” rather than just a voice that blended into the background. It was 15 years, maybe 20 years before I supported myself doing drag.

LINDA’S ESSENTIALS

From bottom left: KVD Vegan Beauty Studded Kiss
Crème Lipstick in Misfit, Chanel Rouge Allure Passion, MAC Cosmetics 120 brush, Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in Pioneer, three of Linda’s favorite no-name makeup brushes, MAC Cosmetics Amplified Creme Lipstick in Full Fuchsia, Lipchic Transparent Sealer for Lipstick, Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX03, NYX Soft matte Lip Cream in Cannes, Pop Beauty Lightshow Palette in Dusk Deluxe, Pop Beauty Flash Shadow in Crushed Copper, Linda’s favorite no-name round sponge, Tarte-LIT Chrome Paint Highlighter.

I’VE READ BEFORE THAT YOU ALWAYS FELT A CONNECTION WITH YOUR FEMININE SIDE. I’VE NOW SEEN YOU IN AND OUT OF DRAG, AND IT DOES SEEM LIKE YOUR PERSONALITY SHIFTS A BIT. DO YOU FEEL BOTH PARTS OF YOURSELF ARE AUTHENTIC TO WHO YOU ARE? IS “LINDA” FULLY INTEGRATED?

The thing is, I do identify as a drag queen. . . . I’m not trans. I am comfortable as a male. That’s 95 percent of my life. In drag, it’s just an extension of who I already am. Drag gives you license to be loud and sharp. I do have those qualities as a male, but I don’t express them as much, maybe.

It’s a different way of operating in the world. It would be very difficult to do drag all the time. It takes rest and maintenance . . . and shopping. There were certain times in my life when things were out of balance, and I was spending all my money on “Linda” stuff. I’ve learned to even that out. Anytime anyone goes out in costume they attract more attention. Mostly I receive positive responses, but at times people can be hostile. Being in drag is like operating in the world at an accelerated visibility. Even walking to Uber can bring more attention. But obviously I wouldn’t be getting dressed up in drag if I didn’t want attention.

WHAT IS YOUR POINT OF VIEW ON BEAUTY? ON AGING?

Beauty is something all of humanity appreciates. Making yourself beautiful can be empowering . . . anyone can do it. You don’t have to be a supermodel to “beautify.” A lot of it is about finding a style, finding what suits you. Someone said, “Making yourself beautiful is being polite to the world.” It’s like making yourself easy on the eyes of other people. I’m not a great beauty, nor drop-dead gorgeous. I have learned what makeup and wigs work, so I have first- hand knowledge that you can always make an effort! Aging . . . what can you do? It’s difficult, and it’s not always associated with beauty, really. I feel very content with aging. The comfort that comes with aging outweighs the physical changes. I’m not opposed to aging, you know. The shift in energy levels sometimes takes a while to get used to. I don’t mean to sound like a New York snob, but people here who are older are more self-assured about dressing up. It’s true of Europe too . . . women of a certain age are treated as dignified, great beauties even.

LASH OUT

Lashes, sometimes doubled up, are an absolute must when Linda performs. Stardel Lash SF 43 Black, Estée Lauder Spa Eyelash Curler.

DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A FEMINIST? WHY OR WHY NOT?

I think I am. I am a little confused about third- or fourth-wave feminism. I believe, of course, men and women should be treated equally . . . receive the same pay, the same respect. I’ve always been very empathetic toward women. Definitions of feminism keep changing, and the political atmosphere is always changing, so I continually keep self-examining as to where I fit in with current thoughts on feminism. I think feminism is very healthy for society. Drag offers a unique perspective, since it gives you insights into the way our society views and treats different gender expressions. Not every drag queen is intellectualizing that, of course, but I can’t help but be aware of it when I do drag.

WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST STRUGGLES OR INSECURITIES? HOW HAVE YOU EVOLVED AS A PERSON AND FACED THOSE CHALLENGES?

