Kelly Lauren was doing drag before she even knew what it was, what it meant, what it involved. She dressed up and performed the entire record, side A and side B, of Funny Girl in the family's living room for her mother when she was about 7.
"I was meant to do this," said Lauren, who was first paid to perform at age 16.
"I was sneaking into bars before I was legally old enough to be in them. Sure, I snuck in to see what the lifestyle was like, but what I really wanted to see was, the drag shows."
Lauren moved to Chicago in 1985 and was hired as a cast member at the Baton Show Lounge, where she worked for about five years.
Lauren is now celebrating 30 years entertaining locally.
"Over the years, the audiences have definitely changed. I don't think a lot of people appreciate the art form the way they should," said Lauren, who noted that it is "harder to keep the attention of the audience nowadays because they drink a lot and because they are so over-stimulated."
Lauren said the local drag scene has been impacted by the limited number of venues for newcomers. "It's very difficult for the new girls to break in and there's a real shortage of new, fresh talent," she said.
Lauren has no issues with the word, drag—and is quick to offer its definition: DRess As Girl. "A drag queen is a boy who gets all done up, puts on hip pads and a wig, but then can take it all off and look like a boy. But that's not so for me," she said.
Nor is the word "tranny "an issue, or offensive, to Lauren.
"[That] word was not intended to be insulting; it was an abbreviation, or a nickname; that's how it started," she said. "The reason [why] people are so offended by it is because I think people just looking for something to be pissed off about, but there are bigger problems.
"I'm a tranny, and proud of it."
She's an award-winning one, no less. Lauren claimed the 1988 Miss Continental title, a Chicago-based national pageant which she said was a career highlight.
Lauren is one of Chicago's older performers—and proud of that, too.
"I'm still kicking ass and taking names," she said boldly. "I'm proud of my age and proud that I'm still around."
Age: 54
Neighborhood: "Boystown, of course … if there was a TrannyTown, I'd live there."
Orientation: "Bisexual … I like men and boys."
Relationship status: Single
Identity: Transgender
Job title: Entertainer
Favorite movie: A Streetcar Named Desire
Standing gig: Hydrate Nightclub on Wednesday nights, #Face
Favorite TV show: Grace and Frankie
Favorite drink: "Water … I'm clean and sober for 20 years."
Most promising Chicago entertainer: "My drag daughter, Khloe … if I don't kill her."
Little-known fact: "I eat babies."
