“It’s a spider’s web of thought and visual fantasy right at your fingertips.” Aquaria opens up about the internet’s bustling drag community. From Mission’s LGBTQIA+ issue.
Giovanni Palandrani is instantly recognizable when he appears under his stage name Aquaria. Legendary on the drag scene, dedicated to her craft, and with an unparalleled sense of style, Aquaria holds the honor of being the youngest winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race at just 21. She credits her grandmother in particular for engaging her with the arts during her youth. “She was always trying to enrich my childhood by introducing me to the theater and making sure I was enrolled in a diverse selection of art classes,” she says.
Being a young artist in New York is tough by any standard, and Aquaria moved to NYC at just 17 to pursue her dream. Financial restrictions and woes, as well as a heavily competitive nightlife scene, are often key driving forces that push artists. “When a roof over your head is so expensive, the fight to keep it there is often very tough,” she says. “I think desperate times call for desperate measures and, in this city, one day you could be in and the next you could be out. It’s very important for anyone’s art to be ever-changing. The struggle is real and also mandatory in unlocking new possibilities for oneself.”
The nightlife in New York is almost fabled in the minds of so many. Loud presentation, almost exhibitionist in form and similar to that seen in the 1970s and 1980s, is making a resurgence. It’s a celebration in the face of much that is still wrong for the LGBTQ+ community. “The nightlife is our safe space and our communal meeting place,” says Aquaria. “It’s a religion to so many and a space where we can set aside any differences and celebrate and create and thrive on the thumping beats of the DJ.”
Aquaria’s presence in the world of drag is hard to avoid. “I love my drag because I can create any fantasy I dream up,” she says of her craft. “I hate rules and never allow them to dictate my style or choices. I love pulling references from pop culture, like music and stage and film, but also reference the basic pillars of drag. Referencing the past and creating a new image from where our art began is a key feature of doing drag now. It’s important to be yourself but really pivotal to have a point of reference and understanding in traditional drag rules and history.”
During her time on Drag Race, Aquaria was never in the bottom two having to face a lip-sync battle. “Drag Race was the start of my learning experience for how I could create a future myself,” she says. “It taught me so much but also left me with many more questions about myself. Growth is about finding answers to all your questions, so this period in my life pushed me to my core and made me bring my work to a level I knew I aspired to achieve.”
The internet, social media, and connectivity all play an integral part in a young artist’s life, but how do they affect drag and the LGBTQ+ community? “The internet definitely sets the scene for a new age of art and drag,” says Aquaria. “More people can see more things and share their projects with even more people. It’s a spider’s web of thought and visual fantasy right at your fingertips. You might be the only queer punk in your town, but if you have the internet, you automatically have the ability to find or build a community of like-minded individuals.” Unsurprisingly, Aquaria has amassed a huge following through social media.
A platform is a powerful tool against evil. The Trump administration is dissolving rights set as law, so how does Aquaria use her platform to aid the fight against this? “We are living in a terrible time politically. But it’s important to scheme and navigate this ass-backwards administration until we are unchained from its ridiculous policies and mentality,” she says. “I know it’s easier said than done, especially for particularly marginalized groups, but I believe in faking it until you make it, and I think the same can be said about dealing with the bitch of living today. This too shall pass, and it’s integral to the fight for equality. Stand with your community to achieve what’s right for all and not just what’s convenient for old, straight, rich white men. I don’t take no for an answer, and I think playing the game and building a stronger community while these ridiculous individuals attempt to ruin our lives means that we can be stronger than ever once this administration falls to its knees.”
Aquaria’s status as a staple in drag is beyond deserved, with her having achieved so much at such a young age. The future consists of trying to better herself, but as she says, “Keep people guessing and surprise them with the results. I think identifying a future for myself would ruin some of the fun.”
INSTAGRAM: @AGEOFAQUARIA
Photography: Fabien Baron
Styling: Patti Wilson
Makeup: Lena Koro
Hair: Ward Stegerhoek
Set design: Stefan Beckman
