![](\"https:\/\/assets.rebelmouse.io\/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8zMzQwMjcwNi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTczNDIwOTI1MX0.7fUty2ummY-dOQC3dpbqUu5h1ysfgpHRhbRSxPJWqvg\/img.jpg?width=6676&height=4451&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C0\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Brooklyn drag scene celebrates every aspect of the fashion<\/a> industry \u2014 hair, makeup, nails, styling, performance and more \u2014 without sacrificing authenticity. This genuineness is what pulled local performer Missleidy Rodrigez<\/a> (AKA Jimi Urquiaga<\/a>) from her fashion funk after working for more than 10 years as a stylist and creative director in New York.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n “After a decade in the fashion industry, I grew tired of the same old generic editorial stories and I wasn’t feeling fulfilled artistically,\u201d Missleidy tells PAPER<\/em>. \u201cFashion was so stale, structured and full of politics that it took out all of the fun of creating. It wasn\u2019t what made me fall in love with it back in 2008.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Watching RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race<\/em> and thinking, I think I could do that,<\/em> pulled Missleidy into the world of drag and, through that, back into fashion. \u201c[The drag community] encourages everyone to come into their own unique perspective on all the facets of fashion,\u201d she says, and Brooklyn is where she found all the refreshing takes she’d been looking for. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Brooklyn drag icons taught her how to showcase her art \u201cboldly, fearlessly and unapologetically,\u201d Missleidy notes, specifically crediting icons such as Merrie Cherry<\/a>, Horrorchata<\/a>, Charlene Incarnate<\/a>, Tyler Ashley<\/a>, untitled queen<\/a>, Maddelyn Hatter<\/a> and Alotta Mcgriddles<\/a> for being sources of inspiration when she first started drag.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n These performers paved the way for a new generation, carving out \u201cspace for us to be free and create without boundaries,\u201d Missleidy says, naming Chiquitita<\/a>, Junior Mintt<\/a>, Rify Royalty<\/a>, La Zavaleta<\/a>, Klondyke<\/a>, West Dakota<\/a>, Jenn D Role<\/a>, Patti Spliff<\/a>, Julie J<\/a>, Mthrtrsa<\/a> and countless others. Serena Tea\u2019s<\/a> 2022 book, Centerfold<\/em>, jumps out to Missleidy as a prime example of their creative capabilities.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Events like Madd Mondays, DRAGnet, Bitch Fest<\/a>, Sad Songs<\/a>, Oops<\/a>, hole pics<\/a>, in living color<\/a>, Takes The Cake<\/a>, Switch n’ Play<\/a> and \u2014 the event of all events \u2014 Bushwig<\/a>, meanwhile, have become homes to New York\u2019s queer community. \u201cThese are all different and have their own identity, but a common thread that ties them together is community,\u201d Missleidy says. \u201cThe power that emanates when we come together and move as one is undeniable.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now that she’s back into designing and creating visuals for herself, Missleidy decided she needed to create something bigger \u2014 a project where she could bring her community along with her for the journey of rediscovering the beautiful intersections of fashion and drag. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n So she invited dozens of New York’s finest drag performers and production icons to craft a photo series for PAPER<\/em> that showcased NYC drag excellence in its scope and influence. \u201cI want [this project] to be a time capsule that archives where we are in regards to hair, makeup and fashion at this specific moment.,\u201d she says. \u201cI want to celebrate the power and magnetism of each of these entertainers.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Most importantly, as Missleidy notes, drag \u201cisn\u2019t only a form of self-expression \u2014 it\u2019s art, it\u2019s political and, in its truest form, it\u2019s love.\u201d <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In light of the continued wave of anti-trans and anti-drag legislation throughout the US, PAPER<\/em> encourages readers to donate to grassroots organizations like the Trans Formations Project<\/a> through the month of April, when we\u2019ll be rolling out Missleidy\u2019s project in parts, right here. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Missleidy Rodrigez<\/strong><\/a> Hair: Dale Delaporte<\/a>, Dress: Hanifa<\/a>, Nails: 1-800-Drip<\/a>, Lashes: LashCorps<\/a>, Makeup: Mintty Makeup, kryolan, MAC Cosmetics, One\/size, Trixie Cosmetics, Sugar Pill, KimChi Chic Beauty and Danessa Myricks<\/em><\/p>\n Virginia Thicc<\/a><\/strong> Hair: Dale Delaporte<\/a>, Dress: Pierretta Viktori<\/a>, Nails: 1-800-Drip<\/a>, <\/em>Makeup: Mintty Makeup, Kimchi Chic Beauty, One\/size, Juvia’s Place, MAC Cosmetics, Trixie Cosmetics and Kryolan<\/em><\/p>\n Roqu\u00e9<\/a><\/strong> Hair: MasayukiAkazawa<\/a>, Dress: Em Jager<\/a>, <\/em>Nails: 1-800-Drip<\/a><\/em>, <\/em>Makeup: Mintty Makeup, Kimchi Chic Beauty, One\/size, MAC Cosmetics, Juvia’s Place, Colourpop, Trixie Cosmetics and Kryolan<\/em><\/p>\n Sherry Poppins<\/strong><\/a> Hair: MasayukiAkazawa<\/a>, Nails: 1-800-Drip<\/a><\/em>, <\/em>Makeup: Mintty Makeup, Kimchi Chic Beauty, One\/size, MAC Cosmetics, Colourpop, Trixie Cosmetics and Kryolan<\/em><\/p>\n Malisima La Mala<\/a><\/strong> Hair: Cynthus Perez<\/a>, Nails: 1-800-Drip<\/a><\/em>, Makeup: Laced AF Beauty, Mintty Makeup, One\/size, Kimchi Chic Beauty, MAC Cosmetics, Colourpop, Trixie Cosmetics and Kryolan<\/em><\/p>\n Muscles Monty<\/a> <\/strong>Makeup: Mintty Makeup, Kimchi Chic Beauty, One\/size, Colourpop, Trixie Cosmetics and Kryolan<\/em><\/p>\n Richard<\/a> <\/strong>Makeup: Mintty Makeup, Kimchi Chic Beauty, One\/size, Colourpop, Trixie Cosmetics and Kryolan<\/em><\/p>\n Myster E Mel Kiki<\/strong><\/a> Makeup: Mintty Makeup, Kimchi Chic Beauty, One\/size, Colourpop, Trixie Cosmetics and Kryolan<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Photography and director: Justin von Oldershausen<\/a> The Brooklyn drag scene celebrates every aspect of the fashion industry \u2014 hair, makeup, nails, styling, performance and more \u2014 without sacrificing authenticity. This genuineness is what pulled local performer Missleidy Rodrigez (AKA Jimi Urquiaga) from her fashion funk after working for more than 10 years as a stylist and creative director in New York. “After a decade in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":27313,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27311"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27311"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27311\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27328,"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27311\/revisions\/27328"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27313"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27311"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27311"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27311"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-17.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-18.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-19.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-20.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-21.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-22.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-23.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-24.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-25.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-26.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-27.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-28.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"http:\/\/blushernext.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/img-29.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
<\/h3>\n
Stylist, creative director, producer and casting director: Jimi Urquiaga<\/a>
Location: Treehouse Social Club<\/a> and GOOD HEAD<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"