#50: Ariana Grindr - Reflections Of A Drag Queen
In this episode, Jim speaks with Neville Bradley who performs as a Drag Queen under the name Ariana Grindr. This was a conversation that covered a wide variety of areas related to the art form, from how Neville began his Drag career to its political underpinnings to the exponential rise in popularity as a result of TV shows such as RuPaul’s Drag Race. Neville also shares both funny and sad stories from his experience over the last few years. We finish on a high note breaking down some of the key terminologies within the Drag world! This is an insightful chat hearing about Drag from someone who has been performing within the relatively fresh, but expanding scene. Please let us know what you think and thank you for listening!
Here are 3 reasons why you should listen to the full episode:
1. Learn about the inception and objectives of Drag performance and what Drag means to Neville.
2. Hear Neville’s firsthand experience as a Drag Queen in Dublin and how Ariana Grindr has been received by other Drags and the general public alike.
3. Neville also opens up on his experience as a gay man in Dublin and the complexities attached to being a gay man performing as a Drag Queen.
6 Powerful Quotes from This Episode
“Ariana is a heightened version of me. I can get away with saying a lot more inappropriate things. If I’m clearly making a laugh of myself, I find people are more open to you making more edgy jokes. Kind of like a ‘village idiot’ phenomenon”
“Being a Drag Queen is not all light and frosty, getting locked and having a great time. It is a political act, a big ‘fuck you’ to societal norms”
“I probably attract more ‘straight’ men than I do gay men at this point. My DM’s on Instagram is like the Wild Wild West”
“80% of jobs are in nightclubs and bars. You are getting home at 4 or 5 am. They always give you drinks as part of the job. You are the life and soul of the party, everybody is looking to you to emit fun and if you are not being fun, this could reflect your pay. Absolutely it’s a difficult profession to maintain good mental health. It is a problem, for so many people, whether they want to believe it or not”
“I’d be more afraid of walking down the street holding hands with another man than walking alone dressed in Drag. I’m more likely to get hate-crimed as I am than I am as Ariana Grindr”
“I’m doing it for the little gay babies. When I was growing up, there really wasn’t a lot of representation. TV was practically all just straight couples. I always assumed I was straight because I didn’t know there was another way to be”
Episode Highlights
How do you fall into the Drag Queen scene and what’s it like in Ireland?
● Neville details the journey from actor/singer to performing regularly in Drag as Ariana Grindr. He speaks on the relationship between younger and older, more experienced Drags in Ireland as well as what Drag ultimately means for him. Neville also explains that while a significant proportion of Drag Queens are gay men, the art form also attracts straight men (such as Brendan O’ Carroll!), and women dressing up as Drag Kings.
● Neville relays some comical stories about Drag Queen life in Dublin but also highlights the inherently political nature of the art form as well as difficulties in maintaining a healthy work/life balance within the sector.
Difficulty Dating as a Drag Queen
● Neville admits he often gets attention from straight men who would like him to dress as Ariana Grindr which indicates that their interest is less stimulated by Neville the person, and more the Drag performance. Neville says he would take this heart but he has since been able to look at it from a more nuanced perspective. He reflects on regular sexual interactions as Ariana Grindr, sometimes feeling like a ‘party clown’ however, through this he feels as if he’s reached a stronger sense of himself and respect for boundaries.
Dance Background Building Work Ethic
● Neville attributes his dedication and work ethic to his many years of studying and working in the dance sector. He says that he has helped him with his professionalism as well as showing respect for other people and hearing alternating points of view which of course, are tenets of the Drag world!
Challenges of the Come-Down after a performance
● .We hear about Neville’s immediate response after performances and how quickly the feeling can change from powerful, engaging, high to empty, and low.
Enjoy this Podcast?
We are very grateful to Neville for giving us his time and speaking so eloquently about an area that many people have been recently drawn to. His honesty in discussing his gay identity and the ups and downs of Drag life was deeply appreciated. We hoped this provided a deeper insight into the often neglected areas of this unique lifestyle. If you want to learn more about Ariana Grindr check out his Instagram and Twitter accounts! As ever, thanks a million for listening! We would love to hear your feedback!
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