Check Out Amber Valentine’s Story

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Amber Valentine.

Hi Amber, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up as a gay little boy in Grand Rapids, I always felt different. I was more interested in dolls than trucks, hair, and makeup instead of sports, and I was obsessed with Britney Spears, Catwoman, and any other strong females.

It wasn’t until I started watching RuPaul’s Drag Race that I saw for the first time that there was a way for me to embrace all of those “different” interests and showcase who I am to the world. I started performing as a drag queen about eight years ago. It took a lot of courage to finally face these parts of myself I was ashamed of for my entire life. I’ve been blessed with a very loving and accepting family, but society still tells us subliminally-and outright-that boys should behave a certain way. So those first few times I stepped outside of my house in drag, I felt incredibly exposed.

But that event led to the most freeing feeling in the world. Now, instead of being ashamed or embarrassed of the aspects of myself that set me apart, I’m celebrated for them, and that’s what makes me stand out.

I’ve also always been a very creative person. I grew up drawing, which eventually translated very naturally into makeup. I also taught myself to sew years ago, and now I make almost all of my outfits. I style all of my hair and even make some wigs from scratch. I also grew up acting in school plays and at the community theater. So, drag encompassed almost every one of my passions and talents. I also have a very goofy and fun-loving personality, which helps me when hosting shows. Joking around on the mic is one of my favorite things ever. My mom was at one of my shows recently, and afterward, she looked at me wide-eyed and smiling and said, “You were just absolutely born to do this.”

Drag has helped me find who I truly am, and helped me to accept and love myself fully. I’m so grateful to this art form, and I hope to be an example to a younger generation to not hide who you are, but to stand up and show it proudly.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being a drag queen comes with a lot of the same struggles as being a gay person. There will always be people who don’t understand and don’t accept you. But drag is a heightened version of it because there’s no hiding.

As drag queens, we act as the face of our communities. We show our queerness completely unapologetically and go directly against all societal norms. In our culture, we’re so turned off by men being seen as effeminate in any way. Drag is the ultimate celebration of femininity. I think that’s what is so freeing about it because being able to express something we’ve been trained our whole lives to hide is an incredible feeling. At the same time, though, it’s a very vulnerable feeling. As drag queens, we’re truly baring ourselves to the world, opening ourselves up to judgment, hate, and even possibly violence.

But the celebration of oneself is the true essence of drag. I can’t live in fear; that isn’t a life worth living. A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity to perform with the Michigan Drag Brunch back in my hometown of Grand Rapids. The place was packed with not just my immediate family but members of my extended (somewhat conservative) family, friends of my family, and friends from high school. It was amazing to feel the support from people that just a few years ago, I would never have dared to say that I was a drag entertainer.

Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I pretty much do everything that encompasses my drag, all on my own. I’m very creative and conceptual, so when I come up with an idea for a performance or an outfit, no matter how complex, I’ll find a way to create it or make it happen. I even film and edit the content on my YouTube channel myself.

I’m known for being a gorgeous queen, a seamstress, and a hairstylist. I like to think of myself as a Y2K pop star. I’m also known for being professional and a genuine, nice person. I never let anything go to my head, and I’m always grateful for every opportunity.

Strictly visually speaking, I’m known for having insanely long, human hair wigs pretty much all the time. I’ve been obsessed with long hair since I was a child, so now I’m just living out all of those fantasies in my adult life.

So you could say that my current focus is to better myself and my craft, and to uplift the voices of local drag in my community, and ideally everywhere. I’m always trying to outdo things I’ve done in the past, and to be the best entertainer I can be. Maybe one day you’ll see me on Drag Race or some other huge platform, but for now, I’m making the most of life and living it to the fullest.

Can you talk to us about happiness and what makes you happy?
The duality of drag is what makes me the most happy. There was a time in my life when I wondered if maybe I was transgender. I felt like all of these feminine traits and interests would be so much easier and make more sense if I were a girl.

But since I discovered drag, I realized I was just feeling held back, not having an avenue to express my feminine side. So, in a way, you could say that spending part of my time dressed as a woman has made me feel so much more comfortable in my skin when I’m out of drag as a man. It might seem confusing to some, but in that way, drag has made me happier than I ever could’ve imagined.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @theambervalentine
• Youtube: youtube.com/AmberValentine
• TikTok: @theambervalentine