HTX Drag

A note from the writer:

It's my pleasure to present to you the first HTX Drag Pride Issue! This project is more than just a collection of features; it is an exploration of perspectives and processes in the world of Houston drag. I have gained so much knowledge of the glamour and insight into the grit. The joys of self- discovery, the wisdom from longevity, and the varying techniques of artistry just in drag alone. Thank you for reading the stories of these wonderful artists. Thank you to Rachel, Arthur, Gage, and our lovely first features. Happy Pride Month!

HTX Drag Feature No. 004: Luna of the Lilies

Design by Arthur Mangum.

I started my research first with a virtual impression. On Luna of the Lilies’ Instagram, the top three pinned posts gave me a beautiful spook. This let me know that her style is as surreal as it is gorgeous. Such as a bouquet of delicate flowers, interrupted just so by a flesh-eating monster at the center. This, I realized, is what ‘pretty horror’ looks like, and it’s a fitting introduction to Houston’s queen of the deliciously macabre. And what better time to explore this celebration of contrasts than Pride Month, when queerness, artistry, and authenticity are all on joyful display?

In OutSmart Magazine’s article, “Death Becomes Her,” Luna of the Lilies is described as “Houston’s horror queen.” The drag queen revealed her experience as a funeral director and embalmer. We know that anybody can be a drag performer, but it’s not every day you compliment a queen’s face and they reply with, “Thanks! I got good at makeup at a funeral home.” In this Pride Month feature, we’re diving into the unusual alchemy that happens when a career in death blooms into an art form- a celebration of both life and identity.

I met Luna at Roast & Brew, a favorite local spot. She came in with a cheery smile and a soft voice, a welcoming energy ever- so gently bouncing off the cafe walls. This Texas star is a warm ray of sunshine who also embraces contrasting elements to be a part of her.

Photo by Gavin Calais Photography.

Rocky: "How did being a mortician shape you?” Luna: “It made me remember that we don’t have much time. Time is short.”

One friend, grieving their sister after a car accident, asked Luna to do her makeup for the funeral. Another time, Luna spent 3 hours carefully tending to the final appearance of her best friend’s mother. We talked about the importance of giving someone dignity in death.

“I feel like it’s a duty of mine,” Luna said, her voice steady. There’s a sense of artistry, a belief that beauty and care matter, even at the end. It’s a philosophy that echoes through Pride: a refusal to let any life, story, or identity go unnoticed or uncelebrated. I believe it is also about honoring the legacy of queer resistance; about remembering the resilience of our community and carrying their stories forward.

"I want to write a book about it or make a movie about it."

-Luna on her experience as an embalmer.

Luna’s looks draw inspiration from the movies that shaped her, like “Requiem for a Dream” and “Black Swan,” where beauty and unease twine together. Camp horror, comedy, and thrill always find their way into her drag.

Even her name is a relic from her time as a mortician. “I got my name at the funeral home,” Luna explained. “Catholic funerals had little prayer cards with different Madonnas. One was Madonna of the Lilies.”

Photo by Gavin Calais Photography.

The incorporation of religion in drag is something that I find so interesting. It is the translation of a complicated experience, one that oftentimes includes homophobia, through a queer art form. Luna opened up about being picked on in childhood. "I always knew I was different," the queen told me. The alternative artist did not shy away from living in her truth, but the act of being Luna has challenged her to stand up for herself. Now she is an evolved, unapologetic version of herself.

Rocky: "Describe yourself in a few words." Luna: "Surreal and reverent.

Photo by Gavin Calais Photography.

Rocky: "Anything you are working on right now?" Luna: "There’s one look I’ve been working on for years. It’s the preserved head of Mary Magdalene.”

Rocky: "Favorite artists?" Luna: "Maybe it's the Aquarius in me, but I like the niche. ICEP3AK is one of my favorites. I would describe their music as spooky rock music."

Chapter 2: Holding It All Together

In this chapter, we step behind the dazzling glamour to witness the extraordinary heart and humanity that fuel Chloe Knox’s artistry. Her journey is one of both transformation and authenticity, offering a glimpse into the soul of an artist whose presence commands both admiration and awe. Knox’s story is not just about beauty or performance- It’s about the courage to reveal one’s truest self in a world that often wants perfection.

