Octavia Anyae

The Reigning Queen of Manhattan’s Monster Bar

Octavia has been the reigning Miss Monster since 2019. After being crowned, along came Covid and the world shut down. Finally, she will be relinquishing her title and passing it along to a new queen, which will be a bittersweet night for Octavia, although she’s been helping the roundup of the 15 contestants who will compete.

Octavia is, however, the new reigning queen of Mondo USA. She will continue to perform and you can see her talent on March 27th during the Miss Monster competition. Get Out spoke to Octavia regarding her future plans and her current escapades in NYC & NJ. 

INTERVIEW

Hello, Octavia. Tell me a little bit about what you will do when they have the next Miss Monster? Will you be performing?

Yes.

What was it like for you to be the queen of the Monster?

It’s been a long time. I was crowned December 27, 2019. Then the pandemic hit and they haven’t had it again until this year. They started talking about it last year, planning it. And this year, they are having it. I have been very hands-on between planning it and getting contestants. There are 15 contestants battling for the title of Miss Monster. It has been bittersweet.

Yeah, you must be sad to be giving it up after all this time.

It’s time for another queen to come in and show what they can do. What they can bring to the table.

Do you plan to compete for any other titles?

Right now, no. I just competed for Miss Mondo USA and I am the current queen for that. I’ll take it easy and do that reign. I did compete for Miss Continental, but unfortunately I didn’t win that one. It was something I really wanted, but things happen. I’ll go back some other time and compete for that one again.

Do you go to Fire Island?

I have been to Fire Island a total of three times, actually.

That’s it?

Yeah, that’s kind of far out for me.

I have never stayed overnight there, so maybe this summer I’ll try to experience that. 

So now, where exactly do you work and what shows do you have to promote?

My primary shows right now are Thursday nights at the Ritz Bar. I am at the Monster on Saturday nights. And basically, wherever reaches out to book me. I have a monthly gig at Club Feathers in New Jersey. I also have a once a month spot at Mandalas in New Jersey. I’ve been getting bookings at clubs like Six26 and Paradise in New Jersey. 

What made you decide to do drag?

When I was younger, I was always in performing arts classes and gymnastics and dance classes. So I decided to let me apply that. I was in dance class and my first drag mother came in–she was half done, she had two braids and half her makeup was done. And I asked her where she was going. This was back when the club was 18 to party and 21 to drink. I was excited to go. I was 18, and I was able to. So that was my first drag show at the Coliseum, which is no longer open. They had a competition there and the next week I decided to go and I won my first competition. I was so intrigued and I thought, “I could do this”. That was in 2005. That’s how I got started.

How did you get your name?

She actually gave me my first drag name. It was actually Octavia Anyae DuMure, but when we went our separate ways, I dropped the DuMure and kept Octavia. The Anyae stands for advancing the youth and evolving.

So you pretty much do some other stuff besides performing for the community?

I pretty much do whatever I can to help out whenever I can.

Where would you like to be in five years?

Really, all the goals I’ve set for myself, I have accomplished and achieved. I need to revisit my goals, but in five years, I’ll find myself possibly hopefully being married with my partner. We’ve been together for three years now. I just want to be happy and I want to make sure that everyone else around me is happy as well.

Do you have any advice for somebody else who would like to get into drag?

Yes, surround yourself with positive people that are doing positive things. Do your research on how drag was versus how drag is now. It’s okay to be yourself, but tweak it a little bit and try to be as polished as possible.

What advice would you have given baby Octavia, knowing what you know now?

Everybody is not your friend. I have a motto that says, “Greatness will not come to those who wait, but to those who actually seek it”. Listen to your heart. I always tell myself that because of the fear of failing. I don’t like to fail. I do a lot of my own stuff. My costumes, my wigs and that all came from people telling me “No”. So I can do it for myself. It may not be perfect, but it’s good for me.

Thursdays – The Ritz, Hell’s Kitchen

Saturdays – The Monster,  West Village 

Club Feathers, River Edge, NJ 

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