By John Hayden
She’s fierce, she’s funny, and everyone knows when she’s in the room. She’s an entertainment staple on Wilton Drive as well as an example of love everywhere she goes. We’re talking, of course, about Shasta McNastie.
From Pub On the Drive to Hunters and more, her shows draw in long time fans and newbies every week. Her journey to this point has been long and winding, sometimes painful and complicated, but McNastie (aka William Hansen) is grateful for every moment.
She talked with OutClique about her history, her act, and future.
John Hayden: I can’t walk down The Drive without either hearing your show or seeing a sign promoting a Shasta show. Where are you and when?
Shasta McNastie: I have three ‘home bars’ that I perform and host shows at. One Sunday a month, I host my Draggin’ It To Brunch show at Pub On the Drive from 2PM-4PM, as well as a Saturday show normally at 8PM called Shasta’s Shakedown. I love Pub On the Drive because they have truly given me a chance to showcase my talents as a host and performer. The staff there is not just staff, they are my family. They support myself and other talented entertainers in our community.
Hunters Nightclub has also been very supportive to my drag career. I started working at Hunters as a bar back and security, when I decided to do a little more drag. In the last few months, I have become a permanent rotating cast member at Spencer’s Corner Bar on Wednesday nights with Dee Dee Van Carter on her variety shows.
JH: Pride Month ends and before you can catch your breath, you’re in the middle of pageant season. You were also Miss Stonewall, which combines the craziness of both. How do you hold it all together?
SMcN: Celsius and sugar free red bull, super glue, duct tape! Pride Month is such an amazing month. Not just because that’s when my birthday is, but we get to celebrate our own true selves. I love Pride! It was always a dream of mine to be a Miss Gay Pride, and last year I was by being crowned Miss Stonewall 2021 by this amazing community. And yes, pageant season is upon us! I am somewhat new to the pageantry systems here in Florida, but I am growing, learning, and meeting such beautiful people that run the systems, as well as participants. It truly takes a village.
JH: South Florida’s pageant calendar is always packed. Which ones are you most excited about?
SMcN: The pageant that I am most excited about is the Mr., Miss & Miss Pub at Large, which is coming up August 25, 2022, at 7PM. I am excited to run and hopefully take home the crown. After that, there’s the Miss Florida FI Pageant in October.
Preparation for pageants can be months long. Everything has to be on point, clean, and flawless. Here in South Florida, especially these girls, they do not come to play. It is a serious competition on the stage, but the best parts about the pageants are the bonds and friendships and the kiki backstage. You can learn a lot if you can listen, take constructive criticism, and make it work for yourself. Organization is key, at least that’s what I have been told!
JH: Tell me about Shasta.
SMcN: She is made of a little sugar, spice, class, and trash all mixed in a big beautiful shell of a queen. I am a country comedy queen at heart but can do anything I put my mind or wig to. I am a huge advocate for our sober LGBTQ community, our LGBTQ youth, and HIV awareness, plus many other things. Shasta was born in Topeka, Kansas, a little over 17 years ago. My dearly departed husband named her. I love hosting shows, as well as performing.
JH: When someone sees you perform, they go on a journey. Tell me about the Shasta McNastie experience.
SMcN: Ooooh, lord! Buckle up and keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times. I never really know what’s going to come out of my mouth. The filter is sometimes broken, and when that happens, just sit back and enjoy. I like to make people laugh with my funny songs, make people feel like dancing with my dance songs, and love when they get in there. I am still human underneath these nine layers of stockings and waist trainers. I love to have a good time.
JH: As William, you came to South Florida for very serious reasons?
SMcN: As William, I came to South Florida to start my sobriety journey. Really, so did Shasta. I had stopped entertaining because of my drinking and drug use. I guess I didn’t do my research well because I came here to find a rehab and a new start. Unless you have pockets of money, insurance, or find a good peer specialist or program that can guide you through the steps, it’s almost impossible.
After an interesting journey to start down here, including homlessness and relapse, I have now been sober five years and seven months and will celebrate my sixth year, God willing, on December 31, 2022.
JH: You told me you do this for the love. What do you love about entertaining?
SMcN: Love is what keeps us together as a community. The reason that I love to entertain is because you never know what someone is going through in their life at that exact moment or the days they just had. If I can help somebody get out of their head and laugh, have a great time and forget about what’s going on, or help them through what’s going on by my performance or something I said on the mic, then I know I am doing what I am supposed to do and what I believe in. I have had people come up to me and express that if it was not for the drag world, they don’t know if they would have ever had the strength to be their true authentic self. That right there is one of the most amazing feelings you will ever experience.
JH: Your day job is also helping others. How does that fulfill you?
SMcN: I love helping others. I am a pleaser. I am a peer specialist and I work for a nonprofit called South Florida Wellness Network, where I get to help fellow peers that are struggling with mental health or substance abuse recovery. I am one of many that get to help people start their journey by giving linkage to the community, as well as being an emotional support for them as they start and go through their journey of recovery and achieving a better quality of life for themselves.
JH: Anything I haven’t mentioned?
SMcN: None of what I have done could have been possible without the love and support of my family, blood and choosen, and my friends. Remember to not only support your local entertainers, but be kind and respectful. We are still humans under the makeup and we are still going to make mistakes and have hard days. Love one another and just be nice.
Stay up-to-date and connect with McNastie by following her on Instagram @shastamcnastie.