My big insecurity has been self-confidence. For much of my life I had low self-image. I think the way I have managed to get over it was to persevere. I never gave up on myself, even at my lowest point. I’ve always been optimistic that things would and will get a little better or a lot better, even. I think my low self-image stemmed from growing up as a marginalized “sissy” and getting a lot of messages that I was “bad” just for being who I really was. It’s not an uncommon story for a lot of gay people. I think I had PTSD in my twenties, after having come through a somewhat unhappy childhood. My twenties were a bit of a low point. Now, in retrospect, I think I was suffering the effects of that mistreatment from my youth. I think I was very directionless back then, and I didn’t have the confidence to pursue anything concrete. I was exploring a lot of things. I went out a lot. I had a good time and had friends of course, but I think that’s why drag was so helpful, because I was searching for something for which I could have passion. And drag provided that. It did create a sense of community for me.

BEYOND THE BASICS

Linda mixes drugstore brands with high-end designer makeup to achieve her kitschy looks. NYX Lip Liner in Plum, Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Hydrofuge Mascara in Wet Black, Kevyn Aucoin Molten Lip Color in Poppy Topaz, BeautyBlender Original, Thierry Mugler Regard Stellar Eye Shadows and Lights in Starry Night, Ben Nye Creme Rouge in Sunset Coral.

WHAT DOES FEMININITY MEAN TO YOU?

We all have it in one way or the other. It’s a matter of how you display it. It can be a gentler way of looking at the world. Sometimes it can be tough and assured. I find femininity very appealing. I find masculinity sexy. At this time where there is a lot of gender fluidity, I think I’m a bit old fashioned in a way. I still really enjoy the duality of masculine and feminine, of butch and femme.

YOU’VE REALLY ADAPTED TO THESE CRAZY COVID CONDITIONS. WHAT HAS THAT BEEN LIKE FOR YOU, BEING “ALL DOLLED UP WITH NOWHERE TO GO”?

I am a live performer, but I have been able to pivot into the virtual world. It has come naturally, because in the ’90s I was a host on Manhattan cable access. I’ve been able to rely on some old skills. Also, the Bingo format that I do—it’s a game show—so it works perfectly in a television-like format. While I do love performing with live audiences and interacting with people, at home I don’t have to schlep back and forth. It has been nice to interact with people from all over the U.S. and Canada. Even people from England and Germany have come for my weekly Bingo. Danes and Norwegians and Swedes seem to really get me, because they have more of a dry sense of humor. Recently, I did a private party for some people in Europe. It was a company in Oslo. Let me tell you, I learned a real lesson. Shipping prizes from American eBay to Europe is very cost-prohibitive.

WAKE AND BAKE

While Linda doesn’t do full contouring, stark stage lights do require a heavier application, so she finds sponges helpful in achieving a unified, blended look. From top to bottom: ULTA Beauty Super Blender Mini Sponge, 2 ULTA Beauty Wedges, BeautyBlender Original, BeautyBlender Nude Sponge.

WHAT’S YOUR MUST-HAVE BEAUTY ITEM? THE THING YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT?

Can I tell you more than one? There are three things that come to mind now. First, Kevyn Aucoin foundation. After having experimented with a lot
of foundations over the years, this is the best. You just need a little to cover the whole face. It has a sort of thick consistency, but I never have to powder with it, so the formula is really interesting. I use a few different shades of it to create some slight contouring. I’m not a huge contouring queen. Really, though, this foundation is one of my favorites of all time. Also, Alyssa Edwards put out a line with Anastasia Beverly Hills. I received the eye-shadow palette as a gift, and it is so good. Very high quality and amazing colors. I love it. Lastly, in this Zoom era, a ring light is a must. It makes all the difference when you are doing all these virtual appearances. It can be headache-inducing, but it really does give you that professional-TV-studio glow everyone wants.

PUCKER UP, PRINCESS

Linda’s favorite no-name lip brush, Makeup Forever Artist Rouge 7 Lipstick Palette.

WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS FOR THE FUTURE?

I have a number of creative projects that I want to work on and take further. My Drag Explosion photo collection was an exhibit a few years back, and I’m going to make it into a book. I’m also writing a novel, which is based on a play I wrote, which was produced a number of years ago. I would love to work with other creatives, take part in different projects. I want to create more, produce more. With Bingo, I’d love to bring the show to more people and entertain on a greater scale. I really just want to feel creatively fulfilled.

“Most drag queens are able to say and do things that are more outrageous, things that would be criticized in other situations. It’s really the last vestige of non-politically-correct culture, and that may be why people love it.”

–LINDA SIMPSON

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