Denali Foxx

Drag artist Denali Foxx is cruising down Lake Michigan this fall on the Spirit of Chicago. On October 18 Divas After Dark sets out for an eventful voyage right on the water. There’s a cash bar for cocktails, a buffet stocked with late-night bites and multiple drag performances to entertain party people over the course of two hours. Ticket holders will come out for a good cause as 10 percent of proceeds will be benefit Center on Halsted, the LGBTQ+ community center located in Lakeview.

Foxx is a double gold medalist in United States figure skating and has performed around the globe. This out-and-proud performer is multitalented including being a third-degree black belt.

After competing on the thirteenth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Denali’s career took off and has led headlining events such as Divas After Dark.

Foxx talked to GoPride before the upcoming appearance recently.

JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hi, there. Are you stationed in the Windy City these days?

DF: (Denali Foxx) Yes, Chicago is my hometown and where I started drag.

JN: Where were you born?

DF: I was born in Galveston, Texas, but I was raised in Fairbanks, Alaska. I have had quite a few lives and eventually ended up in Chicago.

JN: Your background is fascinating. Being both Jewish and Mexican is a whole story right there.

DF: Exactly. My parents fell in love then relocated to Alaska and decided to do as much off the grid as possible.

JN: I read you went to school in Utah, so then there were Mormons everywhere.

DF: Yeah, that was an interesting choice. I was a teenager at the time and trained in competitive figure skating. The main goal was to have access to Olympic-level ice rinks and coaching. Salt Lake City was one of those places so I went there for the skating.

JN: You studied language so were you curious about other languages?

DF: Yes, I was interested when I was younger so I studied Korean and Spanish literature among other things. I wanted to come out of college with a skill. Can I still speak those languages? Maybe not, but I had a great time learning them!

JN: When did you start skating?

DF: I started when I was five years old. In Alaska, there’s not a lot to do other than cross-country skiing, ice skating or partying. I decided to do the most feminine one, which was skating. [laughs]

JN: Have you had a million injuries over the years?

DF: Not too many. I was more of a cautious skater and didn’t throw myself into tricks. I focused on being a dancer and artist with choreography.

I did have a nasty ligament injury on my ankle one time though.

JN: I saw the video of you and Nymphia Wind skating together.

DF: I love her. It’s a series I make where I take drag queens ice skating. It’s random but I have a lot of fun with it.

JN: How did you get involved with Divas After Dark?

DF: They reached out to me. Halloween is like gay Christmas so there are many competitive events surrounding drag queens. When they reached out to me to for a collaboration with City Cruises to sail on the Spirit of Chicago I said yes. This is my first time doing drag on a cruise and it’s aspects of my life coming together to form one piece.

Previously I used to work on cruise ships when I was younger. Figure skating took me from competitive to professional levels where people are sometimes hired as show performers. I worked on several cruise ships with Royal Caribbean where I would ice skate for the guests.

Now that I am a drag queen it’s a neat return to my past.

JN: Can you swim?

DF: I cannot swim. I prefer frozen water!

JN: What songs will you be lip-synching for your life to?

DF: I haven’t decided yet. There are so many looks that I want to do this Halloween. The Substance is a new film that is extremely gruesome. It is Demi Moore’s magnum opus and some of her best work. I am thinking of dressing up as one of the characters from the movie.

I also would like to do something really silly, maybe like a Monsters, Inc. character. Mike Wazowski’s love interest Celia Mae in the first film is voiced by Jennifer Tilly and is a gorgeous cyclops.

I am thinking of things like that but not totally sure yet…

JN: What kind of music are you into lately? I was listening to the new Charli XC just now.

DF: It has definitely been a Brat summer. I went to the Sweat Tour and it was so good. People are finally discovering her which is a surprise. As a gay person, she has been such a pop star in my life for a long time.

Being in Chicago I am a house head, so I love Honey Dijon and Beyonce’s Renaissance album. I listen to house, disco, funk and jazz. While I was studying in Korea I did internships with K-pop entertainment companies so that added to the genres of music that I am into.

JN: You are so well-rounded! Would you ever write a book about your life?

DF: Absolutely. I think people would be interested in it. I am just waiting for the right time of life to sell it.

JN: I have been telling drag queens that they should all write books to sell at their appearances since the first season. I told Jade that I would help her back then.

DF: Jade Jolie?

JN: Jade Sotomayor.

DF: Wow, that’s a throwback and she’s from Chicago.

JN: Yes, and still lives here. How did you wind up on RuPaul’s Drag Race in the first place?

DF: When I moved to Chicago I wanted to do drag and was inspired by watching Drag Race. At the time I was skating a lot so I auditioned for the show way too early with an ice skating routine. I got on and I was shocked because I wasn’t ready whatsoever in terms of the drag skills that were needed. Because of the skating number it really caught their eye and they hired me.

That was 2020, so during the pandemic. It was crazy and I am so grateful because I am able to support myself and live off of drag, which is such a blessing.

JN: Would you ever do RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars?

DF: I would definitely do All-Stars. Because I went on so early I feel there was knowledge that came after to experience that helped me grow. If I went back then it would show me after having done the work. I was such a baby drag queen when I went on that I would like to return as an evolved performer.

JN: Speaking of evolving, what are your thoughts on Chicago’s drag scene changing over the years?

DF: I will always have a tender spot for Chicago’s drag scene. I moved here because of the Shea Coulee era of drag, along with Pearl and Kim Chi. Drag here was always so irreverent, different and weird. It poked fun at normal things in life which made it interesting.

In LA and New York, there was a commercial aspect to the drag there, but Chicago seemed really pure and creative. I was part of the Berlin Nightclub scene and where I got my start. I am proud of Chicago's drag scene because it pushed through adversity.

I am happy with how it is now. Many of the girls I came up with are now leading the scene. It’s really nice to see that because it still has a good and exciting energy. The effort put in makes me very proud of them.

JN: Who is coming with you to perform on the ship?

DF: My drag mother, Chamilla Foxx, has been my mentor from the beginning and will be there. Secret Queen will be there and she is also a great photographer too. She took my engagement photos. Also performing is Robyn Fiierce Banks from the Haus of Banks and amazing too. It’s a really cool cast!

JN: Should attendees wear costumes?

DF: Yes. It’s a Halloween theme so people can come as anything they want. Disco is also a part of the theme so people could dress as a zombie from the ‘70s or whatever they would like.  There are no rules!

Come aboard the Spirit of Chicago on October 18, 2024, beginning at 10:30 p.m. as the ship leaves Navy Pier at 11 p.m. and returns at 1 a.m. Find tickets for this special night at spiritcruises.com/chicago and cityexperiences.com.