Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellery Mitchell.
Ellery, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Two years ago, I found myself homeless and jobless, after having been working in retail for ten years, staying at the LGBT youth center, fully nosediving into depression. To keep myself and my brain busy, I started helping one not the workers with organizing the clothing closet. It was there that I found some amazing drag pieces. I started collecting some of them and eventually gathered enough courage to get some makeup and debut as Nubia Èman.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting Drag is never a smooth road. You have to learn all kinds of different skills that they don’t teach you in school. But it’s even harder for most people of color because most makeup companies aren’t geared towards us. For the first maybe year of my drag career, I looked like I was painting with what my friends and I called “Cremation #5” I definitely went from brown-skinned girl to redbone with the makeup I knew to find. It wasn’t until I met Calypso Jete that I found makeup in my actual skin color and tools to make bright colors like eyeshadows show up more vibrantly.
Nubia Èman VonBoom – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I like to call myself a Jacqueline of all trades type queen. I can sing, dance, do stunts, give drama, give comedy, etc. I like to try new things especially things that aren’t typically considered in Nubia’s wheelhouse. I’d say I’m most known for my mouth tho. No, not like THAT lol. I’m very vocal about issues that affect the communities I’m apart of And communities I’ve allied myself with. And I’m not afraid to piss people off if it gets the topic discussed. A lot of people sweep shit under the rug if it doesn’t affect them. I don’t allow that and call out Bull when I see it.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
I think one of the proudest moments for me so far is a double: When I hit my first year as a drag performer, I got to perform in Pinche Queen’s Christmas benefit which was donating to the same shelter where Nubia Èman was born. And shortly after that, the first queen to award me a win as Nubia Èman, the fabulous Miss Valerie VonBoom, adopted me as her daughter, making the powerhouse known as Nubia Èman VonBoom come to life.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Nubiaemanvonboom
- Facebook: Nubia È VonBoom
Image Credit:
@bazhere, David Laffe
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