Pythia: Unleashing Myth and Magic

Get ready for a night of magic, mystery, and myth as Pythia, the sensational Greek-Canadian drag artist from Canada’s Drag Race season 2 and RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars, descends upon Sarnia for a spellbinding performance at The Devil's Ball. Known for blending historical and mythical elements into her jaw-dropping looks and performances, Pythia has captivated fans with her innovative take on drag. Raised in Greece and now based in Montreal, this costume designer and performer has brought an enchanting, otherworldly presence to the stage.

On October 25, 2024, Pythia will be joined by a fantastic lineup including Sheerah Mae Heartt, POISON, Charlize Angel, Karma Kameleon, Lillith Nox, and Miss Conduct, in a Halloween-inspired drag event you won’t want to miss! Hosted at Refined Fool Brewing Co., the evening promises a costume contest, fierce performances, and a meet-and-greet with the queens. Doors open at 8pm, with tickets starting at $25 and meet-and-greet options for $35.

We sat down with Pythia to discuss her career, creativity, and what fans can expect from her upcoming performance at The Devil’s Ball.

THIS is DRAG: Welcome, Pythia! How are you feeling about performing at The Devil’s Ball in Sarnia this October?

Pythia: I cannot wait! I have never been to Sarnia before, and I love a Halloween event. Spooky season is when my power is at its peak, so I am ecstatic!

TiD: Your drag is often infused with historical and mythical elements. Can you tell us more about how these influences shape your drag persona?

P: I love fashion and costume history, as well mythology and religion, and a lot of my performances or looks are inspired by such concepts! Whether obvious or not, there are always elements ingrained into my work, and not a single detail goes unplanned! I also named myself after Pythia who was an oracle of the god of the arts, Apollo, so to me it’s a way to manifest this ancient feminine power into the present through my drag!

“Spooky season is when my power is at its peak, so I am ecstatic!”

— Pythia

As a costume designer, your looks are always intricate and unique. What’s your process for creating these incredible outfits, and where do you find your inspiration?

As mentioned before, a lot of it is referential of various aspects of my Greek culture, or general interests of mine. Every look is different and tells a different story! They are all like different characters in a play that is Pythia! I can’t explain it, but the inspiration strikes at the strangest moments, and I’ve come up with some of my greatest concepts in my dreams!

You were raised in Greece before moving to Montreal as a teenager. How did your upbringing in these different cultures influence your style and approach to drag?

I just think it has allowed me to love myself no matter what. Growing up in the hyper Christian Orthodox society of Greece, I felt ostracized and like I could never belong in my own culture, but drag made me realize that I can actually celebrate myself for my identity just as I am. That’s why I’m so proud to represent my culture and customs through a queer lens. Cause I can’t imagine how many queer Greek people feel the way I did, and I want to show that we also belong.

What first inspired you to start performing drag, and how did you develop your signature blend of myth and glamour?

I began drag through cosplay and theater! The story telling and attention to detail that goes behind theatricality and performance is so intriguing to me. I wanted to share all the crazy ideas and stories locked up in my brain somehow, and drag allowed me to do just that! It’s like a different medium of art to me. I do it all in the context of the arts, painting, drawing, illustrating, photography, sculpture, props, costumes, makeup etc.! But drag combines all of my love for art in one!

You made a huge impact on Canada’s Drag Race and Global All Stars. How has your time on these shows influenced your career, and what’s been the most rewarding part of the journey?

Honestly so much! Everything changed because of these shows and I am forever grateful and blessed. I remind myself every day, how lucky I am to be able to do what I love full time, and connect with and touch so many people from around the world through my art. And just the fact that it’s allowed me to travel and experience different parts of the world, and Canada and enrich myself with the local queer histories and talents of each place I visit, is the best prize I could ever win!

Greek mythology is a central theme in much of your work. What is it about these ancient stories that resonates with you and your drag?

The fact that they were so queer and raw. The ancient stories even beyond Greece, had so much queer identity and matriarchal importance that has been completely sanitized and erased through Christianity and Colonization. The ancient gods were so close to us and to what humanity is and always has been. They were jealous, greedy, messy, and made mistakes... They loved, and feared, and bled, and hurt. They were imperfect like humans! I feel like modern religions have completely convinced us to aspire to an unattainable “sinless” perfection, but that’s just not what human nature is.

