Unless you’ve been trapped on a desert island for the last couple of years, or have just had a complete lobotomy, there really is no excuse for not having heard, or seen, the larger than life figure of drag extraordinaire Miss Ribena working her groove thong along K’Road every weekend
She’s been described as outrageous and loud and that’s just her outfits. She flounces along K’road unapologeticly wafting her own brand of glamour. She’s crass, unforgettable and has no hesitation in letting you know exactly what’s on her mind.

With her loud voice and equally loud costumes Miss Ribena is by no means typical of most drag queens. She does not wax or shave and exudes more masculinity in a frock than most straight men do in a pair of Stubbies and a Swandri. In fact don’t even try pidgeonholing her for if truth be told Miss Ribena is first and foremost a gay man and then an entertainer She does not dress to impersonate, but rather to entertain. She is after all the most well-known drag artiste on K’Road today. Her costumes are innovative and unique and although they are feminine, she neither presumes to look, or act like a woman. She is top heavy a towering 6ft 6 and has the strut of a construction worker with pash-rash between his legs. Yet all this aside, Miss Ribena is the new drag of today - masculinity in a wig.
Last week I dragged her kicking and screaming from the stage at Family and had bit of a chat with her over a bottle of Moet and a few fags. Ok, so we had a few ciggies too, this was the outcome of our little heart-to-heat

 
The Hero Party Is set to go off on the 25th of Februatc What will you be doing, with who and where?
Of course I’ll be going to the party with my usual band of merry fairies, I may even be the door whore for the night but unlike my ass, that’s still up in the air. Other than that I’ll be looking fabulous durrg the day hosting the Food and Wine Festival up north.

 

What about giving us a hint of what you’ll be wearing on the  night , if anything.

 
I haven’t actually decided what I’ll be wearing yet. I mean seriously, how many drag queens do you know who have their whole wardrobe planned out for the next day let alone the next month. Obviously to match my personality I’ll be wearing something elarger than life. Vibrant and outrageuos. You’ll just have to wait and see, but you can definataly expect something of fabulous proportions!

Where does your creative inspiration come from, for your costumes and who makes them for you?
I guess my inspiration comes in many forms and sizes if you get my drift. I’m just naturally a very creative person, I’m inspired by events, people, anything and everything. I can look at a flower and think, I’m going to make a big flower for a hat for instance. Usually though, it depends on the particular event I’m hosting or attending, and depending on the clientele or the theme, I’ll whip up something I feel shows off my petite figure and ties in with that particular event.

Whats the most expensive costume in your wardrobe, and what is your favourite?
The hot little number I wore to the last Hero which featured hot pink satin and an exaggerated top hat. It cost over $800. On top of that you have the make-up, wigs and accessories. The final cost of looking so fabulous can usually run into thousands of dollars, somthing you probably wouldn’t know much about Trevor.  Oooh by the way, are those lips real, or did you put some poor collagen clinic out of business.

 
Bitch! I think your style is eclectic, but do you have a particular theme that is common in al your outfits?

I’d have to say that I like big, bold, bright and delicious things, and from the costumes I wear I think thats pretty obvious. I love florals, clean lines, yeIows, pinks and out- there fabrics and materials. I certainly go for shock-factori

What’s the difference between a drag queen and you?

DARLING! I’m a drag artiste thank you. Drag queens dress to impersonate women. I dress to shock and entertain. I’m firstly an entertainer. MC. host and then a drag queen. I don’t shave my legs or cross them when I’m sitting down. I don’t even wear women’s undies under my outfits either

Is there any money in drag artistry today?
Do you think I drive around in the latest BMW for fun? Of course there’s money to be made if you have a particular style. Many drag queens are not as versatile, as in they have just one look, and usuaJly it’s just a feminine one. There’s so many of that type of drag in the world, but not really any like me. I think people recognise that I do shows and MC functions for big companies like Telecom. L’Oreal and some big law firms, oh and don’t forget my ad for Suzanne Paul, so yes there is money in it.

Do you have a daytime job?
Actually I’ve just resigned from my job as a chef because Miss Ribena has now turned into a full-time job.

 

Are you currently involved with someone?
No, who can handle a cock in a fock?

Having been to Australia many times, what do you think of the drag scene in NZ opposed to Australia?
I think the drag scene in Sydney is big because the clubs and bars there throw huge budgets into the many events they organise and all the popular drags have companies which sponsor them. But New Zealand is only just beginning to accept drag as entertainment and not cross-dressing, so in that respect we’re a little behind. I do think that we have huge talent and potential here though. There’s not many drags like me around from the old school of drag. where drag as more of a performance than a lifestyle. With drags like Mitzi, Polly and Porsche Turbo in Sydney doing a similar type of drag it’s finally getting the recognition it deserves.

 
Aside from me, who inspire, you to do what you do?

Opra Winftey of course! I think she’s just amazing, she’s clued up, she’s funny, she’s gorgeous and she reminds me so much of myself! I love that she’s been down and out and has picked herself up out of the gutter you can relate to that I bet; but she’s more of a black Mother Theresa without the frock and wrinkles. She’s almost like a bloke, with balls, in a frock And I just live by her words of wisdom “positivity, drive and a smile - lead to success”.

Finally the questIon that’s on all our readers’ lips. Is there any truth to the rumour that you’ve had more hands up you than the Muppet5?
Darling, that’s what the billboard on Queen Street says about you. I’m a top, as most West Auckland Rugby Players are, ask anyone who is lucky enough to enjoy 10 inches of Miss Ribena at Lateshift and Basement.