Meet Dotte Com

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dotte Com.

Dotte, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Back when I was a camp counselor for AP high schoolers (a program that I was in myself when I was their age), I was introduced to RuPaul’s Drag Race by some of the campers. Once I found out drag didn’t have to be offensive to women, I was hooked. It was amazing getting to see an art form that allowed me to learn more about gender expression and get a sample of what it was like to be a celebrity, dancer, singer, and actor.

I started slowly experimenting with drag, eventually doing amateur competitions around the city that eventually to me getting booked for shows at various clubs.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
One big challenge I faced was the financial aspect. I didn’t have a full-time job and I was in college when I first started. It never gets easier so month to month, it’s a struggle to budget to bring something new to the scene.

My parents have been a good life-line if money issues go South. Unfortunately, they have no idea that I do drag or that I’m gay. I tried coming out to them once and that did NOT work out well. It’s been over two years of being Dotte now and it gets pretty lonely.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Dotte Com – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I’m not really sure what sets me apart from others? Something cool that I do is host an all-black drag show called Neonblk. It’s the first Wednesday of every month at Mary’s in EAV. It was inspired by a show in Chicago called Black Girl Magic that’s hosted by Season 10’s The Vixen.

It’s basically the kind of show I would have wanted to see growing up. We try to get a wide variety of performers to showcase the many different forms that queer blackness can manifest. There’s no wrong or right way do exist in your queer blackness, which is a lesson that took me a long time to learn. I hope the show can help open some minds to new ideas while we make our presence known in the EAV community.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Gosh, my future plans are all over the place. I’m currently teaching myself coding so I can eventually pass on that knowledge to my community and help people get better jobs. That would be so cool to be able to combine two of my passions together to help others.

You can definitely catch me at the all-black version of Intrusive Thots on the 2nd in Athens, Neonblk on the 6th, and Aja’s (from Season 9 and All-Stars 3) album release party on the 9th. I’ll also be at Outlanta Con and AWA. It’s fun going to “normal” events just to show a cool intersectionality of interests.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedottecom/?hl=en

Image Credit:
Main image taken by Manny Menendezz

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