Transformation Tuesday just got a whole lot QTer…New queers featured every week! Tag us, take a pic of us and follow us on Instagram at QWERRRKOUT, and you too could be the next QT! YOU BETTA QWERRRK! (Mx Qwerrrk pic by celebrity photog Santiago Felipe)

Amanda LaGrande

Age: 24

Location: Strasbourg, France

About:

“First time in drag, I was around 4; and for Christmas, I begged for a full witch costume, with the wig, the makeup, the dress, performing I Put a Spell on You by the charming Sanderson Sisters!

As far as I remember, I’ve always been into hair, makeup and fashion. During my teen years, I was always playing with makeup and hair in my room during my free time, analyzing every single moves of my favorite divas, without knowing pretty much anything about drag queens.

Then, this magical, sparkling day happened…I’ve ran into RuPaul’s Drag Race on YouTube; and seeing that diversity of characters, each one expressing themselves, was inspiring. So, I’ve done my homework, learning about the herstory of the art of drag and started to create (or recreate) the character I’ve always had inside of me.

Amanda LaGrande is born right after my first trip in NYC, buying my first wig on the 8th Avenue was the start…haha!

Since I’ve started doing drag, I’ve gained in self-confidence, and I remember that I’ve always had the need to be here for my community; and continue to fight for every single discrimination, and what better way to do it than in heels, full mug and hair for the gods?

This January in Strasbourg, I’ve started my first monthly show Amanda LaGrande: Drags Night Out…every second Saturday of the month. I’m super proud and excited to do this show, being able to showcase my art, my emotions…to bring to the stage anything I want to deliver at the moment is truly an amazing gift. It’s such a beautiful moment when you can bring people together, as a community. It’s also a great way to show that here in France we have some great skills.

For my upcoming projects… next month I’ll be in The European Gay Ski Week in Les Menures, France for the whole week!… in June, I’ll be a part of a huge European drag event taking place in the North of France, organized by Drag Queens United…and in July you can find me performing at Milkshake Festival in Amsterdam, on the This is How We Drag Galore stage.

I hope to keep that momentum going. It’s looking pretty good so far for this year! I can’t wait for more!”