Shannel

A RuPaul's Drag Race alum will make an appearance at Tucson Pride.

By Laura Latzko

High Fashion High Energy

RuPaul Drag Race alum Shannel mixes clothes and entertainment

Photo by WD Photo Inc.

Although he has preformed in bars in Phoenix, Tucson and Flagstaff in the past, Bryan Watkins said audiences should expect to be exposed to different facets of his drag persona when his alter ego Shannel takes the stage at Tucson Pride.

Shannel, who appeared on the first season of RuPaul's Drag Race, will perform and act as co-emcee at the festival on Oct. 15.

Watkins said that when he is on stage he brings glamour and sophistication, but audiences are also treated to flashy, high fashion drag looks and high-energy performances.

Watkins, who has been doing drag for 16 years, said that he likes to wear costumes that feature elements such as cinched waists and high collars. "I would like to think of myself as an over-the-top runway model," Watkins said. "I like to wear clothes that the average woman wouldn't wear."

Watkins said that the one aspect of drag he doesn't enjoy is choreographing numbers because he likes to connect with music on a more personal level.

"When you feel the energy of the song, you want to let go and do your own thing," he said.

Since appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race and RuPaul's Drag U, Watkins has been performing in venues around the country and raising money for charitable organizations. He also created a two-hour instructional makeup DVD, Face the Illusion.

Watkins said that since the show he has heard from people who say that his struggle with his weight has inspired them to lose weight or come out.

"When you know that you are helping people or putting a smile on people's faces or adding to their day or night, it makes it worth it," he said.

Watkins said that when he got picked for RuPaul's Drag Race, he had no idea what he was in for, but his mom encouraged him to do it.

"I didn't know what to expect. For all I knew, I was going to be driving race cars in drag," Watkins said.

Watkins said that the show was stressful because the contestants never knew if they would be sewing, dancing, lip synching or performing other feats on a given day.

He said that he feels honored to have been a part of the first group on the show. "Being groundbreaking, knowing I was a part of history is an incredible thing," Watkins said.

Watkins grew up in Los Angeles and first did drag when he dressed up as the character Elvira for a costume parade in West Hollywood. He started performing in clubs and bars in Buena Park when he was 15 years old, but he said that he never got swept up in the partying lifestyle.

"I never wanted to do things where I felt out of control or represent myself negatively," Watkins said.

Watkins later moved to and performed in clubs in Las Vegas and Seattle before moving back to LA.

Watkins said he is best known for his impersonations of Joan Crawford, Boy George and Lucille Ball.

He said that when he was a child, he was an introvert who sat in the back of the classroom and didn't participate in extracurricular activities. He said that taking a speech and debate class in high school helped him to become more vocal.

"I realized for the first time, I had a voice," Watkins said. "It took the shyness away. It took all the nervousness away." -E