For Knox, the journey to self-love is ongoing and ever-evolving, a path with no end in sight, illuminated by her willingness to grow. Each step forward is a testament to her greatness, not only measured in crowns and applause but also in the quiet moments of self-acceptance and reflection.

Sometimes, stepping away from the spotlight is the only way to discover the admiration and pride that must be found within. Knox’s willingness to pause, to reflect, and to care for her own spirit reveals a strength as dazzling as any stage light. She teaches us that vulnerability is not a weakness, but a remarkable source of power.

Knox’s radiance comes from a spotlight she crafted for herself- one fueled by resilience, self-discovery, and a fierce determination to rise above every challenge. Even when the audience fades, her journey stands as a testament to the importance of self-celebration. After years of performing and pushing her own boundaries on stage and off, Knox chose to prioritize her well-being.

She opened up about her mental health in our interview. “The end of 2017 was really rough,” Knox shared with me. “It had been 5 years of doing drag constantly, trying to build on topping whatever I’d done before… I really felt like everything kind of came to a screeching halt… Then early 2018, right around my birthday, I went to St. Joseph’s Psych Ward,” she said.

“As awkward as that is to bring up sometimes, it's important for people to know that it happens to everybody,” Knox said passionately. “And there's no shame in it! There shouldn't be any shame in it. However, of course, it's easy for us to slip into that and feel like, ‘but I'm not supposed to fall apart. I'm supposed to keep it together all the time.’"

The pageant winner showed me an admirable wisdom and humility that only deepens her light.

A drag artist knows every intricate detail of their work- the placement of each pearl, the sweep of every brush stroke, the fittings and stitching (and that’s not even touching on show production). Knox’s work is a testament to her artistic brilliance and dedication. However, when COVID hit, Knox had time to look beyond the stunning surface she crafted. She realized she barely knew the person beneath the glamour- an insightful, vibrant creative, deserving of their flowers.

“My life as a person and being a drag performer are inextricably linked... I was like, I don’t know who David (Knox out of drag) is as an adult human…So I took 2 years off drag. That was really necessary." Consider it an intermission- a conscious pause in which the artist prioritized pouring into his wellbeing over the expectations of his drag presence. In a world that so often demands constant hustle, the choice to rest and rediscover oneself is a lesson in self-respect.

"I feel like I owe it to my childhood self to be like, see, David in his raw state is good enough."- Chloe Knox

Taking a seat in the audience for a while actually benefited this queen’s creative process. "When you're in it, it's so easy to be on the hamster wheel and go, whatever I have in the closet, let's do that. But when you have time off, you're just sitting around thinking about it. If you engage with it at all, then it's just like, oh, I never thought about that; I could do that. We start cooking up new ideas,” Knox told me.

The mind of a drag queen never truly rests. Even in the still moments, the artist is dreaming and innovating. The passion for drag is matched by a commitment to personal growth and artistic evolution. It's a celebration of femininity through art.

As we approach Pride Month, Knox’s story stands as a powerful reminder of what makes drag such an interesting art form. We see more than costumes and performances- we see the authenticity. In sharing the journeys of artists like Knox, we honor the creativity, vulnerability, and pride that defines this vibrant world.

The wonderful Chloe Knox inspires us to recognize the power of living boldly and beautifully onstage and beyond.

When I met Chloe Knox, I expected one story but left with two: the dual journeys and identities she embodies.

After her photoshoot, Knox shimmered in a black, gem-studded gown, her face half-hidden by a dramatic headpiece—a visual hint at the depth beneath the glamour. What I found was a journey of self-discovery, artistic evolution, and community, all lived out in a whirlwind of glitter and grit.

As our conversation unfolded, the transformation was striking: Knox in full drag at the start, then casual and vulnerable by the end. The regal appearance of Knox, combined with her vulnerability, struck me as beautifully unique. Art, performance, and authenticity blended together before my eyes.

This is the multitalented artist, Chloe Knox.

Chloe Knox photographed by Gavin Calais.

Knox has always been an artist at heart. She started drawing as a child, long before her first performance in drag at 17. Her creative process is both spontaneous and intuitive. “I just organically come upon pictures that I’m like, 'Oh, that’s beautiful, I want to draw that.' Especially with painting now, I really zero in on ones that are not only beautiful things that I would like to draw but also have really interesting colors going on. For drag, I can’t really force an idea. When it's a really interesting look or a concept or a performance, those things have to come to me."

