Rising Stars: Meet Nasty of Columbus

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nasty

Hi NASTY, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I would say I got started just a moment before Covid hit. It was January 2020 at a New Year’s Eve party. An ex lover’s best friends house. “Paris is Burning” was playing on the TV all night, There was a sculpture of orbs that was cake. We drank alcohol that had loads of edible glitter in it. My closest friends were all there which felt sooooo otherworldly. It was a very intimate setting with at least 50 people or more so the performances were just in an open room with everyone sitting. I performed 3 songs: NASTY by Janet Jackson, Darling Nikki by Prince and Thieves in The Temple by Prince. All very meaningful songs to me and my life. The day after performing sent me in such a wave of excitement and depression now that it was over. February hit which I believe was the start of Quarantine. Fast Forward to July 2020. I decided that after all the struggles I was facing in Columbus (an on and off relationship, lack of drag opportunities, feeling stagnant) I would move to Oakland with my best friend at the time. So I decided… Why not my second ever performance be a going away party? Little did I know that I would sell out the bar to the point people were refused to come in and I would be spun around the air with people yelling my name. People from all different eras of my life was there. Even people I had only met for a moment… I knew I wanted to create more than this.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has definitely NOT been smooth. Drag is a profession where you really have to be bad in at first to grow which is hard when you are constantly being seen by the public eye. Performers are all dramatic and beautiful which makes anything difficult to be smooth, haha. Opportunities do not come very easy when you’re not the central idea of most people’s interpretation of drag. I even lost a relationship because this is what I choose to do for the rest of my life. It’s not exactly a career people will see you successful in.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I do Drag and Burlesque. I would say I am most known for the 80’s inspiration in my looks. My fashion. The things I am inspired by. I am most proud of how far I have come to be honest. Although I still don’t feel like I have really pushed myself to grow any further, my younger self would still never believe where I am at right now. I have gotten to witness so many beautiful people and their lives because of this. I think what sets me apart from others is my stage presence and heavy inspiration from 80’s trad goth and Prince/MJ.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I would definitely consider myself an absolute FREAK growing up. Only Child. Scorpio… You get the picture? Extremely loud imagination. Always playing pretend or getting lost in my day dreams. My favorite movies were The Mask and Purple Rain. I had a wildly huge obsession with Michael Jackson from Elementary School til the beginning of High School. Very into my own interests and nothing else besides that. My family often struggled with learning how to handle my emotions. I certainly wouldn’t say I was the easiest, but what part about having a child says “easy”? I came out as queer in 5th grade and was already experimenting with my gender whether it made my parents uncomfortable or not.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @1980svampire