Alexis Bevels is a queen with her own unique fabulosity. In addition to her own looks, she has also performed as Bella Swan from Twilight, Cordelia Chase from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and even a character from A Goofy Movie. As a passionate Potterhead (which Urban Dictionary defines as "Amazingly cool people who are obsessed with Harry Potter"), she'll be performing as not one but two characters from J.K. Rowling's magical world at the next All Geeks party. All Geeks is an all-inclusive cosplay party that combines variety shows with photos, costume contests, prizes and dancing. Every month, the variety show features drag, burlesque and other acts, all dressed in character to bring a theme to life. This month's theme: Harry Potter!
Aria Baci: Who or what first motivated you to perform drag? Or maybe I should ask: when did your owl come, and from which school?
Alexis Bevels: I received my owl in the winter of 2012. I had just become obsessed with RuPaul's Drag Race and devoured all the episodes that were out. I had been to the drag race at Roscoe's and the (w)heels were starting to turn. But it was at Spin nightclub when I decided. I was there for a benefit for Mercedes Tyler and there was a raffle. I never win anything, but this night I won a gift bag of Christian Dior make-up and I took it as a sign from the fashion and drag gods that I was meant to be a drag queen.
Are you a part of a drag house or family?
I did find a group of girls after I started doing drag, but we weren't a house per se, we were more like a shack. (Laughs) We were the blind leading the blind, but I think everyone starts out that way. We had the name Drag Mafia. We would get ready together, and travel together, and kiki. We have since disbanded, but we are still good friends. Nowadays it's YouTube and fashion magazines and my girl Dixie Lynn Cartwright.
What house would you have been sorted into at Hogwarts?
Gryffindor, hands down. I feel like the houses are kind of like the Sex and the City girls. The other three girls have very individualistic traits, whereas Carrie represents all of them. I think Gryffindor is the same way. Harry chose where he wanted to be and didn't let a hat decide for him. I like to think I follow that same way of living.
You can't let the clothes wear you! And you are also a singing queen, are you not? Have you been singing all your life or has it developed as a result of your drag performance?
I've always been a singer. I grew up in choirs and doing musicals. Road trips were always fun for my family because I had to sing every single Disney song I knew, in show order. I just love being on stage and performing. There is absolutely nothing like it. It's the best high there is, but it's also terrifying, and extremely rewarding.
Alexis Bevels by Sam Probst
At the All Geeks Harry Potter party at Berlin, you'll be performing as two different characters, from two different houses. A certain "most talented witch of her age..."
Yeah! Hermione is a no-brainer. I really identify with how logical she is—and also her bushy hair.
And speaking of hair, you're also performing as the deranged Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange?
I am! I'm so excited about that too, because Alexis Bevels is this very sweet, quirky chorine who doesn't really ever let out her dark side, so I'm looking forward to be able to access that bad-witch part of myself.
Are you planning to use the Cruciatus Curse on the audience during that performance?
I don't think I'll need to. The All Geeks audiences are so incredibly supportive. They make it one of my favorite shows to perform at. Now if there happen to be any rowdy bachelorette parties, I may have to rethink my position on that. (Winks)
There are actually three curses in Harry Potter that are classified as Unforgivable. Is there any one thing that's unforgivable for a drag queen?
Kitten heels. They are the Professor Umbridge of shoes.
Can we talk make-up for a minute? LA Splash Cosmetics recently released an assortment of liquid lipsticks as a part of their Smitten collection, with names that are direct references to Harry Potter. Have you tried any of those yet?
I haven't gotten to try them yet, but I am absolutely getting every color. ACCIO LIPSTICKS!
(Laughs) If you could place an Undetectable Extension Charm on your favorite handbag, what might you carry in there?
My drag bag, iPhone charger, my tap shoes, wand, several changes of clothes, and my Razor scooter.
Professor Dumbledore once said that "in dreams we enter a world that is entirely our own." Do you go into a place that's all your own when you're on stage?
Yes and no. Because I'm a theatre geek, I'm always wanting to tell a story, but you have to be careful with that because audience interaction is a huge part of drag performance, so I've been working on being present and staying in the moment. It's been so interesting discovering the subtle differences between theatre and drag performance. I love that fourth wall and I never used to look in the audience but in drag you need to. They are there with you and if you don't connect with them they fall asleep. Also, if I'm too in my head I tend to fall off stage a lot, so there's that.
What inspires you?
Fantasy literature (obvs). Fashion magazines. I love looking at the couture shows because I feel like that's what wizards and witches are wearing to Yule Balls and Quidditch World Cup after-parties. I'm also really inspired by Disney movies and Dance films. Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Center Stage are some of my all-time favorite movies and serve as a personal reminder to me to have the nerve to go after what you want, even if you have bad feet or bushy hair.
"Anything's possible if you've got enough nerve." And with that in mind, what is your patronus?
A peacock... Or Mary-Kate Olsen.
