Angel McQueen
No difference between the life of the makeup artist and the one of the drag queen. For TheCornerZine, meeting for the first time, Angel McQueen, one of the most popular performers on the Milanese scene
Hi Angel! Tell us how and where your passion for the world of drag came about. How was Angel McQueen born?
She wasn’t really born for a particular reason, it was more a natural flow of events. I started to approach makeup when I was sixteen years old, and from there the first two years were a continuous experiment. The first pair of shoes with heels appeared, then the first wigs and Angel was born a little at a time. When I started, the ‘RuPaul' phenomenon hadn’t exploded yet, all I learned I learned by myself, trying and making mistakes and thanks to the 'sacred teachings' of my drag mother. I've always experienced this as an evolution and still one I live.
I've never experienced drag as 'turning myself into something else', but rather as a way to change the reflection of myself in the mirror. I've always enjoyed being able to place myself in a genre.
What's the look that best represents you during your performances?
Each performance is different and, therefore, the look must also be different. I don't have a favourite look in particular, there are some outfits I’m particularly proud of, but I don't have one that I consider so representative. I like to play every single time and I get tired of everything I do so quickly. Each time, the challenge is to do something really new and I can't always succeed, indeed! That's why, as I said before, it's a continuous evolution according to my vision of things in drag and putting on a show.
How do you prepare your performances? Who are you mostly inspired by (not just on stage)?
Before proposing something, either a show or look, I have to focus for a moment on what I want to propose, what story I want to tell or what concept I want to convey. To prepare a song, it helps me a lot to watch the live performance of the original artist and, above all, to understand the meaning of the lyrics in which I will be lip syncing. Everything starts with Gaga, she’s the source of everything anyway. When I started doing drag, Lady Gaga was my only reference figure. Now that I've grown, things have changed, I try to let myself be influenced by everything I like or what I’m intrigued by to deepen as much as I can.
How do you deal with criticism? Do you think in Italy there's still mental closure for the LGBT world?
The criticism, if constructive, always deserves to be heard, then I’m a bit slow, and I don’t always understand things immediately, but that's another story! I always try to listen and understand everything, for better or for worse. Then, I evaluate and make my personal considerations on things. An ability that many people in Italy lack in my opinion and I think this inability to open the mind to criticism rather than new or different ideas is a cause of prejudice towards the LGBTQ world (and not only) in our country.
What’s the biggest difference (in terms of character) between Federico, the makeup artist, and Angel McQueen, the performer?
There's no substantial difference between person and character in my case. Although they’re two differently presented figures, Angel and Federico are the same person with a different appearance. I've never experienced drag as 'turning myself into something else', but rather as a way to change the reflection of myself in the mirror. I've always enjoyed being able to place myself in a genre. So, I'd say that we can summarize all of this in one word to answer your question: 'none'!
Your main stage is 'La Boum' in Milan, where you perform on Friday nights. What's your relationship with Milan and the clubs in the city?
I love Milan and the nightlife. Angel has been experimented and forged from Milanese evenings! I don't have a particular relationship, I consider all this environment 'my home' in a certain sense, I simply find myself well and at ease!
Speaking of cities, what do you like and what don't you like about Milan?
Milan is all wonderful, especially at night when you don't see a soul around! It’s a city that I love very much and would not replace with any in Italy. I find much more security and open-mindedness here, maybe not but this is what I perceive anyway. Perhaps, the worst thing is the arrogance many have here, or the turned off air conditioning in the subway!
On your Instagram profile, you have more than 25K followers. Are you addicted to social media? What’s your relationship with social networks?
I'm dependent on social media in the sense that it's now an integral part of what I do. I use Instagram as a showcase for everything I do. So, in that sense, yes, I'm addicted to Instagram. I'm not the kind of person who's addicted to what entails having a lot of following on Instagram, fortunately. I'm not obsessed with having to post constantly or the number of likes to a post. However, I really want to taking care of everything, even social media!
Say you win the lottery. What’s the first thing you’d do?
I’d book a flight and hotel, and go to the US or Japan, then I'd see where else to go! Ah and even an apartment in the San Babila or Duomo area. I’d also take a stroll through the shops of Montenapoleone. Lastly, I’d get a car with a driver!
Do you have a quote which created your life philosophy?
Minimum expense, maximum return’.
What’s some future projects you have?
I consider myself very hands-on, so I can't answer you! I don't have any particular projects to work on at the moment, we'll see what comes next!
Make a wish…
If I tell you, it won't come true!