Where to begin with this bundle of energy--a 5-foot-nothing, high-octane drag queen? Well, let’s start at the very beginning. Carmen didn’t always start off as the fabulous, petite, well-rounded queen you see on stage today. Her love for drag began when she saw her first drag show in Las Vegas with her parents. The show was called La Cage Las Vegas, and it featured female impersonators ,icons like Tina Turner, Cher, Madonna and all the greats. Little Carmen was just 13 years old, and while all she could focus on was the glitter and glamour, there was something deeper that sparked her interest when she had the chance to speak with the host/MC after the show. That host was none other than Frank Marino, who impersonated the late Joan Rivers. And my god, was Frank absolutely fabulous! Little Carmen was in hysterics, completely enchanted by this amazing drag queen.

 

But before all that, let’s rewind even further. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was another huge influence on young Carmen's drag persona. She probably first watched it at the age of eight... and you wonder why she's a flamboyant little firecracker today, huh? The music from the film captivated her, and little Carmen even started dancing on her parents' coffee table, singing the "Time Warp" while wearing her mom’s heels and a short wig her dad gave her for dress-up.

 

Fast forward a few years--Carmen became of legal drinking age!!! Her passion for drag still burned strong, so she started attending drag shows in Toronto at former venues like Zelda’s and Fly Nightclub. While she was inspired by all the talent, Carmen had nowhere to perform herself. Thankfully, her parents were supportive and nonjudgmental. Carmen was adopted from Romania at a young age and raised in Canada. It wasn’t until 2024 that she found her biological family on a Facebook page, and she was reunited with them during a visit--a story for another time!

 

At 20, Carmen knew performing in her bedroom wasn't going to cut it, so she started showing up at gay bars dressed in drag--with horrible makeup (she couldn't even put on lipstick if her life depended on it)! But Carmen had the gift of gab, so she began asking venues if she could perform on stage. She was persistent in wanting to showcase her talents, and with a little luck, she landed her first performance at Zelda’s on her 21st birthday. She was on cloud nine and couldn’t have been happier! That single performance turned into a couple more at open-stage nights. Carmen started improving her lip-syncing and some what of her makeup skills. She’d go to cosmetic counters, get her makeup done for hours before the shows, and in return, she’d buy $100 worth of products. She didn’t know how to apply any of it--though, honestly, she could have just followed YouTube tutorials! That came much later.

 

In 2017, Carmen moved from her childhood home in Thornhill, Ontario, to the lovely town of Bradford. She had a ton of makeup, but no skills--and no gay village to perform in. But one day, she heard about a karaoke spot through a Facebook page and decided to check it out. There, she met Jackie Kozak, who thought Sheldon (Carmen’s male persona) was a hoot. A couple of months later, during Halloween, Jackie convinced Carmen to get her makeup done for the occasion, and even gave her a one-hour show before karaoke started. Once again, Carmen was on cloud nine! But that one-hour show wasn’t enough for her. She soon learned of a gay club opening up in Newmarket and couldn’t believe her eyes. She attended the club’s soft opening--not in drag, but as Sheldon. He mingled, wore his favorite suit, and had a great time. It was there that Sheldon overheard a conversation between a drag queen and the club owner. Curious, Sheldon eavesdropped and was introduced to the fabulous E'Claire Devereaux, who was wearing a gorgeous gown and had hair that reached the heavens. Sheldon was mesmerized by her looks, her persona, and how she carried herself.

 

Little did Sheldon know, this incredible queen would become his drag mother, confidante, and mentor. But, as it turned out, not all at once! Sheldon had a lot of work to do to prove himself and become a successful drag queen. E'Claire Devereaux worked incredibly hard to become the drag mother you see today--but it was not an easy journey for either of them. E'Claire offered help to Sheldon, but unfortunately, he didn’t respect it at the time. He was struggling with addiction and not taking life seriously. Eventually, he got sober and, when things hit rock bottom, reached out to Devereaux. He apologized and began listening to everything she had to say about becoming successful and a true entertainer.

 

A year later, Carmen Del Rae began to emerge--not just as a drag queen, but as a true entertainer. It wasn’t an easy road--Sheldon often threw his makeup kit against the wall in frustration--but with hard work, dedication, and support from his drag family Carmen grew stronger. The journey could fill a 12-page novel, but here’s the short and sweet version: Carmen can now produce and host her own shows, and most importantly, she can do her own makeup (even if her drag sisters still jokingly call her “George Lopez in a dress” – that’s an ongoing joke, by the way).

 

Carmen has had many achievements, including winning a Fan Friday Takeover with 102.1 The Edge radio station and dipping her toes into the pageant world. She is also a proud member of The Imperial Court of Toronto, an organization that raises money for charity. In 2023, Carmen competed for and won the title of Miss Trillium--she is the current reigning queen and will step down in 2025. Carmen is excited to continue her journey with her fabulous drag family and is incredibly grateful for her amazing sponsors, Ford & Associates (a special shoutout to Mike Ford for being a close friend of the Devereaux’s), Rac n Roll, and Kissed by Glitter.

 

Hugs and kisses from this big ball of energy,

Carmen Del Rae