Sat in his home in London surrounded by brightly coloured wigs and costumes, Ash Kenazi discusses his life as a performer.
“I needed something to regenerate myself, it’s like a Doctor Who moment. I needed to come back as something different. I’d spent a long time just sitting within my own thoughts and drag was a way to break those open and remind myself why I’m living”, Ash began.
Ash’s wardrobe full of his brightly coloured costumes. Credit: Elena Guthrie for City News.
“If my childhood was standing on the table performing at every opportunity, then drag is a way to remind myself that’s my essence. Everyone has their individual essence and as a child you are able to explore that.”
Describing life before he started drag, Ash said, “it was a dark place. I would use whatever activity around me to distract myself. That was often academic work, so I would really focus hard on exams and getting that university degree, but it was mired with absolute emotional distraught.
“It would be this bizarre sequence of events where I would totally feel destroyed and then a week later would pretend it never happened.
“That was very difficult for the people and friends around me because they couldn’t make sense of this one person who was literally banging his head against a wall and then a week later, that person forgetting that that had happened.”
The origin of Ash Kenazi
Describing where his name came from, Ash said, “the word comes from a sect of Jewish people from the Polish and Russian European regions.”
Ash discussed the importance of his Jewish identity. Credit: Elena Guthrie for City News.
Ash continued by explaining the three sects of Jewish people, including the Ashkenazis.
“I think it’s become increasingly important for me to establish at the first point my Jewish identity.”
Ash has a range of different looks when he performs. He explains, “I think the look, for me, is usually based around what the performance is. I want it to be a whole production every time, that would be the goal for me.”
Unlike other drag artists, Ash decides to keep his facial hair.
“It’s important for me to stand out in whatever way. So, having the facial hair is just one way to just stand out.”
He laughed, “I love the fact that I can walk down the street in full drag and you watch a straight man come from the other side. They’re intrigued and then ‘oh, she’s got a beard, OK no.'”
Growing up
Ash grew up in a non-feminine household and describes his mum as being a “tomboy”.
“I didn’t really experience femininity in a big way until I left school.” he said.
“Despite that, I was always the one that was dressing up as a woman in the school plays or if there was a woman role, it was always given to me.
“So, it’s interesting to me that when I was young, I was that person and I got lost from that and then I’ve come fully back around to it.”
Ash did not experience femininity until he left school. Credit: Elena Guthrie for City News.
If he knew then…
But, if he knew then what he knew now, Ash says, “I think I would’ve gone to a mixed school, not a boys only school. That was a struggle because as a gay person, I rely on so many women to uplift me.
“I would’ve come out earlier if I had had more female friends in my life because they would’ve said “that’s OK””.
He added that he also would not try and have lots of friends and would instead be able to “exist in your own sphere”.
“I think trying to appease others leads you down very strange paths.
“I think I would’ve taken a lot more time for myself and I would’ve seen a therapist many moons ago and not waited so long”, he added.
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HeadlineDrag Queen Ash Kenazi: “I needed something to regenerate myself”
Short HeadlineDrag Queen Ash Kenazi on growing up and performing
Standfirst"If my childhood was standing on the table performing at every opportunity, then drag is a way to remind myself that's my essence."
Sat in his home in London surrounded by brightly coloured wigs and costumes, Ash Kenazi discusses his life as a performer.
“I needed something to regenerate myself, it’s like a Doctor Who moment. I needed to come back as something different. I’d spent a long time just sitting within my own thoughts and drag was a way to break those open and remind myself why I’m living”, Ash began.
Ash’s wardrobe full of his brightly coloured costumes. Credit: Elena Guthrie for City News.
“If my childhood was standing on the table performing at every opportunity, then drag is a way to remind myself that’s my essence. Everyone has their individual essence and as a child you are able to explore that.”
Describing life before he started drag, Ash said, “it was a dark place. I would use whatever activity around me to distract myself. That was often academic work, so I would really focus hard on exams and getting that university degree, but it was mired with absolute emotional distraught.
“It would be this bizarre sequence of events where I would totally feel destroyed and then a week later would pretend it never happened.
“That was very difficult for the people and friends around me because they couldn’t make sense of this one person who was literally banging his head against a wall and then a week later, that person forgetting that that had happened.”
The origin of Ash Kenazi
Describing where his name came from, Ash said, “the word comes from a sect of Jewish people from the Polish and Russian European regions.”
Ash discussed the importance of his Jewish identity. Credit: Elena Guthrie for City News.
Ash continued by explaining the three sects of Jewish people, including the Ashkenazis.
“I think it’s become increasingly important for me to establish at the first point my Jewish identity.”
Ash has a range of different looks when he performs. He explains, “I think the look, for me, is usually based around what the performance is. I want it to be a whole production every time, that would be the goal for me.”
Unlike other drag artists, Ash decides to keep his facial hair.
“It’s important for me to stand out in whatever way. So, having the facial hair is just one way to just stand out.”
He laughed, “I love the fact that I can walk down the street in full drag and you watch a straight man come from the other side. They’re intrigued and then ‘oh, she’s got a beard, OK no.'”
Growing up
Ash grew up in a non-feminine household and describes his mum as being a “tomboy”.
“I didn’t really experience femininity in a big way until I left school.” he said.
“Despite that, I was always the one that was dressing up as a woman in the school plays or if there was a woman role, it was always given to me.
“So, it’s interesting to me that when I was young, I was that person and I got lost from that and then I’ve come fully back around to it.”
Ash did not experience femininity until he left school. Credit: Elena Guthrie for City News.
If he knew then…
But, if he knew then what he knew now, Ash says, “I think I would’ve gone to a mixed school, not a boys only school. That was a struggle because as a gay person, I rely on so many women to uplift me.
“I would’ve come out earlier if I had had more female friends in my life because they would’ve said “that’s OK””.
He added that he also would not try and have lots of friends and would instead be able to “exist in your own sphere”.
“I think trying to appease others leads you down very strange paths.
“I think I would’ve taken a lot more time for myself and I would’ve seen a therapist many moons ago and not waited so long”, he added.
