Helvetikah Blak: A Look Into Drag

By Helvetikah Black and Jada Milazzo

October 10, 2022

Helvetikah Blak, a 22 year old drag queen from the Legendary Haus of Stoole, and drag queen in Chicago. “Drag is about performance and look to me. I’m a gifted lip syncer, and I have a perspective on fashion as well.”

"I developed my style by paying attention to fashion houses, like, Schiaparelli, Mugler, and Versace. I decided to make modeling a big part of my drag, because I am obsessed with 90s supermodels. Someone once said that fashion is about two things: How you feel in it, and how it makes people feel to see you in it. My goal with fashion is to invoke feeling. I want the person watching me to want to touch me, or my garment, to feel moved, and ultimately tip me.

Gender isn't real, but it affects things in very real ways. The industry is pretty tragic as far as I'm concerned, and it is most apparent in how women are treated and exploited physically, mentally, and sexually. The only way I can fight it, as a trans person, and a drag queen is to do whatever I want. This is regardless of what the industry would tell me is right. Form fitted is in, I wanna wear a caftan. Denim is in? I'll take velvet. Fashion ultimately means nothing if you're just wearing clothes. I think for the sake of people like me, and for this industry; we should maybe move the conversation in the direction of style. It's personal and makes perspective seem important! And perspective is important. Why put the dress on if you feel nothing about the piece?"