“The great thing about art is that there are no wrong answers.”- Chloe Knox

Drag was a singular focus for Knox from the very beginning. “I was always fascinated with cross-dressing. Looking at red carpets, it would be the guys in suits, and the women would wear the fun stuff. Colorful, beautiful, and interesting," she said.

Pageantry became a proving ground for her art and her spirit. "Getting ranked first place… you’re ranked first amongst a group of people, then you’re like, ‘well, that helps prove to myself that in a more objective way ... maybe I am good enough.’” She describes the camaraderie and challenge of competing. “Pageants are so cool and interesting… you’re not really competing against each other. You’re competing with each other. It’s all of us versus the judges, basically.”

Painting is her newest outlet—a leap made easier by years of makeup artistry and drawing. Knox recalled her hesitation to try painting: “I was like, yeah, I probably wouldn’t be good at painting, and it’s expensive, just stick with drawing. But then my boyfriend bought oils … We can paint together. And then I immediately realized how, with the experience of drawing and makeup, it was not a very difficult jump."

Alysa Liu drawn by sarty.arty

Trixie Mattel and Katya painted by sarty.arty

Drag, for Knox, is more than performance—it’s liberation. “The most impactful thing about drag in general ... how liberating it is ... creating art with the idea that gender is a construct ... especially to the inner child that felt so insecure about a lot of things but particularly where gender is concerned.”

I asked Knox what topics the Houston drag community should be talking about. "We are and really should all be in this together as entertainers," Knox expressed. "I've seen and heard a lot of similar problems arise from managers, venue owners, and show directors. A lot of them just see drag entertainment as a commodity to make them money, treat their entertainers really poorly, and really don’t have a lot of vision when it comes to the shows… They only care about drag so far as they can make more money from it. Considering it’s a queer art form that’s really important to the queer community… I feel like we should all stand together a little bit more,” she said.

“In a lot of ways, we need us more than we need them”- Chloe Knox

That sense of deep connection to the art form is not just from longevity, but from the way in which she was introduced to it. Knox recalled her first interaction with a drag queen. “My first core memory of like, oh, this is a drag queen doing what drag queens do, was a youth group in Houston called HATCH.” HATCH is the Houston Area Teen Coalition for Homosexuals, an organization that is dedicated to providing a safe space and resources for LGBTQ+ people ages 7-24, according to The Montrose Center.

That’s when it clicked for the 15-year-old that drag was a calling. “(The queen) did Perfect by P!NK and I was like, oh my god, I gotta do that. I can totally do that. That is what I’m supposed to do,” Knox said.

Since Knox left HATCH and took her drag to the stages, she has been back to host HATCH Prom, an annual prom specifically for LGBTQ+ youth. She hopes that her presence sparks inspiration for queer youth. “I was telling them that this could be a lot of drag entertainer’s origin stories happening, because that’s how I started,” she said.

Knox’s journey is a testament to the power of art, self-expression, and community—a story that continues to evolve, one brushstroke and performance at a time.

Stay tuned next week for more on the fabulous Chloe Knox!

Chapter Three: Houston's Mother

Chevelle Brooks is so much more than a legendary pageant queen—she’s an empowering light in Houston’s drag community. As a drag mother, she has opened her arms to countless performers, among them the late Jiggly Caliente and the iconic Mistress Isabelle Brooks. For Brooks, being a drag mother isn’t just a title—it’s a calling, filled with both responsibility and deep joy.

“Being a Brooks isn’t about the celebrity of my name. When you’re my child, it means I’m here to guide you through this lifestyle,” Chevelle told me warmly. She’s seen firsthand the realities of this lifestyle—like the struggle to find health insurance when you’re pouring your heart into full-time performing. “Drag taught me to save for a rainy day,” she confided. More than anything, she wants to shield her children from the hardships she’s faced herself.

When Brooks takes someone under her wing, it goes far beyond costumes and bookings. She’s there to help them find confidence, build community, and discover their own unique voice. Empathy, patience, and a fierce commitment to lifting others up—onstage and off—are at the heart of everything she does.

