Drag Queen Spotlight: Isabella Xochitl Talks Twilight, Sewing, And Celebrities

August 12, 2023
JORDAN JAYRO

Good morning, sunshine! Welcome back to another fiercely stunning Drag Queen Spotlight! This week, we’re getting up close and personal with the legendary Isabella Xochitl! Isabella is a drag queen based in Orange County, California. She’s more than a fierce queen though, Isabella is also a seamstress and wig stylist to the stars! We met a few years ago at a fundraiser and hit it off. I’m so glad I got to do this with Isabella! Check out her answers below, and don’t forget to follow Isabella Xochitl on Instagram!

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How did you get your drag name?

The last name I got from my sister. Her full name is Yaoxochitl, which is a native Mexican name. Around the time I started doing drag, she had some negative opinions about my sexuality and disapproved of the idea of my doing drag, so I decided I wanted to take part of her name for myself. At this point, even though we get along better now, I'm glad that my name has something to do with her. Isabella was basically inspired by Twilight, you really couldn't get away from the name back then, so no one was choosing it on purpose for drag. Luckily no one calls me Bella.

How long have you been doing drag?

I think it was 9 years as of May!

When is your birthday? How old are you?

My birthday is January 3rd. I'm a Capricorn, and I'm smack dab in the middle of my Saturn return.

Relationship status?

Single and accepting applications.

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What was your first time in drag like?

Oh absolutely terrible—hard front wigs, shoplifted Target clothes, wedges, and leggings from eBay. I performed Phantogram and Sky Ferreira. I lost both wigs during both numbers and during the Sky Ferreira song also fell twice, flashed my control topped Barbie crotch to the audience, AND broke the shoe. I think I also cinched with duct tape and didn't pad. I have the video. It’s hilarious.

What made you want to start doing drag?

I think on some level, I thought I was trans. The verdict still isn't up on that, but it doesn't feel nearly as important now. I think the straw that broke the camel's back was Roxxxy Andrews on season 5 of RuPaul’s Drag Race. She was gorgeous and Latina AND plus-sized. I thought I wanted to be just like her and I tried doing that until I liked what I was doing better.

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Who inspires your drag (celebrities, other queens, etc.)?

I think it's less so celebrities now and more so their teams. Designers, stylists, etc. Sabrina Claudio's entire team does an incredible job—specifically Tony Medina and Katie Qian. Tony specifically is my favorite hair artist in Hollywood, and I even took a class from him that totally changed my wig game. Then in regard to designers I've been trying to get away from the drag designers the rest of us follow if I can help it. Most of the time they're just doing their take on Thierry Mugler or Bob Mackie anyway, so it makes more sense to just research Mugler and Mackie myself. At least if I'm ripping off Mugler, I'm doing my $hitty version of Mugler and not my $hitty version of another designer's $hitty version of Mugler. I'm also a huge fan of historical fashion, so period dramas and classic films are always fun references.

Favorite song/artist to lip sync to?

Remi Wolf and Elli Ingram are some of my favorites lately, but any lady that can write some good prose and put some real stank on it will be a favorite of mine. I'll also pepper in crowd pleasers to pay the bills, but the ladies who could really use some antidepressants have me in a chokehold.

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Have you ever hooked up in drag?

I haven't ever really gone further than making out with someone. I like hooking up and I like drag, but I don't think I'd enjoy them together. Furthermore, she's my art. I do the makeup, I style the hair, I make the costumes. If someone wants to play with her, that's all well and good; but she's mine, she's for me, she's not built to be ravaged. That's what the guy that made her is for.

What’s your favorite thing about drag?

Drag is just one of the most efficient outlets a crafty little freak could ask for. Before drag, I was a theater kid and took dance classes, but because of drag, I learned how to style wigs and do makeup and build costumes. It was also an excuse to be social before I really understood how to function in queer spaces, and I found a lot of my self-worth through drag. Also, it's really nice that the tips help pay for the fabric and wigs and all the other things you need to keep at it.

What are your hobbies outside of drag?

A lot of my hobbies revolve around drag—namely wig styling and sewing—but outside of drag, I play a lot of video games. I also play Dungeons and Dragons with friends, and I had a 3D printing phase for a while. I also like to restore furniture when I have the time. Come to think of it, a lot of my hobbies revolve around not having a lot of money and learning how to make the expensive thing myself.

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What’s the craziest thing you’ve witnessed in a dressing room?

I worked with a now very famous trans performer at a Hamburger Mary's years ago, and she and another queen who also happened to be trans were just hanging out in the dressing room tits out laughing their asses off about how straight guys are obsessed with being pegged. I'll never forget how comfortable she was and how fucking cool she is.

Biggest pet peeve about working with other drag queens?

I think my biggest issue with other queens is usually based on ego. Like, by all means, act like a star onstage, that's the point; but offstage? We're just very sweaty, very sparkly panhandlers; we get our tips one dollar at a time. I can't be sanctimonious when I'm receiving free cash, I just can't.

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Biggest pet peeve about audiences in nightclubs?

I think the only time I get annoyed with audience members is when they get too drunk to pay attention or they decide they want the attention we're getting. Obviously, please buy drinks, but let us avoid spilling things or vomiting, or falling. Any attempts to steal attention from the person performing are just rude and laughable; like you don't know the words, lady. I promise.

Any advice for someone wanting to start doing drag?

It's very expensive, so I'd definitely recommend learning a skill that contributes to drag as soon as possible. Sewing and hair are hard to learn, but they make drag much easier, and much faster. If you as a performer are purchasing everything, you're spending more money per look than you're making for quite some time. It's also incredibly useful to understand what it is that you as a performer want out of drag. If it's to get on a TV show, perhaps try Big Brother.