Jaren Kyei Merrell admitted that his alter ego, Shea Coulee, is "equal parts bougie and banjee. … She's classy, but a little trashy; she's broke with expensive taste."
Coulee has been entertaining locally for the past three years.
"Shea is the homegirl next door that you can trust endlessly, [yet] you wouldn't want to cross her because you know she'd cut you," Merrell said.
Coulee has a stack of local gigs. For instance, she hosts and books a weekly show every Wednesday at Hydrate Nightclub called #FACE. She also is a Saturday night regular at the Original Mother's Bar, performing in a show called The Naughty Little Cabaret.
Plus, Coulee is a co-host on a weekly podcast called The Tony Soto Show, which is available on both iTunes and Soundcloud. And she is a recurring host and performer at "Neverland," bimonthly thematic circuit parties in Chicago. "When I'm not working on those projects, you can find me performing at Berlin Nightclub or at 'Trannika's Most Wanted,' a monthly show at Scarlet," Merrell said.
Merrell added that he loves being Coulee for the "self-expression, and drag is one of the most opulent forms," he said. "I enjoy being able to use my imagination to create a character and image that's such a grand departure from my every day self."
Merrell said the free drinks while performing are a bonus, but Coulee's clothing and props have inundated his small apartment.
Merrell also works part-time as a sales associate and customer service representative for an adult toy store, Tulip. "I enjoy talking candidly about sex, and this position is an opportunity for me to do that and help people with their own sexual health," he said.
"My long-term professional goal is to have as much, if not more, commercial success [than] RuPaul," Merrell said. "Personally, I just want to be happy. It sounds vague, but I try not to overly plan my personal life. I prefer to go with the flow and allow the universe to guide me to the best path for success and happiness."
THE STATS
Stage name: Shea Coulee
Name game: "My middle name Kyei is pronounced SH-AY, [which] is Swahili for "beautiful boy" and the last name Coulee sounds like a French desert and rhymes with the first name. Shea Coulee is definitely a tasty treat that melts in your mouth."
Age: "A lady never reveals her age."
Neighborhood: Andersonville
Job title: CEO, Chez Coulee Enterprises
Hobbies: "Eating and shopping are my stress-relievers. I make a lot of my costumes, so when I'm not performing, I spend a lot of time brainstorming and building new costumes."
Little-known fact: "I'm the youngest of five, and have 10 nieces and nephews."
