Reigning Supremes: Brooke Mark

Drag is fast becoming a popular form of entertainment outside of the queer scene, and drag artists are breaking out into the mainstream. Reigning Supremes is an ongoing series that profiles drag artists of all kinds, showcasing their stories and their art. She's glamourous, she's spooky and got a gorgeous voice to match her stunning looks. Whether it's commanding the audience to bow down to her killer heels or blowing them away with her vocal talent, it's Glasgow's fierce gothicc diva - Brooke Mark!

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How did you start getting into drag? My obsession with drag started the same as most queens – by watching Rupaul’s Drag Race. From there, I started becoming more and more interested in my local scene. I was friends with local icon, legend and star Ann Phetamine before I started going to shows, and they were always telling me I should come along to Trigger sometime. So I did and I was absolutely hooked after one week. From there I started discovering more and more local shows, and admiring the art of drag. I knew I wanted to be like those stunning performers I saw on stage so I bought some wigs, practiced my makeup and became one of them!

How would you describe your drag aesthetic? I like to think that I have an extremely versatile and varied drag style. I like to think of it as high camp, high glamour goth. I can go from big blonde diva in a sequin dress dripping in jewels, to a bloodthirsty satanic succubus princess of hell. I love all drag aesthetics and try to encompass a lot of different styles in to my own and be as diverse as I can.

How would you describe your performance style? Like my aesthetic, my performance style is also varied. I love getting on stage to a campy musical number and being confident, happy and captivating, as well as darker spooky numbers incorporating fake blood, headbanging and rock and roll. Though the majority of my numbers, regardless of style, I always sell the large and in charge sexy woman vibe with a lot of body, audience eye contact, smiling and looking pretty. I’m far from a stunt queen but I like to think I keep audiences interested with emotion and body language. I also enjoy incorporating live singing in to my performances.

What kind of music do you like to perform to? My favourite music to perform to is definitely something that will get the audience going, something with buildup and usually multiple songs and soundbites mixed in to one track. Musical numbers e.g Hairspray, Six and Beetlejuice The Musical are always fun, as well as slow sensual tracks that allow body language and facial expressions to lead the performance. In contrast I also enjoy performing tracks that are more alternative, like rock and metal based mixes, to let my more alt side shine through depending on the show/venue/crowd.

How do you approach creating new looks and performances? I take a lot of inspiration from my favourite movies and musicals, as well as just listening to my favourite artists and albums, and thinking of fun performance plans in my head as I listen. I love watching music videos and seeing different aesthetics I could incorporate in to performances.

What's been your favourite moment in drag so far? Hearing Carrie Ann Crow announce me as the winner of Strictly Come Drag 2019. That was one of the proudest moments of my drag career- and my life – as all the hard work I put in to the competition paid off and I felt genuinely accepted and loved by the drag community. I love the whole scene and everyone in it so much, and to have achieved something like this was very validating and exciting. I am incredibly proud of myself and Bearberry McQueen - my mentor through the competition.

Have you got any upcoming gigs? I had a few bookings including Suck Wednesday (Glasgow), Drag Me To The Pond (Edinburgh) and Cirque Du Corset (Dundee) but these have unfortunately been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However I cannot wait to get back on stage once shows start running again!

What's your ambition for the future of your drag? I just want to continue having fun, being my true authentic self, creating new looks and performances and hopefully continue to entertain audiences and make new friends at more shows. I would also love to perform outside the country at some point and meet people from different drag scenes across the UK.

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Tens Across the Board Want to get to know the Reigning Supremes a little better? Tens Across the Board is a new segment asking ten quick-fire questions aimed at finding out more about our fabulous entertainers.

1. What is your favourite outfit you own? My floor length silver sequin gown paired with sparkly diamande jewellery and my crown. This is the outfit I won Strictly Come Drag in and it makes me feel powerful and beautiful.

2. What is your favourite makeup brand?

Revolution.

3. What is your favourite mix you've made? My Beetlejuice Mix – I've only performed it once so far but it was so fun and the audience seemed to love it.

4. Who are your favourite singers/bands/producers?

Lady Gaga, Marilyn Manson, Poppy, SOPHIE, Grimes and My Chemical Romance.

5. What are your favourite movies/TV shows? Movies: Beetlejuice, Labyrinth, IT and Coraline. TV Shows: Brooklyn 99, House M.D., Friday Night Dinner and The Act.

6. What are your favourite videogames and/or books?

Skyrim, Mario Kart (basic bitch, I know) and the Harry Potter books.

7. Who are your favourite drag artists? My favourite local artists are CarrieAnn Crow and all the Trigger residents, Kim Reaper, Diana Morphine, Clare Successfully, Lawrence Chaney, Shame Lizz and October Fist. They're all so talented and I look up to them.

8. What do you do outside of drag? I’m in my final year of uni doing Microbiology and Immunology.

9. What 3 things would you take to a desert island? My phone, my puppy and as much Red Bull as I could carry.

10. What top 3 things to do would you put on your bucket list? Travel the world, buy a house and adopt 43 dogs.

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A massive thanks to Brooke for taking part in Reigning Supremes and providing photos. Also thanks to Simon Crawford for permission to use his photography. To see more from Brooke Mark, you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram. To see more of Simon Crawford's photography, you can check out his Facebook and Instagram.