1922 Community Series - Jordana Myles
Jordana Myles is a Toronto, Ontario-based drag queen, model and performer who is known for her energy and creativity on and off the stage. Her fierce presence lights up a room instantly and her unique style is unmatched, a true legend!
What/Where is your dream venue to perform at?
While I’ve already been very fortunate to perform at a lot of the places I’ve dreamed to perform, I would still love the opportunity to perform on the famous stairs at Buddies in Bad Times theatre here in Toronto. It’s an iconic venue with a lot of history to the 2SLGBTQ community, and it’s a challenge in that you have to make sure you don’t fall down the stairs while performing!
You've been performing for at least 7 years in the city. How has your performance evolved over the years?
I feel like I’ve finally developed my style over the last 7 years, and I’ve found a space where I feel I work the best. As I got more comfortable with creating, I pushed myself more and more, and now I feel like when I get on stage as Jordana, it’s a completely different persona that takes over and performs. I’ve developed her into someone who shares a lot of my traits, but who also has a lot of things that I don’t have when I’m not in drag. Also, because I’m now working in Toronto with some of the best Drag Entertainers in the WORLD, I’ve really had to hone in on what makes me unique, because that’s the only way you get noticed here!
You've called yourself vintage-minded and have said you live in the wrong era. Tell us more about that.
For as long as I’ve lived, I have felt a really strong connection with the music and culture of the 1970’s, and I’ve always felt like I would have done well in that era. I like to describe my drag as “Gigi Hadid going to Studio 54”, because I feel like although I can be current and hip in what I perform or how I style myself, there is still a very clear vintage inspiration. I wear almost exclusively real vintage clothing, and most of my looks have a visible note of the 70s, regardless upon the era that look is showing. If I’m not performing classic 70’s disco, I’m performing something current that has a clear 70’s tie-in, like a sample or a theme.
We know you love vinyl. Any current favourites?
Saying I love vinyl is an understatement! I have a collection that now has over 1200 pieces in it, with everything from Disco and funk to classic rock and pop to musical theatre and classical. I just got a limited edition pressing of Spice World by the Spice Girls (Don’t judge, you know you love them) on white vinyl and I’m so excited about it!
What does Pride mean to you?
To me, Pride is and always will be a protest, that started with Stonewall when Trans women of Color and drag queens rioted against the police. It is a celebration of how far we have come, but it must always be used as a tool to help move us forward. To this day, a staggering number of trans women are murdered each year, and it’s still illegal for Gay and Bisexual men to donate blood in Canada.
“We still have a long way to go, and so Pride is a time when we remember our history and look towards what still needs to be done. “
How does cannabis play a role in your life?
I find that cannabis has helped me a lot with my anxiety and depression and because I don’t drink it is a legal relaxant that I can use to bring me down after the excitement of a show or a long day at work. I have met some really interesting and amazing people through my enjoyment of cannabis, and that has opened me up to a lot of things I could not access before.
As a community, what can we do to support Drag Queens and drag performance?
Drag Queens and all other Drag entertainers (Drag Kings, Non-Binary Performers, Creatures, etc) are the backbone of the 2SLGBTQ movement, so if you consider yourself an ally, come to a show and consider tipping the performers. As a famous Queen once said, “it takes a lot of money to look this cheap!” Drag performers often work long shifts for not a lot of money and do it because they love the art form and love supporting and entertaining their community. Check out your local queens in the Church-Wellesley Village, or in the Queen West Village, and follow them on their social media! A lot of performers are struggling to get by right now with limited in-person shows, so any support you can give them, from watching a stream to ordering some merch, is greatly appreciated!
What is your favourite product that we sell here at 1922 CRLTD?
You know my favourite 1922 product is Kalifornia by Kolab. I’m a self-care queen, and this is the product that relaxes me the most after a night of turning it out!
Interviewed by:
Winny Clarke -1922 General Manager & Ke-Xin Richardson - 1922 Community Marketing Specialist
