Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiana Moon.
Hi Tiana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was first introduced to drag as a small child seeing a random interview on television in 2003 with RuPaul Charles. I didn’t understand the concept of gender expression at first until I became a teenager I was raised that being gay/feminine was the worst thing to become. I used to sneak around the house to watch RuPaul’s Drag Race because I was magically drawn to the costumes, transformation, competition and most importantly the creativity also felt a sense of community someone who gets me with me still being in denial telling myself “I will never be that type of feminine gay.” I wanted to understand drag and how everything came together. Fast forward one random Thursday night I went to the Roundup Saloon bar with a friend. It was a drag show being held (which was my very first drag show) I was in complete in awe everything I been watching on tv for years was right in front of me. Luckily the bar had an audience lip sync battle competition. My friend encouraged me to go on stage and try to perform. My nerves were at an all-time high I was shaking all over before they called my name to the stage. I remember as soon as the music started hearing the melody of (All I want for Christmas by Mariah Carey) Something indescribable completely took over me like a new person I felt powerful and in control, felt like a star shining my light bright I found me on that stage that night and it unlocked something in me I got bit by the drag bug. I won the lip sync battle and I knew I wanted to fully dive into drag with no hesitation. I came up with the name Tiana because of my love for Disney since I was a child (I used to work for the company for 3 years) and what Disney represented with big dreams and magic especially Princess Tiana of the Disney movie Princess & the Frog. Tiana is the first black Disney Princess she has a strong work ethic, determination, and dreams big. Has a great business mindset and adores her family/ friends and is genuinely kind to everyone with a sassy/humorous side to her. Those are the personality traits I hold close to my heart with creating my drag Persona. My last name Moon comes from my drag mother Salem Moon witch is play off of the 90’s anime show Sailor Moon! My drag persona Tiana Moon is a way I can fully unapologetically express my feminine side and challenge my creativity with makeup, costumes performance concepts, and on a professional side branding and the way I carry myself off/online. The best way I can describe my drag (Tiana Moon) I am definitely a dancing queen I do a lot of fierce majorette/hiphop style of dance with a whimsical sassy flare, but I love to do creative makeup looks. I won a 12-week drag competition RuPaul drag race style called “The ShowDown- Season 4” with only been doing drag for 6 months. I also won talents, lip-sync competitions, and pageants, hosted gigs, private events and traveled out of state for drag. I have only been doing drag for almost 4 years and I am very proud of what I accomplished and excited for what the future holds for Tiana Moon. I have a following of 12K on TikTok where I can showcase my talents and create a community with people who love drag, comedy, and Disney!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. I struggled to accept my own feminine side and expressing it openly and in person and online. I was taught at a young age being gay/feminine was humiliation and sin to myself and my family. Speaking of family my dad was the most against me being gay and especially getting into drag he had a hard time under the difference of gender expression and someone being transgender with a lot of false assumptions about the LGBTQ stigmas. With a lot of patience and educating my dad he finally came to one of my shows and saw everything that went into a drag persona and show. He had a great time and he is supportive now of my drag and is very proud and shares my content with friends/coworkers. Another bump in the road is what we like to call in the drag world “paying your dues” meaning earning your spot and hustling for gigs to perform. Going to amateur nights consistently, promoting yourself/venue and staying professional and being on time and also supporting other queens’ events and respecting and listening to feedback from older queens really be apart of the community. Drag isn’t always about looking pretty it’s about serving your community and your own personal message you want to tell the world. If you want to make a career in drag you have to really hustle for it with a genuine heart to create longevity.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am known for my dancing abilities and the way I can command an audience also for my tiktok with comedy skits with hitting 1.1 millions views and over one hundred thousand on videos. I enjoy spreading positivity and encouraging others to be their most authentic selves and it’s okay not to have it all together perfection is boring. Long as your dreaming big and wishing on stars working hard never give up! I like to make people feel comfortable with my aura.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
What matters most to me is my relationship with God/Jesus. My spirituality/Christianity is important to me daily I have a personal daily relationship with the Lord and getting to know the Lord’s heart and I express that thought my daily life and online in/out of drag. I know being openly gay, black and queer also a drag queen I sometimes feel like a walking contradiction. I remember “coming out”to my mom and she told me “Long as God knows your heart nothing else matters.” I deeply hold those words close to my heart and whenever I have moments of doubt/fear and truthfully lack of self love I turn to the lord in prayer and it gives me strength to keep going so I treasure my intimacy with God. I am open Christian that does drag. I don’t believe in shoving my beliefs onto someone I treat everyone with kindness and love/respect the way Jesus’ heart is for people.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @tiana.moon_
- Other: https://linkr.bio/tiana.moon
