in the name of love- vita.mn pride cover story- june 2008

8/6/2019 In the Name of Love- Vita.mn Pride Cover Story- June 2008

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T H E F U L L . T I M E R

CeeCeeRussellAgez42.

Occupation: Permanent cast member atthe Gay 90s.

Homc stage:The 90s,as amemberof IaFemme.

tlet viw on dng: "I'm afemale imPer-sonator."

Illlry she performs: Cee Cee got tiredof suits andties andfoundrelief intherrariation of color andfabrics inwom-en's clothing. "And of course, also ikehaving my moment inthe sun - beingpretty, shiny and artistic."

First time Performing at a dub inDenver, her mile-high PumPs made t

impossible o walk, her hair kept get-ting inherlipstick and she was havinganuroou"ey" spasm."I was so worriedpeople could see hose big glittery eye-lashes witching onstage."

Idols: She ives or the divas: Whitney,Tina and Dionne Warwick.

Illhat slte owns the most of: Shoes,which she's een collecting evenbeforeI knewlwas fabulous."

Tric} to keeping dinner hot during thehorulong PrimPing Process: Put thebreadsticks on top ofthe hot rollers'

Her story: Aformer corporate business-man,Cee Cee was morethanhaPPYtotrade in her briefcase or wigs, rhine-stones and makeuP. Eadr night shetakes 45 minutes to an hour to PreP,humming along to Rhianna, BeYonc6and old-sdrool divas."I'm ike aTopChef," he says."Iget o create ome-thing out of nothingbypainting andsculpting my own face."Afew yearsago,Cee Cee eft her gig at the 90s, er-fJrming on stages wayfromhomeforrtearly four years' Now back n Minne-apolis as afull-time dngqueen,Cee Ceeperforms ive nights aweek.Fans ftenisk why she etumed to the Twin Cities'"Minneapolis fans are he most loyal"'she answers."They emember the daysthey walked in feeling diminished andyou filled them uP' And then I remem-Ler when they did the same or me"' CeeCee says a good performance s a resultof communication between her and theaudience. It's ike great sex - except orthe bright lightsJ'



TH E DRAG KIIIG

TheDiamondGawdAge37.

Occupdon:Ivlanager of a grouphome;student

Ilomr @c: Bryant-lake Bow,l, eiform-ing in D5dres o Dng since X999.

Her vlcw qr dog:'It's all about imper-sonating- from Midnel lackson o Tina'Tirmer. I impersonate my idols."

fYhy e: pcfur: A natural-bom per-former, Diamgnd saur drag as mother waytobe onthe stage.Shelovesto enter€in

Illrf,lrtdn :Perforrned'Tevtf as Onrckthe Firefighter.tlot so'origina! strc salp,

"h't the ladies seemed o like it'A Auorne nnrterr'Edge of Serrcnteen"by Stevie Nicks,complete rrtthfaux sheepand some baaaad vibrato. She calls t her"sheepie Niciks"art

ormrurbrudrneofrties.

Smr dlrtl Diamond, ak a Audra tacy,"ahrays wantedto be a star" and releaseda sdo albunl'The Diary of My Heart"in1991.

H!! rtotr$ In the '80s, yroungAudra sataryiorsly infront of l\[T1], soaking n themone to'Thriller" and Debbie larry'sutay with the mic Years iate4 with a bar:k-gronnd intheater and music,Diamondwas ntroducedtoD5ftes Do Drat andfellin love withits cabaret-style production .Diamond does both female and mdeimpersonationurithlive vocals.$lluthershe's apping.Vanilla ce n paraduteparts or singing Billyldol'stougtryetfemme repertoirg stre ores perfectingthecelebritypersonality onstage."I ust feelcertain people and sometimes t reallyfreaks me ort " she says.'Ill do a move andbe jke, wow, wlrere'd t]rat come rom]"Diamondblends her characte/s personal-ity with her oar4 nwer forgetting the im-portance of soc appealTo her,t}at meansno taping doanL enenwhen imitating aman "Ido wtrat I think worild be sexy, andto me personally, 'd rather be able o seea woman than Ace bandage."With nenrrsongs every mont\ Diamond says shecouldnt live without drag.'Illbe driingthe shour jll f m 6O because even hen IcanstilldoTina"

in the name of love- vita.mn pride cover story- june 2008

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