Into The Oddity: Yvie Oddly on Artwork, Activism, and Proudly owning Your Weird

There are drag queens, after which there’s Yvie Oddly. The revolutionary drag performer, rapper, and effective artist skyrocketed to fame because the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 and a finalist in All Stars, All Winners. Yvie’s distinctive and daring model has redefined what drag might be — pushing boundaries and breaking norms with a signature mix of humor, coronary heart, and radical honesty.

Beyond her fierce artistry, Yvie is a devoted social justice advocate, utilizing her platform to uplift queer, disabled, and BIPOC communities. This Giving Tuesday, December 2, followers should purchase autographed copies of Yvie’s memoir, All About Yvie: Into the Oddity, solely at OddlyYvie.com. Following this occasion, a donation will probably be made to The Trevor Project, serving to present life-saving sources and disaster help for LGBTQ+ youth throughout the nation.

We caught up with Yvie to speak about writing her first memoir, embracing the intersections that form her identification, and the message she hopes to ship to LGBTQ+ youth who’re studying to embrace their oddities.

When folks learn your memoir All About Yvie: Into The Oddity, what do you hope they take away about who Yvie Oddly actually is?

I hope folks stroll away realizing that Yvie Oddly isn’t a personality I invented. It’s the language I take advantage of to precise every thing that makes me me. Jovan’s the particular person I used to be born as; Yvie is the technicolor translation of that particular person’s chaos, ache, and pleasure. I’m not attempting to be excellent or polished. I’m attempting to be trustworthy. This ebook is me saying, “Here’s the messy, weird, stretchy truth.” Because what’s the purpose of being odd in case you’re not actual about it?

Writing a memoir is deeply private and requires revisiting so many elements of your journey. What did you study your self within the course of?

That I’m much more forgiving of my previous than I believed. Writing this ebook made me return to all of the variations of myself I’d tried to outgrow: the broke teenager sleeping on buses to make drag gigs, the queer child attempting to impress everybody, the artist chasing validation. And as an alternative of cringing, I discovered compassion. I additionally realized that I’ve been creating artwork out of survival for many of my life. This ebook simply occurred to be one other model of that, minus the recent glue gun burns.

You’ve spoken about being multiracial, queer, and disabled — all elements of your identification that intersect in significant and typically advanced methods. How has embracing all of those layers formed you into the particular person you might be at present?

It’s made me bizarre, in the absolute best method. I used to really feel like my physique, my race, my queerness had been contradictions preventing one another. But over time, I realized they’re really the components that make me complete. Being multiracial taught me about in-betweenness. Being queer taught me that love doesn’t want a rulebook. And dwelling with Ehlers-Danlos taught me that fragility and power can stay in the identical physique. So now, as an alternative of hiding the contradictions, I have fun them, ideally in a rhinestoned bodysuit.

You’re very candid in regards to the bodily challenges you expertise dwelling with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. How do you take care of your psychological well being on days when your physique is supplying you with a tough time?

Some days, my physique feels prefer it’s been hit by a drag bus stuffed with glitter and remorse. So I let myself relaxation. I’ve realized that forcing myself to “push through” solely breaks me extra. Sometimes self-care means Netflix and snacks; typically it means letting myself cry; typically it means constructing one thing ridiculous and exquisite simply to really feel like I nonetheless have management over my artwork. I additionally remind myself that my price isn’t tied to how productive or versatile I’m. I imply, I’m actually hyperflexible. Let me have a break day!

You’ve been referred to as the “World’s Oddest Queen.” What phrases of encouragement would you provide LGBTQ+ younger individuals who really feel like they don’t slot in, or who’re nonetheless discovering the braveness to stay authentically, as you’ve got?

Good. Don’t. Fitting in is overrated. The world wants your oddity. The elements of you that make folks elevate an eyebrow are often the identical elements that may make another person really feel seen. If you’re nonetheless determining who you might be, give your self time and persistence to develop into your weirdness. There’s no deadline for authenticity. And if anybody tells you you’re “too much,” inform them that’s precisely the purpose.