Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 and runner-up of All Stars 11, Joey Jay starts her Aussie tour in Brisbane for Melt Festival this week, and promises a gay time for all.
The first time drag superstar Joey Jay came to Australia was for a Tourism NT photo shoot celebrating the 30th anniversary of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Back then she only made it to the Red Centre. Now she’s coming to Australia for a national tour, and can’t wait to be a part of Melt Festival.
“Last time was amazing,” Joey Jay said, “I got to meet cows and crocodiles, but they’re not going to buy a print, you know?”
Source: Kane Chenoweth / Tourism NTYou can’t help but get swept up in Joey Jay’s charisma and charm.
Onscreen she always brought the laughs, but how does that translate to a live show? What does a Joey Jay show look like?
“Obviously, I enjoy female impersonation,” she teased. “So, first and foremost, you’re going to get a ridiculous amount of glamour, snatched waist, snatched face. But it’s more than just the look. So many queens just put all their eggs in the basket on just being pretty and serving.”
“There’s a whole other side of it, and so even though I might come and look gorgeous, you’re going to realise very quickly that I’m diagnosed with ADHD, and I’m going to take you on a beautiful journey.”
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‘You’re going to see me share my art’
Starting in Brisbane, Joey Jay tour brings an intimate evening of live drag and audience interaction alongside some of the best local drag talent in each city.
“I’m gonna tell you about my crazy experiences, but I’m also gonna want to get to know people,” she said.
“I just like to have my own shows and really get to know the audience. I love to spill tea and just like bringing them into my world and comparing stories.”
“You’re going to see me share my art and how I like to perform, and take you on my little journey.”
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There’s something lovely about the way Joey Jay talks about what she wants her audience to experience. She’s not just performing for them, but making them a part of it all.
“I love a drag show,” she says with glee, “Even when I’m going somewhere new, and let’s say I get in a day early or I have time to kill somewhere, you’re gonna find me at the drag show.”
“That’s just my favourite place to be. I want to see what the other girls are doing, and I’m hooked. I’m addicted. Some entertainers, their bread and butter is giving you this gorgeous ballad or performance, and then that’s all we get, but a lot of shows miss one thing. The human interaction.”
“I love just asking questions, and how they got here; who knows, they might leave homosexual as well. I don’t know if you want to catch it or not, but hey, if you get it, you signed a waiver.”
Get ready to have a gay time down under with Joey Jay
Joey Jay doesn’t just feel this way about the performance, but the meet and greet as well.
“Queens should be so honoured that someone wants to take a picture with you. We can’t just cater to the rich gays,” she laughed.
“You know these people came from everywhere, and I don’t care where they’re sitting in the room. Do we have an event after this? Are we going to have to pay any extra money for the reservation? No. Okay, great. I’m going to walk my ass to the back, and I just want to get to know everyone.”
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Now that she is getting to spend some decent time touring Australia, we asked Joey Jay what she was most excited to experience down under.
“Barramundi,” she exclaimed, “Oh my God! It was so delicious. I need to have some again when I come to town.”
“I want to eat the food that I don’t normally get to eat here in the States, and to meet the people. I’m going to let you guys take the reins and help me experience Australia how it should be experienced. I’m not necessarily a super stereotypical tourist. Seeing the big sites everyone travels to see doesn’t really do it for me. I want to experience what the people who live there like to do, then I can pretend I live there too.”
Catch Joey Jay live at The Beaumont on Wednesday, October 21. Get your tickets here.
Find out where Joey Jay is performing in your city during the tour here.
For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, and community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