Halloween is coming up, and The Devil’s Ball has a spooky theme. Can you give us a sneak peek into your costume or the vibe you're bringing to the event?

All I’m gonna say is you’ll all have 7 days to live after watching my performance.

What’s been your most memorable performance to date, and what made it stand out for you?

My favourite performance would have to be a number I did in 2019 for a local Drag Competition in Montreal, where I perform as a psychic medium during a seance and even levitate a table with magic! Woooo!

You’re known for pushing boundaries and creating art that’s truly unique. How do you stay inspired and keep evolving in your drag career?

Just generally pushing myself and trying things even if they sound insane or impossible to do. Even if I don’t think I’ll be able to make something, I always attempt! It’s a learning experience nonetheless! Constantly creating at 100% and only editing down if I have to! That’s my life motto, the sky is not the limit, I can go further than that!

How do you balance the artistry of costume design with the performance aspect of drag, and what’s more challenging for you?

My drag performances are 100% linked with my costumes. All the numbers I build, I build along with whatever costume I will be wearing, and most numbers only work with that particular costume and that’s it! The challenge would be making more adaptable universal looks that I can perform multiple numbers in, but I love my theatricality too much to sacrifice that!

Have you performed in Sarnia or the surrounding area before, and how are you feeling about coming to perform in a smaller city like this one?

I haven’t! The closest place in proximity would have to be Hamilton, for the premiere episode viewing party of Canada’s Drag Race Season 2! I love performing in smaller cities. It’s more intimate and special and I tend to connect with the audience more in this way!

What advice would you give to drag performers who are looking to incorporate more storytelling and artistic elements into their work?

I think storytelling is naturally a vital part to drag, and my only advice would be to just cultivate it more, and find ways to incorporate more into a drag performance than just high kicks and splits! Discover what it is you want to say through your drag, and think of all the ways you can say it through performance or visual! Background videos, props, costume/wig reveals are things I personally love incorporating into my work!

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or performances that fans can look forward to?

Lots of gigs and cool things coming up, that I post constantly on my socials, but the thing that will take up most of my attention in November is rehearsals for a theater show I’m creating with Denim from Season 4 of CDR! It’s called “ORACULUM” and it’ll go live on December 1st-December 15 at Buddies in Bad Times in Toronto! Super excited for this project!

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers or your fans ahead of The Devil’s Ball?

Just a huge thank you for all the love and support, and just for having me in your beautiful city! I cannot wait to meet and party with everyone!

Don't miss this opportunity to see Pythia and a dazzling lineup of drag performers at The Devil's Ball on October 25, 2024, at Refined Fool Brewing Co. Get ready for an evening of myth, mystery, and magic, and don’t forget to come dressed to impress for the costume contest! Doors open at 8pm, with general admission at $25 and meet-and-greet options available for $35. Secure your tickets now for a hauntingly fabulous night!

By Kevin Blondin

The Devil's Ball
Friday, October 25, 2024
At Refined Fool Brewing Company in Sarnia, Ontario

Brenda: Sarnia’s Rising Drag Artist Ready to Shine at Mosaic and YOUphoria

Meet Brenda, an 18-year-old drag queen from Sarnia, Ontario, who’s making waves as an indigenous artist and youth performer. With just over two years in drag, Brenda is set to captivate audiences at both Friday and Saturday night Sarnia Pride events—Mosaic at Refined Fool Brewing Co. and YOUphoria at Imperial City Brewhouse. Sharing the stage with international stars like Salina EsTitties and Kylie Sonique Love, Brenda opens up about her journey, inspirations, and the significance of pride events in her community.

DRAG MAG: How long have you been doing drag? 

Brenda: I have been doing drag for just over two years now, but I started playing around with makeup for just over three years. 

DM: How did you get into drag? 

B: I got into drag by seeing RuPaul's Drag Race on Netflix one day while I was looking for something to watch. I decided to put it on and immediately I was pulled right in. It was season 8 (the only season on Netflix at the time) and when I saw Naomi Smalls walk in I just knew that's how I wanted to be, stunning and fabulous. 

