Monique Michaels is on the pod this week. She moved across the country for drag, and she came to PLAY!

Justin and Monique talk about leaving Virginia for Portland, starting over in a new city, and what it feels like to walk into a scene where nobody knows you but you still know exactly what you bring. They get into East Coast vs West Coast drag culture, confidence, beauty, ego, performance standards, queer spaces, and why “support local drag” actually has to mean something in practice.

There’s also a lot of Lady Gaga in this one. As there should be.

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/themoniquemichaels?igsh=dXY4MW93OHBsNG1q

Linktree https://linktr.ee/Moniquemichaels

Follow Monique on Instagram to stay up to date on upcoming shows, merch, and new music.

Rotation with Moneybag Monroe Available through her Linktree

Merch Available through her Linktree

Upcoming shows Follow Monique on Instagram for the most current updates

why Monique moved across the country for drag what felt different about Portland right away East Coast drag standards vs Portland drag culture starting drag in high school and doing prom, graduation, and senior photos in drag the moment she realized she was actually making an impact why people assume pretty queens are bitches why she says she’s self-taught, self-made, and independent glamour, camp, villain era, and all the stuff in between her biggest pet peeves at drag shows why supporting queer spaces actually starts with people showing up a very serious Lady Gaga section

Monique Michaels is a fresh face on the West Coast, recently making her move from Virginia. With five years of professional drag experience and a decade rooted in the house scene, she brings both polish and presence to every stage she touches. While in Virginia, she earned titles including MX Manchester and was voted 2nd Best Performer in RVA in 2024. Known as a true crowd pleaser, a beauty in every sense, and undeniably that girl, this is Monique Michaels.

Portland queer spaces: Monique says it pretty plainly: if you want queer spaces, queer shows, and local drag to keep existing, you have to actually go out and support them.

Lady Gaga: A real Gaga conversation. Not a casual one. A full one.

Local drag shoutouts: Monique gives love to people from both Richmond and Portland, including Rio Deal, Mona Chrome, Drew Friday, Drew Sedora, A’Laya Arman, Unique New York, the House of Envy, Amber St. Lexington, Lavender Menace, and others she says deserve their flowers.

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