Amora Dior Black is a Seattle-native drag queen who performs at R Place five nights a week, alongside drag legends like Ladie Chablis. Besides winning almost every pageant she enters, Amora has been featured in music videos with Macklemore and Neon Hitch. Amora’s talent is undeniable and has had tours in Hawaii, San Diego, Los Angeles, and is soon to be seen in San Francisco, Sacramento, and San Jose.
What can people expect from one of your drag shows?
You can expect it to be high energy, with nice garments. I like to grab people’s attention with stunts like splits and tricks. I’ll get on the mic and just take you on an emotional roller coaster.
How did you get started with drag?
Almost seven years ago I was dating another drag performer. We actually started doing drag about two months apart. He (my ex) taught me that maybe I needed to open up more. I had gone to school for accounting and that wasn’t really working out. I was this buff, athletic bartender with a goatee; I wasn’t really accepting to myself that I wanted to do drag. So my ex really brought me out of my shell and encouraged me to try it out.
What were some of the challenges you experienced when launching your drag career, if any? How did you handle these challenges?
Financially drag is hard, and starting your name is hard. RuPaul’s Drag Race kind of made drag into a necessity at bars, so there were a lot of queens around doing performances. But it was a struggle at first. I was taking the bus from Burien for shows, and couch hopping to make it happen. Sometimes I would be doing gigs for nothing or for like $25, which wasn’t even enough to cover makeup. I was taking care of my partner at the time and my mother. It was just a lot. I started out working at R Place as a bartender. I choreographed for drag shows as well, and at the beginning, I did work a day job. Now I work 5 nights a week as a drag queen plus outside gigs and traveling.
What do you enjoy most about being a drag performer?
I enjoy being a queen because it allows me to be free. The message I try to convey is don’t wait, figure it out, and enjoy yourself. I don’t like to call people fans, I prefer to call them my friends, because we’re making connections, but I definitely do it for my friends. My stress reliever is the stage. I love conveying a look, and making sure the crowd is entertained. Not to be selfish, but I’m doing something I really love to do and it’s really fun. I get to party at work, and it’s awesome, and it’s for me as well as the crowd. I get to strengthen other people, and feel that I have a responsibility to encourage people. I’ve even helped people come out or accept themselves, and it’s great.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had as a performer?
My mom attended some of my shows, which was really memorable for me. She allowed me to sleep on her couch so I could focus on drag. She supported me so much. A lot of her being there really helped push me. When she passed, I had to be responsible for burying her. It was really hard. But we did a fundraiser here for her funeral costs and had the whole community showing support for her.
What does your creative process look like when developing performances?
My performances are more of a mood. Mentally before I come to work I like to walk a lot. I listen to music. As soon as I sit down and start on my eyebrows, I’m 100% focused. I usually decide my numbers 10 minutes before. I’ll walk around and get a sense for the crowd. I’m very crowd focused, and cater to the crowd as best I can, but I’m still gonna do what I like to do, and I like to make the crowd enjoy the show.
What are some things you would like to see in the drag community in Seattle going forward?
I have no complaints about Seattle. I’ve traveled around a lot, and we’re definitely very eclectic with what we like here. Everybody can perform what they want and have it be respected. Seattle is the most open-minded place for drag, we cater to all drag here. I just hope Seattle keeps progressing and supporting all artists. We’re all artists at the end of the day.
What do you hope people walk away with after seeing you perform?
I’m the party queen or the turn-up queen. I just want people to be happy and excited. When you come to the club, it’s time to party and have fun. You can leave everything else at the door. Grab a drink, relax, make friends, have fun, and enjoy life.
If you were a taco, what would be your toppings?
I love tacos, I actually just did Taco Tuesday. I’d go with a little sour cream, pico de gallo, a mixture of good seasonings, maybe some lettuce. A little spice, because I’m spicy, I like to give a bite. I like Tapatio, you don’t have to put much on to have a kick. I like olives, they’re so good! You can’t have them just once, just like me. A little sprinkle of cheese; cheddar and pepper jack, again because I like a bite and a little bit of flavor. I’m flavorful.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Being a Seattle native, I’d like Seattle to know I’m very proud of the city and I’m very thankful of the fans of artistry here. Just keep showing us love and we gonna keep showing it back.
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