DM: How do you describe your drag aesthetic? 

B: I'd say my drag aesthetic is pretty broad honestly, sometimes I'll be in pastels with a pop vibe and the next I'll be in dark colours with a more alternative vibe. 

DM: What can you tell me about Sarnia’s drag scene?

B: Sarnia's local drag scene is quite a smaller one but we do have some hella cute and fierce queens. 

DM: Who are your biggest drag inspirations?

B: My biggest drag inspirations are Poison (my drag mother of course), Naomi Smalls and Kandy Muse. I also take a lot of inspo from Ariana Grande, Monster High dolls and Bratz dolls.

DM: You’re performing at both Mosaic and YOUphoria alongside other amazing artists like Salina EsTitties, Jada Shada Hudson, Kylie Sonique Love and The Girlfriend Experience. How do you feel about sharing the stage with such impressive international talent?

B: I feel very intimidated to share the stage with them but also very validated at the same time. I have looked up to these queens for a really long time, especially Kylie because she was one of the few trans queens on drag race and she won her All Stars season. It just makes me think and feel like I'm on the right track and keeps me looking forward for what's to come. 

DM: What can you tell us about the importance of events like this in our community?

B: It's so so important to have these pride events because it shows the resilience within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community to keep going, to keep fighting for what's right. It's also entertaining to go out and see a drag show and just to get out at all. These events show that the whole community isn't going anywhere, and you can't just get rid of us. 

DM: This event is part of Sarnia-Lambton PrideFest. What does performing at Pride events mean to you?

B: Performing at pride events means literally the world to me because it's so special to be the representation people are looking for, I am a plus size, trans and indigenous performer. That is three groups alone of people that could possibly see a bit of themselves in me and that truly means a lot. 

DM: How important is it to you to represent your community in these events?

B: It's so beyond important for me to represent all my communities in these events because I know when I was younger I didn't have too many people to look to that were similar to me. I want people to be able to relate and feel seen. 

DM: Do you have any upcoming projects or events that you can share with us besides Sarnia Pride? 

B: I have another pride show July 27th at the Storm Stayed brewery hosted by Brattery Acid and Maple Queef. 

DM: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

B: In 5 years I'd like to see myself as an even more successful drag queen, I would like to go to college for cosmetology and maybe fashion. I'm not too sure within 5 years but hopefully someday I'll be on Drag Race.

DM: Being an 18-year-old performer, what advice would you give to other young, aspiring drag artists who are eager to participate in their local drag scenes?

B: This is going to be a basic answer, but practice is so important. Just practice for a little bit then when you reach a place where you even feel a little bit confident, put yourself out there. Post on Instagram, reach out to local entertainers and Diversity ED is a really good place to go with helping out with new artists.   

DM: Lastly, what message do you hope to convey to your fans and the audience through your performances at Mosaic and beyond?

B: The message I hope to convey is to live your life how you want to and to have fun. I want people who see me perform to feel joy and just to vibe.  

Catch Brenda live at Sarnia Pride events this July! Don’t miss her performances at Mosaic on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Refined Fool Brewing Co., and at YOUphoria on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Imperial City Brewhouse. Join the celebration, support local talent, and enjoy a night of spectacular drag performances. Admission is free, with donations supporting QT Camp. See you there!

By Kevin Blondin

Mosaic
Friday, July 12, 2024
At Refined Fool Brewing Co. in Sarnia, Ontario

YOUphoria
Saturday, July 13, 2024
At Imperial City Brewhouse in Sarnia, Ontario

EsTitties is Coming to Sarnia’s Mosaic

Get ready to meet the fabulous Salina EsTitties, star of RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15! Hailing from Los Angeles, Salina is not just a drag queen but also a talented musician. She’s known for her energetic performances and captivating presence on stage.

Salina will be gracing Sarnia with her presence at a very special event called Mosaic on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Refined Fool Brewing Company. Presented by Sarnia-Lambton PrideFest, this event promises a night of spectacular entertainment with performances from Jada Shada Hudson of Canada’s Drag Race, London’s songstress Galaxy, Tammy The Brown, The X Wife, Kamilla Flores, Kara Melle, and Sarnia’s own Brenda. Best of all, this event is FREE! Don’t miss out on this incredible celebration of drag and music.