Brooks is passionate about seeing her kids shine in whatever path they choose—whether drag is their main gig or just one piece of their story. She’s always reminding them to keep a steady head and be financially prepared for whatever life throws their way. “I’m so proud of my kids,” she beamed. “Some run nonprofits and businesses; some are technicians.” But the love and support branches far beyond the chosen family tree.

"What's next for Chevelle Brooks?"

"Right now, I’m working on a nonprofit that helps entertainers get their affairs in order," she shared. In every sense, Chevelle Brooks embodies what it means to lead with heart. Her legacy lies in the countless lives she’s touched and the community she's built. Through her generosity, strength, and unwavering love, Brooks continues to inspire the next generation—not just to perform, but to thrive, to care for one another, and to believe in themselves.

Photo by Gavin Calais Photography

A Diva Always

On Chevelle Brooks' Instagram, you're immediately greeted by the word diva in her bio- each letter assigned its own meaning:

D is for Driven. I is for Innovative. V is for Voluptuous. A is for Assertive.

Chevelle Brooks photographed by Gavin Calais.

Meeting Chevelle Brooks in person feels like meeting that word come to life. Her presence is radiant and refreshing, her energy rich and magnetic. The rhythm of her storytelling and unwavering confidence kept me captivated throughout our conversation. Perhaps that's Brooks' superpower: her ability to tell stories of beauty, determination, and self- love on pageant stages and in drag shows alike. While talent is undeniably one of her strengths, it's the diva mentality that makes her shine both on and offstage.

Brooks carved her own path to 30 years of accolades in drag pageantry with sheer drive and determination. Earning grand titles such as Queen and Miss Continental Plus require time management, discipline, and control over every production element. "In pageantry, you have to cross your Ts and dot your Is," Brooks said.

"The art of drag has helped me cultivate strength, resilience, and independence," she shared. It has also challenged her to handle criticism, embrace competition, and adapt to shifting audience expectations. Brooks has always championed innovation in her performances- but every move she makes is grounded in the principles she learned early in her career- preparation, professionalism, and presentation.

Her many wins have cemented Brooks' reputation as a formidable competitor while reflecting how drag pageantry itself has evolved- charisma, talent, and storytelling increasingly matter as much as traditional glamour. The discipline extends far beyond the stage. Brooks credits pageantry with shaping her into a more organized performer and a sharper businessperson. "You have to know how to manage yourself," she said.

Brooks' glamour doesn't end when the show does. Everywhere she goes, Brooks is sure to carry herself with pride and intention. "You never know who you are going to meet," Brooks said. "My mother told me, 'Whenever you go somewhere, always make sure you look like something.'" For Brooks, that philosophy isn't about vanity. It's about professionalism. First impressions, she believes, are everything.

More than three decades after stepping onto a stage with borrowed shoes and an improvised look, Chevelle Brooks has become a symbol of the dedication required to sustain a career in drag. Her legacy is not just measured in titles or trophies, but by the example she sets for younger queens entering the scene: show up prepared, respect the craft, and carry yourself with excellence.

Chevelle Brooks photographed by Tios Photography.

Because in the world of Chevelle Brooks, drag isn't just performance.

It's discipline, responsibility, and a lifelong commitment to the art of becoming a star.

Written by Rocky Wood

In Houston’s drag world, legacy is built not just on glamour, but on discipline. Few performers embody that principle as clearly as Chevelle Brooks—a pageant queen whose career spans more than three decades and whose reputation is rooted in precision, presentation, and community.

For many in Houston’s drag scene, Brooks represents a particular tradition: the polished, pageant-trained entertainer who approaches drag as both art form and profession. From national titles (Miss Gay US of A 2000; Miss Continental Plus 2002; Universal Show Queen 2019; and many more) to local recognition as Houston’s Entertainer of the Year, Brooks has spent over 30 years building a career that blends theatrical performance with the meticulous standards of competitive drag.

Chevelle Brooks photographed by Gavin Calais

Her story, however, begins far from the rhinestones and crowns.

Brooks was born in Louisiana but grew up in Houston after moving to the city at just three years old. By the early 1990s, Houston’s LGBTQ nightlife scene was vibrant and expansive, with drag performances happening not only at nightclubs but also at daytime art festivals and community gatherings.

