WHO IS CHIC FILET?
Chic Filet is a soulful, vivacious and seductive Queen, honey! Her inspiration comes from the god-fearing, hat-wearing, gossip-loving women of the Southern Baptist Church, and is a genuine lover of all people. While she is a constant bubbly and positive light, she carries with her a mysterious intangible quality of constant heartbreak, chronic loneliness or an insatiable need for love and acceptance. Over all, Chic Filet is both a celebration and a mockery of beauty and glamour. She is a physical representation of the power of makeup and the illusions of fashion. She is prancing politics and walking art... she is the farcical embodiment of the extremities of the beauty industry.
HOW DID CHIC FILET GET STARTED?
I started performing as Chic in my final semester at The Theatre School at DePaul University in 2011. Throughout school I had a hard time choosing a concentration because I had a genuine passion for all the elements of the theatre. I wanted to be an actor, designer and director. I chose to major in general Theatre Arts so that I could get a solid education in all of my interests. By the end of my time in school, I had a mental breakdown; I didn't know how I could continue practicing all of the things I loved! My graduating class produced a drag show... I signed up because it sounded fun! What I soon realized is that drag was exactly the outlet I was looking for. It not only gave me the opportunity to perform and direct but also design costumes, hair, makeup, lights and scenery. As a perk, I finally came to love and accept my very curvy and feminine body. I spent too many years embarrassed by my shape, and Chic Filet made it possible to wear clothes designed to flatter and flaunt it!
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR CRAZIEST EXPERIENCE AS CHIC FILET?
Craziest moment was when I thought it would be a good idea to use weave glue to attach candy and toys to my beard once. I had nasty black gooey spots all over my face for a week. Another crazy moment was when a husband and wife offered me $500 to come home with them but I had to say no because I had a flight in the morning. You know how many chicken nuggets that could buy?? Lord!
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM A CHIC FILET PERFORMANCE?
Her performances are short plays that (hopefully) leave her audience with some kind of cathartic response. Using sound samples from historical speeches, famous Hollywood monologues, and songs from divas of every decade, this queen puts on a show that always leaves her audience hungry for more. Often with a political undertone, Chic manipulates the use of sound, color and texture to provide an aesthetically articulate glimpse into a heightened reality. You can always expect some sort of spectacular design element and some kind of shift in status quo from start to finish.
WHO DO YOU ADMIRE OR WHO INSPIRES YOU /CHIC?
My mom was a rockabilly singer while I was growing up, always wearing wigs and rhinestoned suits. She is the funniest person I know, and is a major inspiration. Pat McGrath is a major makeup inspiration, as is Mathu Anderson. I've always been obsessed with Tammy Faye Baker, Jan Crouch, Carol Burnett, Bette Middler and Julie Andrews. Mostly inspired by characters on CTA though, to be honest.