A conversation with our fabulous show girls.
Ivy Blue Austin
Fancie P. Charmington
Jenell Collins
Magnolia Applebottom
Mona Lotts
Regina Cox
Julia Sugarbaker II
Monique L’Amor
Roxy Overbrooke
Anna Rexia
Drag queens are everywhere—100% mainstream. Thank you, RuPaul. That was the general consensus when the drag entertainers of Rehoboth Beach gathered in mid-June at CAMP Rehoboth to shoot the cover for this issue. It was mid-afternoon mid-week, when nine visions in red, white, and blue trooped in to sip champagne and talk about the scene, the audience, and what it takes to be a queen.
CAMP Rehoboth has had a long history with drag queens—Gladys Kravitz was the original spokesperson for the safe sex program, CAMPsafe, nearly 20 years ago—but it has never been easier for a queen to show some cleavage, for the girls to find their voice, or for a fan to find a show. So hustle around Rehoboth Beach and enjoy what these girls have to offer.
Thanks to those queens who took the time to vogue for our cameras. Not everyone could make the shoot, but if they answered our questions, they are included. If you are doing drag in Rehoboth Beach and we missed you, please feel free to send a note to editor@camprehoboth.com, and we will include you in any updates. Special thanks to CAMP Rehoboth Board President Chris Beagle who put out the word and served as host extraordinaire, and to Board Members Shelley Couch and Glen Pruitt for helping with interviews.
How did you choose your name/persona?
Ivy Blue Austin: From my all time favorite musician, Beyoncé, and my drag mother retired Drag Queen Tara Austin.
Fancie P. Charmington: At a drag charity brunch when I walked out of the changing room, our host exclaimed “Well, aren’t you a Miss Fancy Pants!” I altered the spelling to Fancie, kept the P and added Charmington. My drag mother, Roxy Overbrooke, insisted I create the proper illusion, so I selected a southern personality and voila! Fancie was born.
Monique L’Amor: I wanted something that would represent me. L’Amor means to love in Spanish. I am always willing to love.
Regina Cox: I studied Latin in school and “Regina” is Latin for Queen. Since Regina is multi-syllabic, I want something shorter for my last name. Cox was the last name of someone that rode in my father’s carpool.
Julia Sugarbaker II: Growing up, my favorite TV show was Designing Women, and no one could be classier or have the wit of the late Dixie Cater portraying Julia Sugarbaker.
Magnolia Applebottom: Magnolia’s persona is inspired by a combination of outgoing people through my life who pushed me to be more daring and courageous. However, the name came from a housekeeper named Magnolia who wore Applebottom jeans.
Roxy Overbrooke: The oldest device ever, really. Overbrooke was the first street we lived on and our first dog was named Roxy. I didn’t think that I’d be doing drag but once.
Mona Lotts: Mona comes from Dolly Parton’s role in Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Lotts came from Big Lots stores.
Jenell Collins: My first name comes from the designer Coco Chanel, slightly altered to Janell, and the last from the incomparable Joan Collins from the TV show, Dynasty.
Anna Rexia: My best friend gave it to me as a humorous way to incorporate my boy name.
Why do you do drag?
Magnolia Applebottom: It allows me to be my most creative self. To be a drag queen you must master so many talents: makeup, fashion, hair design, costuming creation, interpersonal communication, and of course the performance. I live to perform. I have all my life. I never thought being a drag queen would be my full time job after college but I’m lucky to call it my career.
Ivy Blue Austin: There’s nothing else I love doing more than performing and drag is an extension of my personality. Between donning hair and make-up, putting on beautiful costumes, then going out to entertain a crowd of people and seeing their reactions on my performances—that is why I love doing drag.
Fancie P. Charmington: I simply love the art and respect my close friends who do drag for a living. It is my goal to make them proud each time I get into drag.
Monique L’Amor: It allows me to express myself in a positive manner, so others can feel free to be themselves.
Regina Cox: Having a theatre background/degree, I approach it strictly as a character that I create, and I enjoy entertaining the audiences.
