Whereas finding out at college in New Brunswick, Denim started pursuing drag extra severely. “I used to be actually simply doing drag in my bed room, as a result of there was no queer scene. I used to be pulling appears to be like [and] posting them on Instagram.” Finally, that non-public self-expression was Denim doing dwell performances, and the conclusion that drag could possibly be a full-on profession. “The primary time I carried out on a stage was at a university celebration in somebody’s basement,” Denim says. “I carried out ‘Goodbye Earl’ by The Chicks. I used to be carrying a denim thong, so I stated, ‘My identify is Denim Pussy!’ The identify Denim caught.”

On this season of Canada’s Drag Race, that preliminary sense of flamboyancy and enjoyable was nonetheless very a lot alive and properly. It doesn’t matter what the problem was, Denim introduced a way of favor and humor to the display. “My drag is managed chaos,” she says. “It’s camp, it’s avant-garde.” Equally as necessary all through the season, says Denim, was discovering appears to be like that additionally felt true to her trans identification. “As a trans man doing drag, I’m at all times looking for methods of accentuating the options that make me really feel snug in my physique. I like taking part in with delicate options in opposition to actually harsh, masculine options—like having my flat, bushy chest out whereas having an excellent glam painted face.”