From the moment she walked into the workroom on Canada’s Drag Race it was clear that Lady Boom Boom was about to serve us capital F Fashion.
Trained in design, the drag queen delivered on the promise in spades, from her expert reimagining of a pink Juicy Couture-style tracksuit into resplendent gothic evening wear for the exquisite gown she wore to the Who-Knows award show and, finally, the sci-fi look she delivered in her final episode on the show, which came complete with liquid pumping through tubes across her body live on the runway.
Following her elimination, Lady Boom Boom sat down with Xtra’s After the Sashay to dish on her fashion inspirations, cultivating a genderqueer wardrobe and her homage to Québécois drag icon Mado Lamotte.
Lady Boom Boom, look at you! You’re giving French high fashion femme fatale.
I’m dressed for my funeral!
You said this week that the drama was “a little high school” for you. Did things in the workoom get too dramatic?
You have to understand that at that point, we’d been shooting all day long. We’re in drag from morning to late night. It was around midnight and the only thing that was keeping us from taking off our garments and makeup was Fiercalicious. I really wanted to go to sleep at the hotel! So I shut it down real quick.
Do you feel a special sisterhood with Gisèle as another Québécois queen?
We’ve been working together for the past eight or nine years, but this was the first time we really had time to connect and I got to know more about her. She was like a big sister for me during the competition.
I’ve got to know—did Kimmy really talk to your boyfriend??
Yeah, but he didn’t remember, so I guess she’s not memorable!
You’ve got a degree in fashion design. Which of your Season 3 sisters has the best fashion sense?
I was very impressed with Gisèle’s looks. I feel like her wardrobe was pretty complete. I’ve seen some of the looks that are coming up!
You’re genderfluid. How has your practice as a drag artist impacted your understanding of your own gender?
When I first started [drag], I had two specific wardrobes—one for me and one for me once I’m in drag. Now I kind of shift and I wear what I want when I want to. That makes me feel more powerful, just being able to express myself. Even when I was very shy in high school, the best thing for me to communicate with others was through my looks. Becoming a drag queen really helped my fashion sense. I love fashion!
For Snatch Game you impersonated a legendary Canadian drag queen. For those who aren’t familiar with her, who is Mado?
Mado is the proud owner of Cabaret Mado in Montreal. I’m performing there tonight so hopefully I still have a job! I told her I was doing her on Snatch Game but I didn’t tell her I did good. She’s a drag pioneer here in Montreal and in Quebec, and she also does work in France. She’s a big inspiration.
Your runway was SO COOL. You had actual liquid running through the tubes! How did you do that?
I didn’t make it—I went to one of my designer friends in Montreal. I wanted all of my stuff to be made by Montreal designers. Except for my promo look, everything was made by a Montreal designer. I have some stuff coming out made by [Season 2 contestant] Suki Doll later in the competition.
The designer, POE—his brother works in movies and knows the technology when they have blood coming out [of a wound]. I told him I was doing a liquid element and I wanted to be able to have it on my body. The concept came from Robyn: she has a video [for her song ‘Indestructible’] where she’s lying down and has liquid moving in her outfit.
The chance to be on Drag Race is the chance to make all of your dream garments come to life. I’m very proud of this one; I didn’t want to leave before being able to wear it.
What’s next for Lady Boom Boom?
I’ve been very busy (booked and blessed!) since I’ve been back. Thankfully, because I’ll be able to pay off all my expensive garments. Watch me on Instagram and hopefully I’ll be performing in a city near you. I was just talking to my manager about doing New York City. I’m very excited. I have some merch coming up too. Watch out for my merchandise! The most fashionable merch ever.
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