Today we’d like to introduce you to Aura Mayari.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Aura. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I was introduced into the drag scene after I became a part of a musical called “RENT,” where I played the character Angel (crossdresser, drag queen). Before the show, I was actually terrified of drag queens! I found them very intimidating, over the top, and you know, most drag queens are men, and some are very towering! The intricate costumes, sparkly garments, big hair, HIGH HEELS! Imagine a 6’2 in 6 inch heels! I ran away every time I saw one!
I did my research for the musical and gained more knowledge of what the drag scene was about. I fell in love with it and started seeing drag shows in Boystown. Surprisingly, the things that I was terrified of, became the things that I started admiring. After I graduated college, I lost time to be a part of the performing arts scene. Mind you, I lived on stage, in front of an audience almost every day. Having a Monday-Friday job, I just couldn’t make time for performing anymore. I lost touch of my artistry, and I knew I had to fulfill that craving TO ENTERTAIN.
Then, with my friends, I dressed up in drag a few times just to go out and have fun as a different character, a different persona. I got a lot of attention and a lot of people lived for her look! I am a very artistic person and learning how to do drag make up came really easy for me. I have friends that manage bars and restaurants in the strips of Boystown on Halsted and they recognized that I could become very successful as a drag queen. I was invited to do my first show at Venicci, an italian restaurant in Boystown, where they do brunch shows on Sundays. From there, a lot more people recognized me as an entertainer and started getting more invitations to make appearances at the bars in Boystown.
From there, Aura Mayari was born.
Great, 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?
I think my progression was surprisingly quick. I felt like I had a flash pass, just like what you get at Six Flags to skip the lines, while the others wait hours to get on a ride. A lot of the other queens have been very supportive of me, considering that I just started doing drag in November of 2017 (less than a year). Some new queens might see her as a threat, but all I can say is, “You are your own threat. Focus on your art, and rise from there.”
Some aspiring queens take more than a year to get recognized and fully get respected for their art and I am very grateful to have come this far in such a small amount of time. I am a very honest and straight forward individual, I know what I want, I know who Aura Mayari is (even though there’s still a lot more to learn), and I know what I can do. Again, performing is my life. I am a singer, hiphop dancer, and an actor. All combined, with my sense of style, I was able to flourish through the scene.
Now, I am a regular queen at a new bar called Splash. We do drag shows every Thursdays at 9:00pm called “Sirens of Splash.” In a few weeks, maybe beginning of September 2018, we will start doing drag shows every Sundays at 5:00pm, during the infamous Sunday Funday festivities in Boystown.
Even though I am not have a high rocketing following right now, I believe I could go there with my passion, determination, and my eagerness to be the best I can be.
Please tell us about Aura Mayari.
Only the audience knows what really sets me apart from the others. My followers are the ones that see those special qualities in me, that keep them wanting to come see more of Aura. There are so many categories in the drag scene and as corny as it might sound, I don’t want to be put in any of those categories. It feels so limiting as an artist.
Some queens are look queens, fishy queens, dance queens, camp, and many more. I’d say that my drag is multi-dimensional, when it comes to what I can bring to the stage.
When I perform, I try to feel the music, the emotions, and what the song means to me. I don’t choreograph, or block my numbers. I let the music carry me from the beginning to the end. I guess I am known for my facial expressions, hair whips, dancing abilities, comedic touches, and the “Aura” that exudes in every performance.
Contact Info:
- Email: AuraMayari@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/auramayari/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aura.mayari.3
