Lessons from a Drag Queen

I used to be insanely awkward. Bless my little past self, I was cute but didn't know what to do with it. I needed someone to take me by the hand and show me how to be a kick-ass woman. One night, at a club with some friends, a drag queen named Angel took me under her sequined wing. Apparently, she could smell my awkwardness from across the room. I didn't dance, I was just glued to the bar. I felt safe because nobody was looking at me there.

She looked me up and down and grinned, "I know what we need to do! You need to learn to OWN IT!"
What can you say to that? "Ok"

Angel was the most beautiful drag queen I have ever met. Her hair was voluminous and curly, her eyes so perfectly smoky, and her lips were so glossy they may as well have been a glazed doughnut.

She took me to the bathroom and started to work teaching me about make-up. I was wearing make-up before this occurred but apparently it was sub standard. Within five minutes, my make-up was so perfect that I could have gone on Oprah. I went and bought the same colors and tools and have been using them flawlessly ever since.

Angel and I hung out the rest of the night talking and laughing. It was so awesome to be able to have advice from a guy who, at that time, was better at being a woman that I was. I have forgotten several pieces of drag queen wisdom, but I have held on to a few.

Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things even if you fail a couple times. "I've got my shaft taped and I'm wearing five inch heels. Do you think this was easy the first time?"

If you feel like it's going to be a bad day, do the perfect smoky eye and glossy lip combo. Just because your day is a wreck doesn't mean you have to be. "You can't cry with that amount of make-up on. Unless you feel like lookin a damn fool."

Don't ask how you look unless you know you look hot. If you don't feel hot, then you don't exude the confidence to be hot. Hot is a character trait. "Don't fidget. Is your shirt too low? Own it. Are your pants too tight? Poke your booty out further."

Don't let a man walk all over you. If you realize that a man is walking on you, remember to get your stilettos out and strut all over him. "Sweetie, they say don't sink to his level and do the same things he did. But you won't be on his level, cuz your heels make you taller than him."

Always let your true self shine through. Not everybody has to like it or agree with it, and that's ok. I don't have to like or agree with everyone either. "My sister won't speak to me anymore. She tells our mother, "I had a brother, not a sister" I think she's jealous cuz I'm prettier."

After that, I was fired up. I finally unleased my inner self. It brought out a lot of honesty in me. Thanks, Angel.

Sometimes, when we are down, we just need to pull ourselves back up by the stilettos and own it. Take today and file it Just remember that tomorrow, with the smoky eye and glossy lip combo, you will be unstoppable.