Meet Maddy Mokes | Drag Queen

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maddy Mokes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maddy, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
I have to think of the work life balance in three spheres: the day job, the pursuit of my art, and refilling my own container.

The day job is where I work in clinical research. It helps to keep the roof over my head while fulfilling my goal of helping others especially those who come from the same communities as me. I have learned to draw boundaries in how my time is used and given from this sphere.

The pursuit of my art is my driver, it almost never leaves my mind and I am constantly drawing inspiration from the things around me. It continues to grow then manifests in my performances, hosting gigs, and nights on the town as this creative entity that I’ve built up. It keeps me excited, looking towards the future, and trying to find venues to grow while also stretching the boundaries of what I think is possible in all aspects of my life.

The most important of the three is refilling my container. I cannot give to my communities or manifest my art without the proper energy. I take this time to center myself, note reminders of what is important, and allow my brain to shutoff for a moment. This is taking time with my dog, making food that’s good for my soul, and being around the loved ones who remind me of why I’m special.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art started out as a dare in college. I wasn’t comfortable with my sexuality, much less with expressing any signs of femininity, but once I hit that stage for the first time (under a different name at the time) and I heard that crowd roar I was hooked. I began to practice my makeup, dancing, and ability to walk in heels over the next year for an opportunity to perform again under a new pseudonym. After that performance, I was approached by two local queens who asked if I was interested in performing at a brunch. That launched my professional career and I began to perform in local restaurants and bars around town, I was able to meet some incredible main stays of the drag community from this experience. Later that year, I ran for Queen of Pride against two of mentors, my drag mother, and some dear friends of mine. It was not meant to be that time around, but it was a valuable learning experience about how much time and money need to be invested into this art form. I needed to have a clearer idea of who is my public persona, what makes me difference, and what is a trademark.

So I thought about what it was that I naturally excelled at: dancing and acting. I began to focus on honing my skills in those area to do things that other performers couldn’t do and incorporating them into each of my performances. So while those skills helped me to stand out, drag is not single-faceted, so I needed to also improve my fashion and makeup. For that, I turned to my peers and looked at folks who I had traits I admired to learn their techniques and tips to make my own. There was about a 4 month period of me practicing my full makeup every day until I could get it down from 3 hours of work to 45 minutes. Drag is hard work, it takes hours and hours of practice till I sometimes grow tired of the song or mix that I chose before I even perform it from listening to it over and over and over again. Even when I know I have the choreography or lyrics down, I keep practicing till it feels like second nature, because the crowd can sense if it feels easy to you and that captures their attention even more.

When the pageant came back around, I was ready this time and snatched the crown going into my senior of college. I wanted to use this title to build a bridge between younger and older members of the community, act as a beacon for young BIPOC queer folks, and begin to make connections to further build my brand. I soon was performing in even more spaces around town and established my first show, the Electric Drag Queen Carnival at a popular EDM club in town. From here, I brought performers from outside the city in and began to establish my self in the surrounding areas, but throughout the time I had a nagging feeling and doubt about whether I was beginning to stagnate as a performer. So I wanted to push my boundaries and entered more competitions, while making moves in my day job to migrate to a new city to further my art. I wanted to be challenged again and found that art evolves most when under pressure. The need to redefine and fine tune my drag when in a competition or new environment causes an incredible amount of growth.

Since moving to San Diego, I’ve really found my footing and who I am as a performer. I started asking for tip spots and have moved to being booked at least twice a week with my own show coming up soon. I’m not just a dancer or an actor, but an entertainer. Every time I walk onto the stage, I’m sharing a piece of myself with the audience and trying to make a connection. I want for whoever’s watching to become completely entranced and enamored with my performance. When you come to a Maddy Mokes performance, you will leave humming and wondering how you learned that melody so fast, if you can do those dance moves, and when is the soonest you’ll be able to be a part of the experience again.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are a few spots that are mandatory for anyone who is visiting me to experience and if I have a friend visiting for a week, then we’ll hit at least one of these spots a day and leave the rest of the itinerary open for a much needed nap. If a friend is getting in on a Monday, we’d keep it simple and hit up one of my favorite happy hours for margaritas and tacos, Los Panchos. The staff is always incredibly nice, the service is fantastic, and the food is delicious especially for those who like to ball on a budget.

Tuesday: We’d start the next day with some coffee from Coppertop down the street and have a couple of their craft donuts, I would personally recommend the Elvis. Nothing is better than local coffee and a hot, fresh donut. We’d then pack a picnic bag to head to Kate Sessions Park to lounge in the sun and enjoy the view overlooking San Diego. The day would end with a nice home cooked meal and a glass of wine in the comfort of our home.

Wednesday: Halfway through the week, we’d hit our favorite brewery in town, Juneshine. A hard kombucha not only gets a nice buzz going, but tastes delicious and can do amazing things for your gut bacteria. which you will definitely need for the weekend ahead.

Thursday: The weekend is almost here, so it’s the perfect time to head out to North Park for my hands down absolute favorite spot in time Siamo Napoli, a homey and delicious authentic Italian restaurant. Every bite taken from their food transports your mind and warms your heart. The owners can always be found checking at all the tables to see if their enjoying their meals or whipping up a signature cocktail behind the bar. Their Aperol Spritz, calamari, and gnocchi are to die for. After a couple drinks and a good meal, you can head right across the street to Coin-Op Arcade Bar and be blasted into the pass with pinball machines and some classic arcade games.

Friday: The weekend has arrived and that means bottomless mimosas and sangrias! The best priced and tasting in my opinion can be found at Huapangos Restaurant. You can close your eyes and put your finger on the menu, no matter what you will get something delicious, I would recommend their birria and lobster menus which always run out! Afterwards, we’ll need to start making stops at all of the Hillcrest staples, my home bar Number One on Fifth, a couple drinks over at the Rail, and be sure to hit Mo’s at 5PM, it’ll make you feel right at home. The night can’t end without some dancing so head on over to Rich’s where you can also catch an amazing drag show hosted by some of the best performers in town!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been built up and am still supported by so many people. Thank you to my family for making sure that I’ve had the values of kindness and hard work instilled in me. Thank you to my mentors & my drag mother for showing me how bring my inner star out when the lights come on. Thank you to my partner for loving me in ways that I didn’t know I needed. Last, but certainly not least, thank you to my chosen family for showing me that being your truest self will bring endless support and love from the right people.

Website: linktr.ee/maddymokes

Instagram: @maddymokes

Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/people/Maddy-Mokes/100012539375205

Image Credits
Joey Guzzino Willa Kveta Austin Bernales