NYC’S COMEDY DIVA DARLING IS COMING OF AGE AND BUSIER THAN EVER
By Jim Silvestri of Thotyssey.com
Q: Chaka, happy birthday and anniversary! Are you taking this double milestone joyfully in stride, or is it pure trauma, lol?
I am full of joy…mostly. All of my idols hit their stride in their 40’s, so she feels confident! Madonna, Cher, Tina, Kylie and now CHAKA!
Although I have been doing drag for 20 years, it feels so new. How is my old ass still learning new techniques in the art form? I think a touch of wonderment for what I get to do makes it a little magic every time I slap a wig on!
Q: You look great! You’ve been on quite a health journey. How and when did this begin?
I got sober. That first year, I ate all the pain, anxiety and fear. Fortunately, I didn’t use! I had actually been prescribed a glp-1 a year before, but I just wasn’t ready.
So, for the last two years, I’ve been working hard at it. I slip up all the time with food and exercise. I gave myself some grace. That was the most important thing to learn. Once I stopped judging myself and just celebrated the little wins, the weight melted off! To date, I have lost 115lbs. That’s a whole ass twink!
Q: Can you tell us a bit of your origin story: where are you from, and how did drag start for you?
I did drag for charity at my hometown college, Towson University in Baltimore, Maryland. Yes, I went to college…rude! The sound went out at the show and while they were fixing it, I screamed jokes from the stage. I never felt more like my true self than that moment! She was born.
I had no background in theatre, no aspirations of the stage until that day. Now I can’t imagine living any other way.
U can say I’m woo woo, but something divine happened when that speaker blew…I was born.
‘Q: You have tons of lip sync numbers in your repertoire, but I think most folks know you as a comedic host. Are comedy and crowd work your favorite types of performing?
My crowd work isn’t “Where are u from?”
I have fallen in love with connecting to my audience through making fun of the struggles we all face. Ya, I’m a man in a wig, which is a very different occupation than most, but I still ride the subway just like everyone else and see the shenanigans we all put up with to live in NYC. When we can all laugh together, life feels lighter…or at least bearable! My biggest laughs come from connection and a sense of belonging. And I love a good poop joke/story…we can all relate!
Q: What have been your best, worst and strangest drag moments?
The wildest moment in drag ever is when I fell off stage, fractured my wrist and continued performing “And I Am Telling You”, then went to the ER!
Your readers will have to come to a show to hear the more titillating tales, of which she has many!
Q: You appeared in the indie film “Mister Sister” back in 2021, and have had a few acting credits since. What’s been your favorite screen acting experience so far? Anything else coming up?
Mister Sister changed my life. I had no idea that acting was in my repertoire until I did it. Then, just like drag, I fell in love. The director, Mars Roberge, saw something in me I didn’t know was there!
I have a cameo in the movie Rufus alongside Michael Musto showing all over the country at festivals this year!
I’m always toying with the idea of starting a Justforfans…what do u think?!
Q: These days, people can find you hosting bingo late afternoons at Pieces, then at The Duplex every Sunday night for your show “Confessions of a Khanvict “ and on Thursdays, hosting karaoke! You’re also frequently part of the weekend Lucky Cheng’s brunch shows at Yotel’s Green Fig. What should folks know about what they’re in for at all of these shows, as far as the Chaka Experience goes?
I am also at Lips every Wednesday. Believe it or not, I pride myself on having wildly different personas at each show. My cabaret is sultry and moody. Bingo and karaoke. I’m a fun, messy Aunt u know u shouldn’t invite to Thanksgiving, but she brings the crazy!
Ensemble shows are much more planned and choreographed…dare I say, even professional! I keep the children in line! So, even though I am always Chaka Khanvict, at every venue I provide VIBERSITY (trademark pending)
Q: What else is coming up for you?
Let’s go to the universe for that one:
I wanna do neon paint parties in HK, let’s get weird!
I wanna do an Atlantis Cruise with my two new shows. “How to Find a Sugar Daddy!” and “How to Keep A Sugar Baby!”
I wanna host live movie screenings of ‘90s cult films, I wanna continue on this path of performing every day for people that just need a moment of escape. I do too!
Q: Finally: what’s the best advice you can give a new queen on the scene?
Ask yourself why. Why am I doing this? No matter the answer, just knowing why will help you present your truth to the world! And also, I love you, keep going! There’s room for all of us in this business, especially now that I’m down a few pounds.
MODELS: Jason Luna and Jaimar Brown