It was in these spaces that Brooks first encountered drag—not as a distant spectacle, but as a living, breathing art form happening all around her. Watching queens move between venues and command audiences sparked something in her. Drag looked like freedom: a way to express creativity, confidence, and star power all at once.

That spark led to her first performance in 1991 at a talent show at Studio 13, one of the many clubs that helped shape Houston’s queer nightlife history. The debut, she recalls, was far from glamorous. “I didn’t have anything ready,” Brooks says. “No shoes, no dress, no hair.”

But Houston drag has long been sustained by the community. Friends and fellow performers rallied for Brooks, pulling together pieces of a look so she could still compete. What could have been a disastrous first outing instead became a defining moment. Oh, did I forget to mention that she won that talent show?

It was proof that the stage was exactly where she belonged.

Stay tuned next week for more on our beloved Houston icon!

Serving In & Out of Drag

This chapter is our final toast to our first feature. Don’t worry, though; the glass is never left empty when it comes to Sauvignon Blanca’s creativity and dedication. Like wine spilling from a tilted glass, Sauvi’s lens and enthusiasm for projects aren’t contained within the drag scene alone.

The thing about Gonzales that struck me most during our time together was his attention to detail and precision — both literally on paper and in practice. After PGOD, Gonzales realized that his next steps following Sauvignon Blanca’s establishment would be devoted to her evolution. “If I’m gonna be involved in this more, I need to evolve in how I approach drag,” he said. Though he does not perform full-time, he refuses to give anything less than his full energy to Blanca’s appearances. There is no fixed end goal — only growth.

Sauvignon Blanca photographed by Gavin Calais.

That commitment to evolution is grounded in vulnerability. Gonzales has never failed to respond when vulnerability extends its invitation. As we reflected on what it means to live openly, we also discussed the empowerment within that identity. “When you’re in drag you have a lot more social gravity,” Gonzales said. “Drag is a creative expression but also an opportunity to be a vessel for change.”

He channels that sense of responsibility directly into community work. Gonzales serves as Sustainability Director for Meals on Heels, an initiative started by Rachel B*tchface to feed Houston’s queer community and youth. According to the organization, he “manages all things funding — from donation tracking to financial planning — helping Meals on Heels grow sustainably and transparently.” His precision offstage mirrors the intentionality of his performances on it.

Christopher Gonzales for Meals on Heels. Photo via https://www.mealsonheelshtx.com/about

That same careful artistry revealed itself during our conversation at Siphon Coffee. From the couch, Gonzales presented another one of his hobbies: notebook doodles. While far less clinical than examining someone’s brain, each page turn — each pause to study a hand-drawn figure — felt like tracing the anatomy of his mind. There were no words, yet the notebooks told their own story. He described the inspiration behind certain drawings and the moments when a lightbulb flicked on, illuminating the next blank page. Gonzales takes the idea of being their own canvas quite literally; one of his doodles is tattooed on his arm.

Pictures provided by Christopher Gonzales. The third drawing is the one Gonzales got tattooed on his elbow.

In the end, Sauvignon Blanca is not confined to a stage. She exists in evolving notebooks, in community spreadsheets, in Houston youth receiving meals, and in the quiet courage of vulnerability. If this chapter is a toast, it is not a goodbye. It is simply a raised glass to what is still fermenting.

Sauvi's Recipe

The experience of interviewing Gonzales while he got into drag is a story within itself. Sauvi’s look was pieced together with an impressive flow as our words exchanged over a bright mini mirror and a colorful array of supplies. It was a pleasure to witness a performer draw themselves into their own element. As Gonzales painted Sauvi’s stunning face with a delicate hand, he also painted the picture of what makes Sauvi the queen that she is.

Sauvignon Blanca photographed by Gavin Calais . Edited by Arthur Mangum.

Just like how grapes are harvested for wine, elements of Gonzales’s personality are accentuated as Sauvi’s “flavor.” “I feel like my personality is just enhanced more. I’m a pretty boisterous person. I feel good, I feel powerful, I feel funnier,” Gonzales told me as he began applying concealer to his face. I learned that an element about Sauvi that catches Gonzales off guard is the impression of her fierce presence. “I do fucking love that people are intimated by drag queens, because intimidating is not something that I have ever thought of myself as.”

