Drag Queen Spotlight: Anita Rose O’Hara Talks Hosting, Adele, and Hecklers

April 29, 2023
JORDAN JAYRO

Hello, gorgeous angel of my life! I'm back with another Drag Queen Spotlight! This week's victim is none other than Anita Rose O'Hara! Anita is a fierce queen from Southern California! You can catch Anita hosting bingo at One Eleven Bar in Cathedral City! You will also find her on any given night at Bullet Bar or hosting brunch at Oscar's in Palm Springs! Basically, this woman is everywhere and you need to go see her! She's the hostess with the mostess and we love to see it! I'm so glad I got to do this interview with Anita! Make sure you follow her on Instagram so you know where she'll be next! And check out her answers below!

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How did you get your drag name?

I had a different name before (Velvet Vanity) but there was already a “Vanity” so I had a friend come up with names. Anita Powers stuck, but grammatically it didn’t work. Then I looked up other last names and how they sounded and meant. And loved how Anita Rose sounded. Play on words and a cute yet sophisticated name.

How long have you been doing drag?

11 years as of March 28th.

When is your birthday? How old are you?

June 19. (Turning 30)

Relationship status?

Single.

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What was your first time in drag like?

ELECTRIFYING!!! I knew I was meant to be on stage and I had all my friends in the audience. The place went UP!!!

What made you want to start drag?

I’ve always been a performer but painfully shy. Saw my first show and realized it was a stage where I can play different characters.

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

Shitty drag queens inspire me! As weird as the sounds… I set myself a standard of what I need to look like. And it’s because queens that look AWFUL make me work hard to always look my best.

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Favorite song/artist to lip sync to?

- “And I Am Telling You” by Jennifer Hudson

- “All The Man That I Need” by Whitney at the Troops concert

- “Let Me Know” by Roisin Murphy (or any of her songs really)

- Anything by Adele

Have you ever hooked up in drag?

I used to back in the day. Now??? I mean not no!

What’s your favorite thing about drag?

I can do whatever I want! From songs to genres to looks… It’s my world. Also, I LOVE hosting!!! It’s probably my all-time favorite part of what I do.

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What are your hobbies outside of drag?

Do my cats count? I binge TV shows. That’s about as hobby as it gets.

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

Besides arguments? I won’t say who, but I saw a queen ask for setting powder and once it was handed to her, she dumped it out all over the floor.

Biggest pet peeve about working with other drag queens?

The egos! And mostly for no reason!!! I work with a group of queens who are so inflated when there’s literally no reason for it. And the gaslighting and backstabbing makes me wanna vomit! I guess just the disrespect to each other and to the venue.

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Biggest pet peeve about audiences in nightclubs?

Being interrupted on the mic. Sometimes I have specific stuff to say and get through. Like a script and I almost auto-pilot myself so I can read the room and come up with jokes. When someone says something and it throws me off, I get mad. Because now I have to read you in front of everyone and figure out when I was at.

Any advice for someone wanting to start drag?

Don’t do it! You have no idea how much money you will be investing. Also, there are many styles of drag. I prefer a more performance-based drag. And if you’re going to not perform and just be boring… hard pass for me. But go off sis and have fun! Oh and not everyone is your friend IF you make it…