Julia Sugarbaker II: You belong to a sisterhood, a sorority. Your sisters become family, and that is a uniqueness that is widely spread here in Rehoboth Beach.
Roxy Overbrooke: Drag combines all of the things that I enjoy: costume, makeup, fashion, singing, performing. You have to excel at so many things.
Jenell Collins: I love to entertain. In entertaining, people hear you and people see you. Entertaining is what I was born to do.
Anna Rexia: It’s a way for me to express a creative side of me that is for me and the crowd.
Mona Lotts: It was what I was born to do.
What is one of the funniest things that has happened to you in the drag world?
Mona Lotts: My skirt fell off on stage at Ziegfelds in DC. Fortunately I was wearing underwear—I AM a lady after all! What did I do? I stepped out of it and kept on performing. I was singing “I Am What I Am” when the elastic in my skirt failed. The crowd thought it was part of the act.
Ivy Blue Austin: Last year, a group of ladies came in and really enjoyed the show. The next day at my day job in boy drag, that same group came in without recognizing me and asked for a recommendation of what to do that night. I suggested the Parrot for Karaoke. They squealed that they been there the night before. I asked if they enjoyed “my show,” and they squealed even louder!
Regina Cox: My heel got stuck in a floor grate while performing, and I pulled the grate out of the floor and drug it around during the number.
Fancie P. Charmington: We use a lot of padding and shapers to create the illusion of the female body. My illusion was very appealing to an audience member who asked me out on a date.
Monique L’Amor: I was performing and did a high kick on stage. My shoe got stuck in the ceiling. I kept dancing and when it fell back down, I slid it back on without missing a beat.
Julia Sugarbaker II: My dear…it’s a secret! I can’t let that out!
Magnolia Applebottom: When men actually think Magnolia is a real woman.
Roxy Overbrooke: One time when I was performing and dashing across the stage, I went flying and my wig flew in a different direction. I just gathered myself up and plopped my wig back on my head and continued on.
Jenell Collins: Once Mona Lotts and I did this brunch and Mona opened the dressing room door, which was visible to the crowd, and I wasn’t ready—I was in my undies and bald head! We got such a laugh out of it.
Anna Rexia: The sweetest was this young onlooker at the block party, no more than six years old, who ran up to me, gave me a dollar, and hugged me. No fear just love.
Where do you get your style/fashion inspiration?
Julia Sugarbaker II: As female impersonators or drag queens, we learn from and teach each other. My personal style is an inspiration of a multitude of drag queens, young and old, from traditional to androgyny.
Regina Cox: I am constantly observing others and learning from them. The “style” depends on the number/song that I am performing as well.
Magnolia Applebottom: I love anything bright, floral, loud, and retro. Magnolia is a chameleon. At anytime she could be in anything from a 50s inspired dress to an 80s punk rock costume.
Roxy Overbrooke: For sure, from the women in my family, especially my mom and grandmother. I can remember at seven or eight years old, sitting on the bed and watching my mom at her vanity getting ready to go out. It was so glamorous.
Mona Lotts: I am all original! My style grew as I grew as a performer. As I became more fabulous, so did my outfits. I am a girl of indeterminate girth, so there are only certain things I can wear.
Jenell Collins: I got my inspiration from older drag queens and performers. There was a drag queen named Mahogany, then there’s Ella Fitzgerald, and Lady Bunny.
Ivy Blue Austin: I find inspiration from my favorite female performers.
Fancie P. Charmington: From my drag mother, aunties, and great aunty. And from my fairy godmother, Mona Lotts.
Any advice or tips for aspiring divas?
Mona Lotts: Stay humble. The people you meet on the way up are the same people you’ll meet on the way down. And always wear fresh panties.
Ivy Blue Austin: Remember to be confidant when you are starting off, if you have that, it is how people will remember of you. Second is to work on bettering yourself and elevate your drag each season.
Anna Rexia: Someone told me once: define who your character is first. Everything else will just fall in line. I say don’t be afraid to try something. If it fails, don’t do it again. If it’s a hit you had nothing to lose.
Fancie P. Charmington: Go for it but understand drag is expensive. Don’t cut corners. Find an established drag queen to be a mentor.