The sweet, bold, and absolutely imperfect ingredients are mixed in a lab flask that holds the experimentation of Sauvignon Blanca. With a background as a research engineer, I was curious about how Gonzales’s scientific mind interacted with drag. Breaking away from the mirror, Gonzales thought for a moment. “I would say it’s like trial and error,” he said. “It's like, it didn't work? Can we fix it? What's the best way to do it? And sometimes you can't.” He continued as he proceeded to blend Sauvi’s first layer. “And that's kind of like half the battle of drag, where it's like, okay, what's actually possible right now? And just being okay with having to go back to the drawing board. So it's more like a mentality rather than like a method process for me.”

To Gonzales, the transition from Marfa’s drag scene to Houston’s consisted of pressure to stand out. However, that did not mean that one’s persona was void of influence; it was actually a result of embracing it as part of your creative process. “You can take other queen’s elements and techniques and make it your own,” Gonzales said. Gin Martini, a designer in Houston, and Paul Chavarria have played a pivotal role in assembling the visions for some of Sauvi’s garments. “A lot of the costume designers here in Houston, if you let them hold your hand a little bit and help... Let them also speak to your creative vision, they will fuck you up in the right way,” Gonzales said.

Sauvignon Blanca wearing Gin Martini.

Houston’s drag scene is like a mirror ball. It can only shine as bright as it does when unified. Captivating us in its collective light, each figure that it’s made of also holds a reflection of the community dancing around it. In the third and final chapter on Sauvignon Blanca, we dive deeper into the impactful ways she pours back into the community that has nurtured her growth as a drag performer.

On a couch inside Siphon Coffee, the first HTX Drag interview took place. It felt fitting having this conversation with a drag performer just down the street from The Menil Collection. Just as the de Menil’s impact on the Houston art scene has been closely studied and widely celebrated, the drag in Houston deserves the same treatment. Drag performers are their own canvasses; they adorn themselves in fabrics, rhinestones, sometimes even balloons. They are the scientists who make themselves the subject of their own artistic experimentation. 

I’d like to tell you a bit about the drag history of Houston, which dates as far back as the 1930s. According to Houston LGBT History, a public online archive, the Wagon Wheel Night Club was one of the first spaces for “female impersonator” performances. The club’s existence was only a few years due to two arsonists setting the building ablaze in 1938, according to a “The San Antonio Light” article featured on the site. The kings and queens throughout past decades have fought against efforts to eliminate their presence in the city. Thanks to them, we can have our drag shows today. 

I met Sauvignon Blanca in 2023 while working at the Nook Cafe and Rooftop, a two- story coffee shop and bar. She and other drag artists- some of which you will meet later- would arrive on Monday evenings to compete in the first season of Persephone’s Game of Drag. Christopher Gonzales (he/him) began experimenting as Sauvignon Blanca (she/her) in the small town of Marfa, Texas, where he said, “there was little to no drag.” Gonzales and his partner, Paul Chavarria, responded to the scarcity of a night life by acting as a source of it. Through parties and pride events, the duo created a vibrant queer space in the desert town from 2018- 2020.

Top photo: Sauvignon Blanca striking a pose on stage at Marfa Pride 2022. Bottom photo: Sauvignon Blanca for season one of PGOD. Photos provided by Christopher Gonzales.

It only feels right to say that since her move to Houston, Sauvignon Blanca’s presence has aged like fine wine. In a city that feasts on nothing less than interesting art, she established herself as an exciting addition to the drag menu. After the first sips of her aesthetic and energy, you’ll see that it’s a messy delicacy you can’t find anywhere else. This interview spills the ingredients of her character, walks you through the process of her artistry, and gives you a perspective of the creative lens she views the world through. 

HTX Drag is all about the Houstonians who are defining the artform in their own ways today. Flourishing with diversity, Houston offers an undeniably excellent drag scene and overall queer culture. As present-day legislation attempts to lay a blanket of restrictions over the LGBTQ+ community, it is proven through these stories that we are still thriving through unshakeable foundations. 

This is the first of many stories. 

Stay tuned for Sauvignon Blanca’s interview next week!

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