So let’s talk more about this transition from North Carolina to New York. When you moved here, did you still carry with you the confidence that you had as a kid in your hometown? Did you ever feel humbled by the city in your early years?
That first day, yes. I felt humbled on my first day because I didn’t know anything or anyone. But the second day, no. I had to go to orientation on my second day at NYU, and that’s where I met Nita Aviance. And they were like “Oh, we’re gonna be friends.” I said, “Um, I don’t know about that…”“No, I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. That’s what’s happening here.” So from then on, Nita and I and some other girls were the queer queens that never stopped letting you have it. Like, all four years. We were even more popular than the senior girls because we were turning it to that level. We were such shows. It was the first time we had been around that many It Girls who were all so gay, so we had to get each other riled up. Like, everyone can really eat it! And looking back, that cutting up and carrying on with each other was so important because I started realizing that energy could be transferred and magnified once I left NYU. So I started learning how to be that It Girl on the actual streets of New York City, period. [laughs]
By the end of my senior year, most locations that were a club, a venue, some sort of spot that was fab — you knew exactly who I was, I never had to wait in line, I could bring whoever I wanted, and you gave me free drinks.
That first day, yes. I felt humbled on my first day because I didn’t know anything or anyone. But the second day, no. I had to go to orientation on my second day at NYU, and that’s where I met Nita Aviance. And they were like “Oh, we’re gonna be friends.” I said, “Um, I don’t know about that…”“No, I’m not asking you, I’m telling you. That’s what’s happening here.” So from then on, Nita and I and some other girls were the queer queens that never stopped letting you have it. Like, all four years. We were even more popular than the senior girls because we were turning it to that level. We were such shows. It was the first time we had been around that many It Girls who were all so gay, so we had to get each other riled up. Like, everyone can really eat it! And looking back, that cutting up and carrying on with each other was so important because I started realizing that energy could be transferred and magnified once I left NYU. So I started learning how to be that It Girl on the actual streets of New York City, period. [laughs]
By the end of my senior year, most locations that were a club, a venue, some sort of spot that was fab — you knew exactly who I was, I never had to wait in line, I could bring whoever I wanted, and you gave me free drinks.