Holli B. Sinclair

What's your preferred name?

Holli B. Sinclair

What are your pronouns?

She/her (in drag)

Share with us how you identify and how you came to that understanding of yourself.

I wear various hats - drag queen, sibling, child, dog daddy, friend, acquaintance, co-worker, etc., but at the end of the day, I'm just me. A gay Indigenous male who continues to seek himself in this crazy life.

Tell us about how your self-expression has helped you grow.

Self-expression through drag has given me more confidence - on and off stage! That "I can't" mindset is still there sometimes, but over the years it's definitely become an "I CAN AND I WILL!" Growth is also slow and gradual, so more will be revealed!

Where did you grow up? What was a formative experience you had in childhood that led you to where you are today?

I grew up in Tucson, AZ. I lived there my entire life and moved to Seattle in 2017. I would say a formative experience I had as a child was realizing I was gay. I was about ten years old at the time and had that realization, but due to my fear of being different, I wasn't able to put it into words or even describe what I was. Although it was something I ignored and pushed away for years, I started to realize in my late teens that it's okay to be different, and it's something that I probably couldn't change or even want to change.

What is a life goal that you are working on or have achieved? How has working toward this goal helped you understand yourself as an individual?

I wouldn't necessarily say I have a super long-term life goal, but every year I do have a list of accomplishments I would like to achieve, which vary from paying down debt, buying a very nice (expensive) drag garment, being more financially responsible, performing in specific shows, going on a vacation, etc. Having more short-term goals is beneficial for me because they are more attainable. If I had to answer, though, for a long-term goal, I would definitely say living a life where I am happy and I could look back and be proud of the person I am.

Who is someone who inspired you to be your true self? What was their influence on you?

My grandmother on my mom's side. It was probably an age thing, but she didn't have a filter and just said what was on her mind, which obviously has its negatives, but it was something I admired as I grew older. That's definitely influenced me to express myself without apologies or regrets.

What's something that you worry about?

I have a recurring dream where I'm about to be called to perform on stage, but I am not ready at all, like my makeup is half done and I'm not dressed. This is a fear of mine.

What gives you hope?

Realizing that “this too shall pass.” I’ve encountered many challenges in my life, and in moments when I’m going through something rough, it feels like I’m not going to get through it , but time passes, and whether the outcome is or isn’t what you expect, you’ve gone through the obstacle.

If you had a message for your younger self, what would you say?

I'd give myself a cryptic message! "You'll be putting on make-up at 8:00 AM sometimes, give yourself a full two hours to get ready so you'll be less stressed! Also, you can never go wrong with red lipstick."

What's a piece of wisdom you've learned that has helped you?

Just one piece of wisdom is hard, but when it comes to my drag journey and life in general, I would have to say that progress, success, and growth aren't linear. I used to fall under the misconception that these are straight lines, but they're not. If you stumble or fall backwards, that's just part of the journey, and although it may feel like a setback, it doesn't necessarily mean that it is!

What is something you wish other people would know or understand?

When it comes to drag - have fun! If you're not having fun, it's not worth doing.