The Fashionable, Fabulous Phantasm That Is the Bodacious Bosco

The glitzy world of drag has always been one I’m still trying to figure out. One side of the magenta-sparkled coin is a community of acceptance and love for one another. On the other side, it’s a glamorous competition where queens fight tooth and (acrylic) nail for the crown. No matter the lip-sync battles of accuracy or the painful routine of tucking and untucking, the performance art of divas is royal-worthy. So why not have a quick chat with some royalty? Ahead of her frightfully fantastic performance at The Haunted Dollhouse show — hosted by the always-inspiring (my girl) Ms. Meredith — I talked to Bosco, the lavish third place winner in season 10 of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, to uncover her center-stage persona.

SLUG: How did you get into drag in the first place? 

Bosco: I moved to Seattle to pursue dance in 2015. By 2016, I was backup dancing for celebrity illusionists on the weekend for some extra money. I spent about a year backup dancing, doing three shows a week — before I decided to steal all of their tricks and set out on my own as Bosco! 

SLUG: What have been the most challenging and most rewarding parts of your drag journey?

Bosco: The most challenging and rewarding part of my journey so far was separating my gender identity from my drag. For a long time I depended on my drag persona to feel any sort of gender euphoria. Fully realizing myself as a trans woman and spending the time to focus on my transition has allowed me to grow as a person and also has given me the space to grow as an artist.

SLUG: How does it feel to win third place in RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars? 

Bosco: It’s the second time I’ve managed to tie for third competing on Drag Race. I can’t say I didn’t wish to take home the crown this time around, but I do think I got what I needed from the show in the long run.

SLUG: What was the show like behind the scenes?

Bosco: The show is an incredibly challenging process that truly pushes you to your limit if you want to be considered for the crown. It’s equal parts a competition but also a television job that you have booked, and you are expected to deliver on both fronts. It’s a rewarding opportunity but definitely not for the faint of heart.

SLUG: I’ve seen you’ve been using more burlesque in your performances — what have been some of your influences there?

Bosco: I did burlesque years before I even started doing drag, so it’s always been an aspect of my on-stage persona! Bosco’s main influences are Elvira, Tongolele, Miss Piggy, Joan Rivers and strippers. 

SLUG: You’ve hosted Game of Thrones viewing parties as well as Magic: The Gathering tournaments. How has nerd culture inspired some of your performances? 

Bosco: Nerd culture doesn’t really inspire my stage performances, but it is a part of my life. I love horror, comics/anime/manga, fantasy/sci-fi, and so many other parts of what could be labeled as nerd culture. I think my hobbies bleed into my work and I love finding ways to turn my interests into income.  

SLUG: What is the drag scene in Washington like, compared to everywhere else, especially post-COVID?

Bosco: Seattle is home to some of my favorite drag! It has a DIY element to it that feels spiritually punk to me. Nightlife everywhere has suffered post-lockdowns, Seattle included. We lost a lot of our queer spaces and honestly attendance for weekly drag events is waning. As the national Overton window moves more and more to the right, we see the impact in queer nightlife.

SLUG: What was it like working as a barista in Seattle? Do you miss it? 

Bosco: Not for me. No.

SLUG: What can we expect to see at The Haunted Dollhouse in Salt Lake City this Halloween?

Bosco: I will know the majority of my words, look very nice, and wear almost no clothing.

Don’t miss out on a Halloween night of frights, fashion and fierceness at The Haunted Dollhouse at Metro Music Hall. With live music from DJ Hysteria and performances from a star-studded lineup of dolls that put the “drag” in Dragula, it’s going to be one helluva Halloween! Get your tickets today!

Read more one-on-one interview with some fabulous personalities:
What’s In My Closet? with Kamary Smith
Bold & Beautiful: M’Lady Wood