I am excited to speak with Vilis Yore, whose drag name is Rocky Valentino. Vilis and I are both currently getting a master’s in clinical psychology, and we met in one of our core courses! Aside from being a psychotherapist-in-training, Vilis is also a drag king. A drag king is someone who performs as an entertainer in male drag.

 

Today, Vilis and I go in-depth about how drag has helped her get to know her body and her self more. We talk about how the body is such a central feature in drag and how our conceptions of what makes as good body is influenced by both our personal histories as well as our environment and society.  

 

Key Moments in the Episode: 

 

(1:02) – what is a drag king?  

(5:18) – Gender norms in Drag Kingdom   

(10:34) – The influence of the patriarchy in Drag  

(12:53) – how body shaming happens in drag 

(19:29) – Vilis discusses what it’s like as a black woman in drag 

(27:57) – body shame affects men too

(32:00) – Advice from Vilis

 

More About Vilis, aka Rocky Valentino King   

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockyvalentinoking/?hl=en