By Denny Patterson
Originally from Fort Piece, but currently living in West Palm Beach, Velvet Lenore is an award-winning female impersonator and drag queen who has been performing in South Florida for over 20 years. Earning an impressive amount of awards and titles including Classic Miss Fort Lauderdale in 2015 and Miss Palm Beach Pride in 2016, Lenore knows what it takes for all eyes to be on her.
In addition to drag and entertainment, Lenore is considered a mother figure to many. Building her platform around family, she works at several organizations like Compass Center in Lake Worth to help LGBTQA+ youth in need and is constantly raising money for charities and benefits. Lenore prides herself in being there to help and make a difference.
OutClique had the opportunity to catch up with Lenore and ask her a few questions.
Denny Patterson: Can you begin by telling us more about Velvet Lenore?
Velvet Lenore: Personally, I just love to entertain people, and I based Velvet Lenore on family, for anybody that does not have a family or needs a family. Family is not who you are born into, it is who you surround yourself with. Anybody that comes under my name, which I have 76 kids that I have been mentoring for a very long time, it is many hearts in one family. I just love entertaining people and I always try to go out into the community, make people smile, and support other organizations and girls. I am always down to do a benefit and help out with anything I can. That is simply who I am. I am trying to make a difference.
DP: You have been performing drag for over 20 years. How did this journey begin?
VL: September 2021 marked 27 years since I started doing drag, and I have been performing since I was three years old. I started out as a dancer and model when I was kid, then I got into band, cross country, and other high school stuff. I continued to dance, then started doing drag. I went to a club in West Palm Beach called Heartbreakers, and that is where I met my drag mother. She kept telling me, you’re pretty. You should do drag. I’m like, I’m not doing drag. Now look at me 27 years later [laughs].
DP: We can primarily see you perform at Lips in Fort Lauderdale?
VL: Yes, but I also have my own show every Friday at The PUB Wilton Manors, I perform once a month at Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar, twice a month at The Manor for Noche Latina because I am the reigning Miss Noche Latina, and I perform at the gay skate every first Wednesday of the month.
DP: There are hundreds of South Florida drag queens and female impersonators. What makes Velvet Lenore unique and stand out from the crowd?
VL: Number one, I am always on time. If you hire me, you will never have to worry about me not being there. What makes me unique is I always try to rebrand myself and come up with something new that people do not expect from me.
DP: You recently won the Miss Florida F.I. at Large Pageant. How does it feel to receive this national title?
VL: I feel overjoyed with love and support. I have been fighting for this for a long time, and when they announced my name as the winner, it was a dream come true. I just cried, and to see so many people and clubs there supporting me blew my mind. It is such a blessing.
DP: What do you personally enjoy the most about performing in drag?
VL: Watching people smile. You never know what people might be going through that day. They come out and want to see some good entertainment. If I can make one person smile, I feel like I did my job as an entertainer. It makes me so happy.
DP: What is the best advice you have received from a fellow drag queen?
VL: Always be humble and always be professional about everything you do.
DP: As a local celebrity, you have received multiple awards and titles. Do you have any interest in auditioning, or have you auditioned, for any reality competition shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race or America’s Got Talent?
VL: No, because I am not interested in it. I feel like what I am doing here is a bit more important than me trying to be that person. When I was younger, I was on Kids Incorporated. I did grow up dancing in Disney and all that stuff, but I feel like I am where I need to be right now. Helping these young kids that I work with and make a difference in their lives. That is a little bit more important to me. I do my best to reach out to other kids, and I have a lot of parents who have reached out to me through social media asking questions about how to help their kids. That is why I am known as ‘The Other Mother of South Florida.’ I also got an award from the Mayor of West Palm Beach and Compass, the community center here, the Marsha P. Johnson Award as the Mother of South Florida. They gave me an award two years ago.
DP: Why are you so passionate about helping LGBTQA+ youth?
VL: Because of the way I grew up. I grew up rough and people did not understand who I was, so I acted out a lot. I had to find myself. I had to find my own way. I had to find my own road of where I needed to take my life, and I do not want that for anybody else. I want to be there to say, ‘Hey, I am here to help. Let’s make a difference.’ So many kids that I knew growing up went down those bad roads, and they are not with us anymore because of drugs. Fortunately, God kept me strong enough that I never got hooked on drugs. I never did anything like that. I trained myself on how I wish I would have been taken care of by people. Nobody understood anything back then. Today, the doors are so open, there is no reason for anybody to feel left out. My husband of 14-15 years now is the most understanding person ever. He lets me do what I need to do, and he just stands by me. It is so important to have a team of people behind you that support what you are trying to do.
DP: How would you say the South Florida drag scene has evolved since you began drag?
VL: Oh my God. Drag is coming from everywhere these days. When I was growing up, I didn’t even know what drag was until I finally got to go to a club. I did not know what trans was, I did not know what drag was, but today, there is a drag bar every corner you turn. I love that because it’s letting people know that we are here to entertain you and make a difference. I always say, coming to my shows is like going to Disney. I just want you to leave happy and smiling.
DP: You also live life as a trans woman, and there has been some controversy when it comes to trans people performing in drag. Have you faced any challenges or backlash about this?
VL: No. When I am at home, I am a lady. I do that even when I am in the community, but when I do shows, I get in drag. I am not going out there with light makeup on and stuff like that. I am going to give you some drag. I feel like I am no different than Tyler Perry movies or Janet Jackson when she is acting and singing. It is the same thing. When she’s on stage, she is one person. When she’s off, she’s another. I feel when people judge that, they are wrong because entertainment is entertainment.
DP: What are some of your interests outside of drag and performing?
VL: Cooking. I love to cook! I am known for my macaroni and cheese, chili spaghetti, stuff like that. When people find out I am cooking for an event or benefit, they are like, we’re coming! I also love doing things with my husband around the house, traveling with him, but I think my biggest thing to do is ride roller coasters. I love roller coasters.
DP: What more do you hope to accomplish with your platform?
VL: Make a change for the trans kids, especially the Black trans kids so they do not have to feel so unsafe in the community, or anywhere. It is so rough with the trans community right now, and if I can find a way to make a difference, that is what I really want to achieve. Not only that, but for the past 15 years, I have wanted to be Miss Florida. Hopefully, when I compete in October, I will win, and I will finally be able to close that door. That goal will be met, but I will never stop fighting for the trans kids. That is something I don’t think we have enough people fighting for. I will continue to fight to my last breath.
DP: What does the rest of 2021 look like for you?
VL: Busy, busy, busy! I am blessed to say that I am working in Naples, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and I am getting ready to go perform on a cruise. God has really opened doors for me, and I appreciate that. Every time I step out that door, I try to make a difference in somebody’s life. My philosophy is: it’s not what we go through, it’s how we come out of it that makes the difference in our lives.
