Today we’d like to introduce you to Rolla Derby.
Rolla, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I don’t exactly remember what I was doing but I was scrolling through YouTube and decided to watch an Episode of Untucked from Rupaul’s Drag Race, and I immediately was hooked; I thought everything was so amazing, the costumes the makeup, the personalities. I grew up in the realm of Cosplay so I thought drag was a way to still dress up, but still, be yourself and whatever character YOU wanted to create. So, I binge-watched all of the seasons and followed a lot of Ru Girls on social media. From their profiles, I saw their towns local girls and that trickled down to me seeing Femme queens doing drag and it clicked that I could do Drag too. So, I made a new Profile and set off to make my own Drag persona, Rolla Derby. I love Pun names and Derby being a nickname to my real name Darby. Unfortunately, I can’t skate very well but no one needs to know that. So for a while, I was just doing makeup and dressing up in my room, I met a lot of new baby queens online called Teen Queens and I made strong connections even though I was 22 in a sea of 16-19-year-olds. But the longer I stayed in my room and watched videos of queens performing I wanted to do it myself, but I didn’t know how In Dallas. Until I met one of my longest drag friends Crypta Night who did the Amateur Nights at the Rose Room in Station 4. And they told me how the day before, I pulled a look and got my CD ready and went and performed! I got second place in audience applause on my First time and from that moment I just knew that this was something I was completely in love with and obsessed with doing.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Oh, Of course. Me being a cis-female doing drag is somewhat a struggle in itself. We have to work 10x’s harder because there is a stigma that we don’t have to try very hard since we don’t have a d*ck to shove in between our legs. But I pad, and cinch and put on more makeup than some cis- male queens I know so, take that as you will. Mostly cis-females do Drag King but that never appealed to me. But if I’m going, to be honest, I think that worked for my advantage, Dallas never really had a prominent Femme Drag Queen scene until it started with Brandi Amara Skyy and then when I really started to get people’s attention and a name for myself in this City,
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Caven Enterprise’ – what should we know?
Once I felt like Dallas knew who Rolla Derby was I really tried taking myself seriously. I competed twice for the Rising Star pageant and my second time I made the first alternate which was such a huge feat for a cis-female. And especially after that, I got people’s attention. I stepped away from doing the amateur nights and went and supported some of the local shows at Jr’s and asked Cassie Nova for any spotlight numbers, just so I can be seen by her and to perform since I love it so much. After 3 years starting a drag, with hard work and dedication, Cassie asked me if I wanted to become an employee of Caven Enterprise’. Caven is the company behind the scene’s that owns S4, Jr’s Bar and Grill, Sue Ellen’s, TMC; and the employee’s and shows it produces. This was everything that I ever wanted when I first started drag because I felt Like if you can be one of THE Caven Girls in Dallas, you’ve made it. I’m the very first Cis Female queen to be hired and I am so proud to work for this company that does so much for our community and shows Diversity and Acceptance. And also one that puts on a damn good show!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The top characteristic that I believe has allowed me to grow in this business is my uniqueness and staying true to myself. As you can see, I am… a very different type of Queen. I draw inspiration everywhere, from Art, Cartoons, Pop culture, and most importantly, just the weird and colorful depths of my mind! It’s been an asset to my career in not only setting myself apart from others but showing that you CAN be unique/different and make it far in the business, as long as you’re a hard-working, humble person/Queen!
Contact Info:
- Email: rolladerbypop@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rolladerby/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rolladerbypop
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/rolladerbypop
Image Credit:
SaraphimArt, Tara Seven, Marek & Richard, This Free Life
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