Photography by Brian Vu @brianvu
Hair by Paul Keo @paulkeo.wig
Miss Ma’am She is not your average influencer—she’s a fever dream in a knock-off Fendi, Brooklyn’s reigning comedy IT Girl, and the diva you accidentally quote when you’re spiraling in group chat. A self-proclaimed aspiring industry plant and lover of laughter (yes, even more than Klarna), she’s turned viral internet antics into a platform that’s as fabulous as it is refreshingly unfiltered. Whether she’s storming the local mall in a tracksuit and bob, launching her signature Mall Drag experience, or throwing curlers at tech execs during Pride at Google HQ, Miss Ma’am is in her own genre: casual camp with cultural impact.
With TikTok fame, collaborations with queer platforms like Grindr and Sniffies, and a fanbase stretching from Brooklyn to Europe, her influence is loud, proud, and absurd in all the right ways. In a world that’s regressing at breakneck speed, she reminds us to keep laughing, keep showing up, and—most importantly—keep serving.
Because in the words of Miss Ma’am She herself: girl, just have fun.
What is Miss Ma’am She up to?
You may see me storming the local mall, stocking up on the latest Spring / Summer collections for a realistic price, but don’t tell anybody, ESPECIALLY the #fashionbloggercommunity.
I can see you doing a feature-length film because you have ANTICS. What would you name the movie of your life, and who would you cast to star?
Since I am only 27 years old, “To Be Continued… Girl: What’s Next?” I love a fat check, so I would have to play myself. However, we can get Kathy Bates or Melissa McCarthy if I am unavailable. Of course, they would have to audition first.
What inspired Mall Drag? Who is SHE? I love the tracksuit and Bob. Hehehehe.
The Brooklyn Drag inspires Mall Drag I fell in love with pre-pandemic. My show represents the kind of fun I used to experience when I first discovered Brooklyn nightlife in late 2018. Since the pandemic, New York has lost its fun edge and individuality, so I wanted to bring that back. Mall drag is not your typical drag show. It subverts the high standards of commercialized drag. My show is for the community and everyone involved. Mall drag is casual camp. Audiences in New York come with a mindset of needing to be impressed instead of opening themselves to being entertained. Everybody is so hypercritical these days… girl, just have fun! In a city where eggs are almost $20, Mall Drag is for divas on a budget who still want to turn the party out.
What did you do when TikTok was “banned”?
When the app went dark, for what felt like twenty minutes, I smoked a joint and told myself, “Girl, pay it; it’s time for reels.”
The fall of TikTok didn’t scare me because a large portion of my audience came and found me on my other social platforms like Twitter and Instagram, which I’m more active on anyway, so I was more bummed that I forgot to save my older videos which I thought I had lost in the void.
Who are some of your biggest inspirations growing up?
My biggest inspirations are all over the place. I am inspired by women who are over the bullshit around them, such as the women from The Golden Girls and Desperate Housewives. I am inspired by Queer icons who unabashedly play with femininity, like Amanda Lepore and Divine. I am inspired by women, divas, and dolls who cannot be told what to do. I am also inspired by my mother, who taught me that sometimes it’s okay to tell someone, “Go fuck yourself.”
Who are your favorite freaks?
My favorite freaks have to be all of the Brooklyn drag performers I admired as I started getting into nightlife. And Marina Abramović. I think she is so dramatic, it’s camp.
What were the most iconic moments you ever had?
Of course, I have to start with my viral TikTok videos. The impact they have had on internet gay culture has been quite the ride, from “Hi Diva” to “Why did you ask me for an open relationship?” The opportunities that I have garnered from these silly videos that I have posted have been life-changing and pretty funny.
Collaborating with Grindr for Pride 2023 was iconic, but being asked to participate in the Sniffies 2024 pride campaign was fierce, especially as the only drag queen on set. I remember the director coming up to me and referencing a viral photo of mine and requesting to recreate it… I thought that was pretty iconic. Being a correspondent for the Field App was fun; these queer dating apps love me, girl.
Going to the farewell, Tony Bennet concert at Radio City for his last public performance in Full Drag, you couldn’t tell me anything.
Performing at the Google Headquarters for Pride and throwing my curlers at the audience during my number, let’s say they were gagged, and I was worried about my personal data.
Your makeup is always stunning. Who are some of your favorite brands and what is your favorite cleanser?
I am a loyal Pat McGrath diva. For the past three years, I have exclusively worn Pat McGrath Mothership Palletes, the best on the market. I love the Makeup Forever and Urban Decay pencils; you can really go crazy with those.
My favorite cleanser has to be the Tatcha Rice Wash, my bestie put me on and I haven’t looked back since.
When do you feel the most alive?
I feel the most alive either when I am on stage for a high energy crowd, or going about my daily life doing mundane things by myself. Diva, respect the balance.
Behind closed doors, what is she doing?
She is at home! She is living an everyday life. She is an active NPC. Nightlife can be very draining, and when I am not in drag, I love and appreciate being able to exist as a normal person.
What last color and motif were your nails?
Love a classic French Tip, it just screams Savings Account and 401K.
What is a perfect world?
I am not sure what a perfect world is. This world is so imperfect and harsh, I would not even know where to begin.
If I could, I would say a perfect world is where everyone is equal and religious beliefs aren’t forced onto people.
What has the drag community taught you in NY and also all over the world?
The drag community in New York taught me how to hustle and explore my creativity without limits. The drag community, especially in Brooklyn, has taught me that I am not alone in this world. Even if you may not like certain things or people in your community, you still have one and are a part of something bigger. New York nightlife has taught me to appreciate the individuality of each person I meet and the community built around our uniqueness.
What do you think some of your impact has been? Like your influence.
Gay internet culture has never been the same; let’s just say that. I did not realize at first how far my content had reached others worldwide until I started getting messages from different countries telling me how much they loved my videos. What is even crazier to me are the people who have traveled internationally to see my show; for example, I host a local Bingo in Brooklyn, and I have met gays from Ireland, England, etc. who have come just for the opportunity to meet me, which is crazy because I see myself as a regular person who shops at the family dollar. I would hope my impact will be to keep queer people lighthearted and fun and give them joy in this confusing world that we live in now.
What is the current state of the world?
A dumpster fire. More specifically, a conservative dumpster fire that we cannot put out. The world is regressing faster than the progression we’ve made in the past 20 years. I think the world is pretty awful right now, but I am thankful for my community as a safeguard during these dangerous times.