DRAG MAG: Have you ever performed or been in the Sarnia area before? 

Salina EsTitties: No, it'll be my first time. I've been to Calgary a couple times, but never past that. So I'm very excited to see a new side of Canada. 

DM: Is there anything that you're looking forward to doing while you're here? 

SET: Well, I've never been, so I don't know what to expect or anything. So I always just love showing up and seeing what happens. 

DM: What was the most memorable moment for you during your time on the RuPaul’s Drag Race? 

SET: I think just getting to be with RuPaul at any point was like the best thing in the world. It just felt so unreal, you know what I mean? You see them on TV forever, and then here you are talking with them about your drag. So I think that was definitely the best part about it.

DM: As a musician and a drag queen, how do you blend these two passions in your performances? 

SET: I find that drag allows me to create music in the way that I probably wouldn't be able to if I didn't have drag. It gives me like a vehicle to express all my talents and all of who I am, where outside of drag I probably don't feel as confident. I don't feel as seen. I don't feel as respected. Being in drag, it just kind of demands that power and allows for me to create and express myself in a way that people actually pay attention.

DM: What inspires the themes and styles of your shows? 

SET: My shows are very theatrical. I'm a musical theater major at the end of the day, so I feel like that combined with my street smart, street wise persona, it's the blend of musical theater and then like, hoodrat, you know. The two complement each other very well in a way that people have not experienced before. It's not just a hip hop dancing girl. It's also that combined with acting and emotion that allows for an exciting experience. 

DM: Can you share the story behind your drag name? 

SET: So Selena is a play on Selena Quintanilla, which is a Latin music artist who was tragically murdered when she was very young. And she is huge in the Latin community. So I wanted to pay homage to my queen and the Latin queen for a lot of Latinos. So, Selena's my first name. And then I was creating my name. My friend was asking me, what would your drag name be? And I said, I don't know, but if I were a girl, I'd probably have really big titties and, Es Titties. The Es in front of is kind of an homage to my mom with her accent. She used to say stuff like instead of stop sign, she would say es-stop. Instead of a Sprite. She would say es-Sprite. So I just kind of added the Es because it gives how my mom would say it. 

DM: Who are your biggest musical and drag inspirations? 

SET: My biggest drag inspirations has to be Robin Williams and Mrs. Doubtfire, John Leguizamo in To Wong Foo, Eddie Murphy as Rasputia in Norbit. These male actors who just do drag for comedy purposes, these comedians, that's really where my drag stems from. Mary Katherine Gallagher from Superstar. SNL type skit characters and MADtv. That's kind of where my comedy and drag persona comes from, those are very big influences. As far as drag goes I have a very hyper feminine look that is a little clowny but not too clowny. So I like blending the two together. And I think that I don't really have a drag queen that I'm inspired by like that. But I would say that I'm definitely inspired by like pop stars like Beyonce and Jennifer Lopez. And as far as the vibe and esthetic go... the essence of EsTitties combined with the comedic actor vibes, it gives what I was talking about, the combination of pop star and camp. 

DM: What's your favorite song to perform and why? 

SET: My favorite song to perform, I mean, performing Nicki Minaj is always fun. I also love performing Cardi B, also Beyonce Renaissance I think would probably be my favorite right now as we speak in this moment, probably any Renaissance Beyoncé is where I kind of live at the moment. 

DM: How do you feel about sharing the stage with such diverse talent? 

SET: It's so exciting because we get to showcase all aspects of drag. And these things are fantastic. So getting to share a stage with them is an honor, and I'm very excited to do so.

DM: What does performing at Pride Events mean to you personally? 

