Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy O’Connor.
Kathy, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have always had a knack for performance. Starting in the sixth grade and following me through my middle school, high school, and now university level studies, I have always thrived on stage, whether it be plays, musicals, or vocal performances, I found my most gratifying moments on stage in front of an audience.
Being a closeted homosexual for 19 years of my life definitely had me suppressing any kind of feminine or “non- straight” qualities. This shift in my life from suppression to living freely as my true self has opened so many doors in my life and brought what I am truly passionate about, to the surface. The first time I was ever in drag was in August of 2018 when a friend and now drag mother of mine, Kendrix Kyle, offered to put me in drag for a YouTube video. I had been in my head about doing drag for about four months prior to this and was extremely eager to learn more about drag culture and our local community.
After seeing the final transformation, a fire was lit beneath me to begin practicing my own drag makeup and possibly pursue my own career in drag performance. In the following four months, I began to practice my own mug and start figuring out which techniques and methods worked best for me and suited my face shape. In early December, I decided to activate my Instagram account (@TheKathyOConnor) and fully submerge myself into the world of drag. A month after becoming public, I performed for my first time at the Rising Star Competition in the Rose Room at S4 in Dallas. This is a weekly amateur competition for local artists and performers to showcase their art and is great for exposure and performance experience. I continued to hone in on my skills and am very much still doing so to this day.
In early March of 2019, I decided to host my own drag show called “B*TCHBA$H” here in Denton, Texas. I got a group of performers and friends together and threw a house party to showcase our art. The turnout was phenomenal and for some, this was the first drag show they’d ever seen. Following this, I competed in The University of North Texas’s Drag Show hosted by Peppermint in early April alongside seven other amazing performers. My hard work paid off and I was lucky enough to take home the crown with 1st place. I am currently working on receiving my Communications degree with a minor in Theatre at the University of North Texas and continuing to perform wherever I can. You can most frequently catch me performing at the Rising Star Competition every Thursday night at 11 PM.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
So far, my experience has been extremely pleasant. I have been lucky enough to make so many new friends and positive connections through drag and the local community has been extremely accepting and gracious towards me. Personally, I have struggled with finding my own style, however, I believe this will fall into place with time.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I like to think that I am known for my bright color schemes and high energy performances. Each time I perform, I have a concept in mind and try to make every aspect of my performance cohesive through my physicality, audio mixes (which I create myself), and outfit. I also like to incorporate comedy into my performances to keep the audience as entertained and engaged as possible. I am definitely proud of how far I’ve come in the short amount of time I’ve been here and am very eager to see what the future holds for me as I continue.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I absolutely owe a ton of credit to my drag mother Kendrix Kyle (IG: @KENDRIXSUXX) who initially put me into drag and continues to be a mentor and great friend. Along with Kendrix, Drü Holiday (IG: @DruHolidayDTX) has always been there for me and is extremely reliable when I need guidance, as well as being one of my best friends. Other drag friends to credit would be Eva Star (IG: @TheEvaStar), Nayda Montana (IG: @NaydaMontana), and my drag sister Blue Valentine (IG: @BlueValentineDTX). All of my friends are super supportive and uplifting as well. Lastly, my parents and brothers deserve lots of credit for being so incredibly accepting of me and loving and supporting me in everything that I do.
Contact Info:
- Email: connor.henry13@gmail.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thekathyoconnor
- Twitter: twitter.com/thekathyoconnor
Image Credit:
Ariana Mercado, Kiara St. Clair
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