Jenell Collins: Stay humble. Learn your words to songs and always keep a creative mind.
Julia Sugarbaker II: In the words of Her Majesty RuPaul—You Betta Werk!
Regina Cox: Always remain open to new ideas. This art form is constantly evolving.
Magnolia Applebottom: Be original, be kind, and be professional.
Monique L’Amor: Please be humble and listen to those trying to give you advice. You don’t know everything.
Roxy Overbrooke: Drag is serious business. Anyone can get dressed but not everybody can be a drag queen.
What is your single most critical accessory?
Jenell Collins: My body itself. Because it’s ever-changing and the costumes are not.
Anna Rexia: Rhinestones.
Fancie P. Charmington: Jewelry—very BIG and sparkling drag jewelry.
Mona Lotts: Eyelashes.
Monique L’Amor: Go Go boots.
Roxy Overbrooke: Nails—a girl should never be without her nails.
Ivy Blue Austin: Everything! Earrings, bracelets, rings, and necklaces. It all goes hand in hand.
Magnolia Applebottom: Perfume! Smelling like a beautiful woman is key to keeping the illusion alive.
Julia Sugarbaker II: My wig band. It’s never seen by the crowd, and I have had the same one for many years. I would be lost without it!
Regina Cox: A queen must always have her jewels!
How many wigs do you own?
Anna Rexia: Not many, I’m a bald queen but it’s growing. I think about 20.
Monique L’Amor: Maybe 15.
Fancie P. Charmington: 27—with two more on order.
Regina Cox: About 75. I’ve lost count.
Julia Sugarbaker II: Have you been to my dressing room? Oh, my God!
Magnolia Applebottom: Over 100.
Roxy Overbrooke: I have a lot. Just tubs and tubs.
Mona Lotts: I have 147 of them.
Jenell Collins: I cannot even count how many wigs I own.
Ivy Blue Austin: A nice handful but more are coming.
Where can we find you in Rehoboth Beach?
Ivy Blue Austin: Sunday nights at the Purple Parrot with the other Birdcage Bad Girls.
Fancie P. Charmington: Purple Parrot, Goolee’s Grill, Blue Moon, and Aqua.
Roxy Overbrooke: Blue Moon.
Monique L’Amor: Once a month at Purple Parrot on Sundays and occasionally at the Blue Moon on Fridays.
Regina Cox: Twice a month at the Blue Moon, once a month at the Drag Brunches at Goolee’s, and occasionally at the Purple Parrot.
Julia Sugarbaker II: As M/C and Show Director at the Purple Parrot, catch me at 10 p.m. every Sunday night.
Magnolia Applebottom: The Blue Moon, five days a week, all year long. Magnolia is the host of her own game show Sunday nights, plus Bingo, Karaoke, The Spotlight Show, and a cast member of the Blue Moon Legends Show.
Anna Rexia: Purple Parrot, Blue Moon, The Swell.
Jenell Collins: Everywhere! You can find me supporting charity—you can find me everywhere in Rehoboth where Drag happens.
Mona Lotts: Exclusively at the Blue Moon. ▼
Drag Your Ass Around RB and Show These Girls Some Love
Sunday
The Birdcage Bad Girls Drag Show, Purple Parrot Grill, 134 Rehoboth Avenue, 10 p.m.
Games w/Magnolia, Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Avenue, 9:30 p.m.
Goolee’s Grille—The Home of Rehoboth’s Drag Brunch, 11 S 1st Street. 1 - 3 p.m., 3rd Sunday of the month
Tuesday
Bingo with the Blue Moon Divas, Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Avenue, 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Showcase with Mona Lotts, Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Avenue, 9:30 p.m.
Thursday
Karaoke with the Blue Moon Divas, Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Avenue, 9:30 p.m.
Friday
Spotlight Show, Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Ave. 9:45 p.m.
Saturday
Legends, Blue Moon, 35 Baltimore Ave. 9:30 p.m.
Divas of the Sea, The Swell, 37385 Rehoboth Avenue Ext. 10:30 p.m.▼