Like any big aspiration in life, the dream to do drag has to start somewhere (and it doesn't have to be grand). "When I was 18 or 19, I went out to this small gay bar in my hometown, Tortilla Flats, and I was asked to enter a drag contest," Fame said. "I had gotten 'secondhand drag' — you know, a black bob and little leather hat that I picked up at a costume shop. It was not elaborate — I was wearing my sister's bra, and I wore flats. I didn't know what it was like to fully commit to drag, but because it was such a small town, I actually won the contest. There were only three people, so I was like, 'That was easy.'"
"Although I couldn't afford to overcostume myself, I was able to do something special with my makeup and my face, which makes any outfit look really elevated."
Her reason to forge forward with drag wasn't based on the win, of course, but rather the feeling she got on stage. "I felt this allure, like, 'Oh wow, there's something here.' But I didn't know it would actually become something I could lean into for a career. I was always wearing makeup; as a creator, I was going out and dancing. I would turn out these really interesting looks with makeup. It made me feel like although I couldn't afford to overcostume myself, I was able to do something special with my makeup and my face, which makes any outfit look really elevated."