Name: Derrick Henney
Where are you from? New York
What do you do? Burlesque dancer
Who is your hair icon? Marilyn Monroe
What inspires you? Grace Jones, Naomi Campbell, Storm from X Men
What’s the best thing about being young today? I have the courage to do whatever, whenever.
Name: Donald Hicks
Age: 31
Where are you from? California
What do you do? Fashion stylist
What brings you to Bushwig? To let the kids have it.
What inspires you? Rupaul, Spice Girls, sluts
What’s the best thing about being young today? You can be you.
Name: Ben Johnson aka Malestria Child
Age: 29
Where are you from? Wisconsin
What do you do? Graphic designer
What brings you to Bushwig? I do drag in Brooklyn.
Who is your hair icon? Cotton Candy
What do you love most about Bushwick? All the other artsy queer folk
What’s the best thing about being young today? Not being old? Also being able to do whatever I want and wear crazy shit.
Name: Cybil War
Age: 187
Where are you from? London
What brings you to Bushwig? The bringing together of different people from all walks of life to celebrate me in a dress.
What inspires you? The people around me. Inspiration is everywhere, you just need to look.
What’s the best thing about being young today? With the access we have today, you have the ability to make your own destiny.
Name: Annie Burns
Age: 28
Where are you from? Born in Colorado, raised in New Jersey
What do you do? Producer
What brings you to Bushwig? To dance
What inspires you? My girlfriend
What’s the best thing about being young today? Being here
Name: Annie Fleder
Age: 27
Where are you from? NJ
What do you do? Speech writer
What brings you to Bushwig? My girlfriend
What do you love most about Bushwick? The people are beautiful.
Name: Brad Callahan
Age: 28
Where are you from? Chicago
What do you do? Fashion designer
What brings you to Bushwig? Supporting my community.
Who is your hair icon? Dolly Parton
What inspires you? Sex and anime
What do you love most about Bushwick? The dollar stores and drag queens.
Name: Grayson Squire
Where are you from? Maine
What do you do? I’m an artist freak
What brings you to Bushwig? Brooklyn family
Who is your hair icon? Björk or Joss Stone
What inspires you? Music, nature, sex
What’s the best thing about being young today? Being free
Name: Horrchata
Age: A lady never kisses and tells
Where are you from? San Antonio, Texas
What do you do? I am an international drag queen superstar. I also DJ and help organize events all over New York!
What brings you to Bushwig? I am the co-founder of Bushwig so I have to be here — LOL
Who is your hair icon? Since I’m from Texas, I like my hair big and juicy.
What’s the best thing about being young today? That we are the future of New York City
Name: Kenneth Cockwhore
Age: 30
Where are you from? Copenhagen
What do you do? DJ/Designer
What brings you to Bushwig? Played at the opening party
What inspires you? Life
What do you love most about Bushwick? The mix of different people, the food and the buildings.
Name: Lady Simon
Age: 25
Where are you from? Columbus, Ohio
What do you do? Performer/ artist
What do you love most about Bushwick? The community
What’s the best thing about being young today? Being ok with being a fuck up
Name: Macy Rodman
Age: 25
Where are you from? Alaska
What do you do? I am a singer and a producer.
What brings you to Bushwig? I’m performing some songs from my new EP, HELP!
Who is your hair icon? Caitlyn
What inspires you? Caitlyn
Name: Matthew de Leon (Untitled Queen)
Age: 31
Where are you from? Governor’s Island, NY
What do you do? I’m a graphic designer for a non-profit Brooklyn cultural organization named BRIC, a visual artist, and a drag queen.
What brings you to Bushwig? This is my fourth year in support of the festival and my sisters, the co-founders Babes Trust and Horrchata. I’ll be emceeing and performing.
Who is your hair icon? Medusa
What do you love most about Bushwick? The way everybody can come together and do what we do best: performing, kiking, singing, twirling, modeling, experimenting, raging, and loving.
Name: Merrie Cherry
Age: Fetus
Where are you from? Cali
What do you do? National drag queen
What brings you to Bushwig? Family
Who is your hair icon? Grace Jones
What’s the best thing about being young today? There’s no limit to what ‘young’ looks like.
Name: Neocamp
Age: 27
Where are you from? Ireland
What do you do? Music/ performer
Who is your hair icon? Pee Wee Herman
What inspires you? The internet
Name: Ophelia
Age: 35
Where are you from? Upper West Side
What do you do? Singer, songwriter, performance artist
What brings you to Bushwig? To see all the performers and give face
Who is your hair icon? Sinead O’Connor
What’s the best thing about being young today? Being able to express it in this wonderful atmosphere.
Name: Taylor Ashley, The Dauphine of Bushwick
Age: Off with their heads
Where are you from? Canon, NY
What do you do? Dancer and choreographer
What brings you to Bushwig? Friends, lovers, drama, and all of us
Who is your hair icon? All bitches just out of a pool
What inspires you? Risk and bravery
What’s the best thing about being young today? That I’ll be young everyday to come
Name: Ryan Streit
Age: 25
What do you do? Performance artist, writer
Who is your hair icon? Roxie Hart
What inspires you? The absurd, the flamboyant, the ugly
What do you love most about Bushwick? The grime and the palpable creative energy
Name: Ziemba
Age: 30
Where are you from? El Paso
What do you do? Artist/ musician
Who is your hair icon? Ramona Quimby
What do you love most about Bushwick? The people and their big hearts
What’s the best thing about being young today? Feeling free
Name: Jamie Hood
Age: 28
Where are you from? Virginia
What do you do? Bartend
Who is your hair icon? Mermaids, generally
What inspires you? ME!
Credits
Photography Sam Evans Butler