Cody Wabie-Delorme was shocked when they found out they wouldn’t be able to return to school.
The 20-year-old drag queen, who performs in Ottawa under the moniker of Shea D. Ladie, was in the conflict studies program at the University of Ottawa. But their courses focused too heavily on war, they said, so they tried to switch degrees.
Wabie-Delorme hails from the Timiskaming First Nation, a small reserve located in Northern Quebec. Because of their Algonquin status, they were able to have their tuition covered.
Wabie-Delorme had previously switched into conflict studies from the anthropology program. But when they tried to switch programs a third time, the government pulled their educational funding, leaving Wabie-Delorme unable to afford school.
“I was devastated,” Wabie-Delorme told the Charlatan.
“I’m the first person in my family to go to university. My dad’s a high school dropout. My mom graduated high school with me in her stomach.”
“They didn’t go to school,” Wabie-Delorme added. “So I wanted to make my family proud.”
Ron, 20, is a student of the University of Ottawa’s translation program. He is fluent in Russian, French, and English. He balances school with his frequent performances as Adrianna Exposée, a name that has quickly become synonymous with the flourishing success of Ottawa’s local drag scene.
Ron, who declined to provide his last name for anonymity, hosts a weekly show at the Lookout Bar & Nightclub in the Byward Market and was coronated Miss Capital Pride by RuPaul’s Drag Race superstar Brook Lynn Hytes last month.
Though he’s enjoyed success in his drag career, Ron said he has found it difficult to find free time between his performances, his studies, and his day job.
“I like spending time with my friends,” he said. “But I don’t have a whole lot of time to do it. So actually sitting down, guilt-free, and hanging out with someone is a big deal for me.”
Ron’s studies are another time-consuming responsibility in a schedule that’s already packed, but he said that studying translation is more than just a degree to him.
“It makes me feel closer to home,” he said. “My parents always speak Russian at home, and my late grandmother spoke French.
“Every week, we would speak over Skype for an hour in French. So it’s a good memory for me whenever I speak French.”
For Ron, returning to his hometown of Toronto to visit his family represents a periodical reprieve from the demanding stage persona he’s constructed. He said his parents are “cool” with his drag career, but don’t ask too many questions about it when he sees them.
“When I get to go home to Toronto and see my parents, that’s really when I just get to be myself,” said Ron. “I don’t have to be Adrianna.”
“When I think about drag, I don’t think about the sacrifices,” he said. “I think about how it brings a smile to my face, all the memories I’ve made, all the times somebody has come up to me and told me I looked beautiful, or that they loved my performance.”
He said drag has increased his confidence and made him more self-assured. It’s hard work, but for Ron, it’s work that pays off in spades.
“As time goes on, I look back and I’m proud of myself,” he said. “It’s nice to know that you’re having fun, and you’re proud of yourself, and others are proud of you.”
That passion for drag is shared by Wabie-Delorme. After coming across a picture of Drag Race alum Trixie Mattel on Instagram, they quickly fell in love with drag, diving deep into the art of drag makeup and extravagant hairstyling.
They have been performing in Ottawa for a year, and in that time have solidified that they want to pursue a career in drag.
“Drag has really helped me discover what I really want to do in life,” they said. “I’m more in control of who I am.”
They are disappointed that they will not be returning to school this fall, but drag has given them a silver lining. They hope to eventually enroll in a school for design and cosmetics to hone their drag skills – skills they plan on using to empower others.
“It helped me realize that school wasn’t for me,” they explained. “I want to do something drag-related. I love makeup. I just want to do that with my life.”
Like Ron, drag has brought Wabie-Delorme out of their shell. They want to get others involved with drag, through the power of makeup, costuming, and hair design.
“Drag brings out a part of you that you didn’t know you had,” they said. “It brings out something within you, and with that you’re really finding your true self.”
“I want my drag, and the way I do it through my artistry, to really help others feel good about themselves.”
Feature image by KC Hoard.