SET: I remember pride when I was growing up as an 18 year old in West Hollywood. You know, kind of a gay Mecca, pride resembled freedom and community to me when I was coming up. And today pride for me is really about a sense of self pride within oneself and finding one's own sense of confidence with themselves and self-love. And that's kind of what I've been working on recently as a person. And so I think having pride in all aspects of who you are. So for me, that's being proud of how I look, regardless of how fit or unfit I may be, being proud of my race and my nationality, my ethnicity. Being proud of the way that I speak, being proud of the way that I walk, finding pride in all aspects of who I am allows me to exude that and allow other people to see me the way that I saw other people when I was 18 years old, and be an example of what true pride really looks like. Not just being proud of being gay, but being proud of all aspects of who I am. 

DM: What can the audience expect from your performance in Mosaic, and are there any special surprises in store? 

SET: So I do have original music that's out, and right now during pride season, I'm performing it live. So maybe I'll see if I can find some dancers there in Ontario who could hop on stage with me, if that's a thing. But perhaps getting a taste of my music that I have out right now that's gone a little viral on YouTube. 

DM: Do you have any pre-show rituals or routines? 

SET: Ooh, I actually like to be very quiet before the show and just have a moment to myself to breathe and take in the moment and prepare because it takes a lot of energy to do what I do. So to have that moment by myself to just hone in on what's about to happen is really important to me. 

DM: Drag has seen a surge in mainstream popularity. How do you think this visibility has impacted the drag community both positively and negatively? 

SET: Well, positively, it has put us on the forefront of a lot of media and just life in general. So, where before we used to perform in the shadows, and be pushed to the side, now we're being a little more respected and celebrated. On the negative side, as a queen, I feel like it's a little oversaturated right now and there's a lot of queens, so that is a little hard to navigate. But it's better to have that problem than to not have a problem at all. 

DM: What do you think sets the LA drag scene apart from other drag scenes across the country? 

SET: I think what sets the LA drag scene apart is that we live in Los Angeles, which is the entertainment capital of the world. So I think our girls are a lot more accustomed to what it looks like to be on set, what it looks like to show up and be on your mark, deliver your show and be ready to go. I feel like we're very professional in that way and and ready to execute. Because we're showgirls, LA, Hello? 

DM: Do you have any favorite brands or go-to products that you swear by? 

SET: I think setting spray is very important. And I use them very theatrical, almost industrial type of setting spray. It's not no makeup brand. It's an alcoholic base that is great to make sure I don't sweat. And then there's other stuff called Sweat On, or something like that. And it clogs my pores. I don't sweat, which is very important because drag is really hot, so I gotta make sure my makeup is not running. 

DM: What advice would you give to aspiring drag artists who look up to you? 

SET: The more you know who you are as a person, that will reveal who you are as a drag queen and your performance style, what you wear, how you express yourself. So I say start by going inside and learning who you are, and then that will dictate your drag and how you move in the world. 

DM: Do you have any upcoming projects or music releases that you're excited about and can share with us? 

SET: Yeah, my music video, for my song Papi off of my latest EP, Homegirl will be out and that's brand new, so I would love for everyone to check that out. And I also have a show that I'll be doing in July in Provincetown that is called The Papi Experience. It's kind of like my live interactive speed dating show that I hope to take on the road one day. And I'm currently working on a little Christmas project at the moment as well. 

DM: What message do you hope to convey to your fans in the audience through your performances at Mosaic and other performances beyond? 

SET: I hope that I make them want to get up and dance. I want them to feel my energy and let that shock through them and make them feel the same energy in the crowd and then be inspired to share that energy moving forward the next day. 

DM: Lastly, I just want to ask if you have anything at all that you'd like to add to this. 

SET: I'm just very grateful for my fan base and my supporters. I feel like I get to keep on doing what I'm doing because of them and their love and support online, and in real life. So anyone who is a fan of me, or has yet to become a fan of me, or like a soon to be itty bitty titty committee member I'm just very grateful for them, and I wanted them to know how much I appreciate and love them. 

Don’t miss the chance to see Salina EsTitties and a stellar lineup of performers at Mosaic on Friday, July 12, 2024, at Refined Fool Brewing Company. Presented by Sarnia-Lambton PrideFest, this free event promises an unforgettable night of drag, music, and celebration. See you there!

By Kevin Blondin

Mosaic
Friday, July 12, 2024
At Refined Fool Brewing Co. in Sarnia, Ontario