Interview by Eva Fox-Ford & Sophie McQue
Sophie: So, who is Genevieve? What’s she all about? Just describe your drag. What is she all about?
Genevieve: That’s such an interesting question. I’d say she’s all about bringing like, let’s say a modern twist on old campy drag, I think.
Eva: Love That!
Genevieve: Sometimes, like, old school drag does get lost within the younger sort of drag scene. And it’s just nice to sort of, bring that back again, if that makes sense. Genevieve’s drag’s all about taking a piss. Having fun. And just making sure everyone’s having a good time.
Eva: Giving the best vibes.
Sophie: So, when did you start drag?
Genevieve: It’ll be about three and a half years ago, I moved to uni, and then we got locked down back in whatever it was. Yeah. And then we just did like a little flat thing. I had a friend who’s a drag queen here I’ve met, and she like, she’ll be able to do it. And we literally just did the flat night, where we did a little drag makeover night thing. And then next thing you know, I sort of got offered a charity gig through someone at Amalia and then got offered a residency and now it has become my career. Honestly, it’s one of those things you look back, and it’s just happened.
Eva: Who would you say is your main fashion inspo?
Genevieve: Oh. I mean, I don’t know, really. I would say I’d probably take it from sort of, I’d say let’s go with clowns. I love that sort of over- the- top look. Like, obviously not a specific one, but like that sort of artistry, if that makes sense? Over- the- top, exaggerated everything. I would say people like, if you look at Queenswise, people like Maira DuBois. Is very campy old school. And then if you want to look more on sort of a local scene, I wish I could do it as well as them, but people like Brenda Lebow. I look up to her, she is a seamstress so.
Eva: Where do you go looking for inspiration?
Sophie: Any TV Shows? Movies? Social Media?
Genevieve: So social media. And I would say just, you know, sort of like online advertisements. If I’m getting an outfit made or designed, what I tend to do is I’ll take bits from other things that I like. So if I see something I like, I’ll screenshot it, save it. And then I’ll get like a few different sort of vibes and then put what I like from this dress and what I like from this outfit and whatever, and put it into one. And then just say, can you make me this? Like, right, what can you do? Like, what fabrics have you got? And it was like, we’ve got a green, a dark green one. I was like, beautiful because that would go really well with my ginger wig. So I mean, it’s sort of like different concepts sort of come together. I wouldn’t say I look specifically. At one thing, if that makes sense.
Eva: So, what is your process when getting an outfit ready for a gig?
Genevieve: It depends on what I will be doing that night, It also depends on how I’m feeling. For example, I’ve got a couple of lazy outfits that I call them. I usually just go through my instagram and think what am I feeling like wearing tonight? I usually plan it around the dress or the outfit. I usually use the outfit as the base and then figure out what I want and go from there. But then sometimes I like mixing it up and I’ll do my face first and then the wig and the dress.
Eva: When do you plan your outfits?
Genevieve: If I have a specific event I’ll plan in advance to get something made and make sure I have a wig to go with the outfit, but a lot go of it is spur of the moment stuff, but that’s also a part of not taking it too seriously, isn’t it? A lot of what I wear has to reflect my So some days I go, do you know what? I’m going to wear something short and slutty. And then some days I’m like, oh, I’m going to wear something long and like, you know, a penis dress that’s covered in penises because it’s funny, I am known for wearing it all of the time.That whole penis gown is like the definition of my drag. Yeah. I think it’s stupid. Let’s go with like camp old school glamour, but with a fucking stupid twist. But it’s still so glam, its everything.
Eva: Do you have any advice or style or beauty tips to younger or new drag artists?
Genevieve: You know, I took advice from so many different people. Try it and it might not work for you but I don’t know, I mean, as long as it makes you happy, that’s the whole point, you know what I mean? And as long as you’re being true to the character and persona that you’re wanting to create. I’m still changing, like last week I changed the shape of my eye again. You knick things from everyone so I think it’s one of those things it’s just trial and error really is such an important thing of drag.
Eva: What is one thing you wished you knew before starting drag?
Genevieve: About how much it can take over your life. You don’t switch off. I mean, it’s not a job that you can just, you know, you’ve done your nine to five, that’s it, you’ve turned your laptop off, It’s one of those things that you’re constantly looking for stuff. And it’s a lot of it’s subconscious as well, I’ll go out for a drink and you’ve got to still be on your PR because people know you. People don’t call me Joseph, they call me Genevieve. And it’s even now, like I’ll be sat in bed and I’ll be going through my Instagram and I’ll go, “ooh, that wig looks nice I’m gonna save that”, you never know when inspo’s gonna hit.
Sophie: So what makes the Liverpool drag scene and community different from other cities?
Genevieve: As much as there is, you know the drama and the bitching, we all usually get on and are sisters and we do look out for each other. Everyone also knows each other on a night out too. The party vibe as well, you know, everyone’s here for a good time. The thing that Liverpool scene is missing is entertainment. We need more entertainment. But it doesn’t seem to work very well in Liverpool as much as it does in like, Manchester, you go to every single bar there’s entertainment on every night of the Yeah. Whereas in Liverpool, it’s only really a Sunday.
Sophie: What are your most favourite gigs you have done in Liverpool?
Genevieve: I would have to say Snatch Game, It was so nice to see the gay scene coming together properly, And, you know, we like, obviously we had The Vivienne there as well, which was, you know, amazing supporting the gay and the drag scene. I also did a gig for the Labour conference, that was quite fun. And the Eurovision week in general, that was amazing.
Sophie: What would be your go to Snatch Game character?
Genevieve: The one that springs to mind and I would love to do is, I know obviously it’s a fictional character, Old MacDonald.
Eva: Genius.
Genevieve: I just think that would be so stupid. You can have so much fun with that as well and I quite often do Jesus, it was so risky, but it paid off. I’m glad it paid off. Cause it was so like, just the funniest thing ever.
Sophie: And what’s your go- to song for the dance floor?
Genevieve: So, my top three; I love Hot Stuff. Such a good song. Amazing. I love anything Kylie and everyone loves Azealia Banks 212.
Eva: So real!
Sophie: Who doesn’t like that song! … So, with it being our first article and like with the website launch being soon, we wanted to end on a little tribute to The Vivienne. So if you’ve got any memories with them that you’d like to share or any comments?
Genevieve: Viv is, was someone that I looked up to even before I started doing drag. So, you know, I remember watching Drag Race UK and she was the one that I’ve watched out for every season of Drag Race, you I knew she was going to win from the start. Such a lovely person. Had time for anyone. And obviously, you know, Snatch Game! It was so beautiful of her to get involved with it and, you know, and it just showed how much of a kind and beautiful person she was and how she was like an international star, but yet hadn’t forgotten her roots in Liverpool and the bars, the venues, the people. The local community that was where she started, that’s where her roots are and who supported her and she knew that but yeah, she was such a humble character and just one of the best drag queens there’s ever been, really.
Eva: Well, thank you so much for talking to us today, we’ve had a ball and hopefully you’re the first of many Drag Queens and Drag Artists we interview in the future!
Sophie: Thank you! We can’t wait to see more Genevieve! And see how her style evolves!
Genevieve’s Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/genev1eve_renee?igsh=YzR4dmF4cHl5cmlp
Click the link to read 'Fashion Wasteland: The Kantamanto Market' https://sleevemagazine.com/2025/02/12/fashions-wasteland-kantamanto-market/
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