How To Be A Drag Queen


Miss Vera's Finishing School for Boys Who Want to Be Girls
by Veronica Vera

Veronica Vera founded Miss Vera's Finishing School for Boys Who Want to Be Girls in 1992 and started a gender revolution. Working from the pink palace of the Academy's intimate Manhattan campus, she has helped hundreds of students embrace and master Venus Envy through her expert instruction in the arts of dressing up, making up, going out, and acting like a lady. In her new book, she shares her priceless wisdom with the world, offering advice on body hair, foundation garments, make-up, and dressing, as well as offering invaluable advice on Creating a Herstory (finding the real life story of the femmeself within), culminating in that biggest step of all--going out in the real world all dressed up. Tons of pictures and filled with the real stories of students and graduates. Let Miss Vera help you too!

Personalities


Hiding My Candy : The Autobiography of the Grand Empress of Savannah

by Lady Chablis, Theodore Bouloukos

Meet drag queen and now star of the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" the Lady Chablis. Chablis tells her life story, from an unpleasant childhood to her years as drug addict and hustler, to her current life as a pre-operative transsexual, with refreshing honesty and candor. Her life hasn't always been as pretty as the Lady herself, but she wouldn't be who she is today if it were different. Features tons of great photos of Chablis taken at famous landmarks in her home town of Savannah, Georgia. She's a real peach (har!).


Lettin It All Hang Out : An Autobiography

by Rupaul

Recording artist, film star, radio dj, cosmetics spokesperson, talk show host, and now author (is there anything she can't do?), RuPaul tells her life story and shares her beauty secrets in her engaging and entertaining autobiography. Like Chablis, RuPaul also grew up in a home without a dominant male figure and was pegged early on as "queer." RuPaul glosses over the darker points in her life (she was also on drugs at one time), opting instead to focus on the fabulous diva that she is today and her struggle to make it to the top. This book features several fabulous photographs, including many never-before-seen shots of RuPaul, the early years (like Ru during her Bow-Wow-Wow New Wave years!).


The Drag Queens of New York : An Illustrated Field Guide

by Julian Fleisher

Ever wonder who Candis Cayne is? Did you think a Hedda Lettuce was a vegetable (some drag queens still do!)? Or are you just planning a trip to the Big Apple and want the scoop on what's happening drag-wise? If you've answered "yes" to any of the above questions then this book is for you. Featuring profiles of several New York City drag queens, it gives one an understanding of how drag queens live, work, and play! Each drag queen is pictured alongside her profile. There is even an interesting and hysterical running interview at the bottom of the pages between the author and some of the drag queens featured. An indispensible quide to drag queens for beginners and pros alike.

Beauty

The Art of Makeup
by Kevyn Aucoin

This lavishly illustrated book, by the fashion industry's most highly regarded makeup artist, gives step-by-step instructions on how to achieve a perfect face using makeup. Using the famous faces Aucoin has transformed (the photos are from fashion magazine spreads), this book shows you how to recreate many different looks, such as neutral makeup, a day face, an evening face, and dramatic makeup. He also goes into the proper tools for applying makeup. If you wear makeup, be you male or female, this book is a must-have.

Bobbi Brown Beauty : The Ultimate Beauty Resource
by Bobbi Brown, Annemarie Iverson

Another comprehensive book by a leading makeup artist. Bobbi Brown has her own line of cosmetics and skin care. Her makeup colors are based on the theory that yellow undertones rather than blue undertones are more natural. Her book uses her own makeup line of course, but the advice contained within can be applied if you use Chanel or Wet 'n Wild.