By Kevin Ferrisi –

For Harmony Valkyrie, her journey into the world of drag has been marked by transformative moments and profound self-discovery. From her spontaneous debut where she stumbled into a Wednesday night competition, to her pivotal entry into the world of competitive drag, Harmony’s path has been both unexpected and deeply fulfilling. Born out of curiosity and a desire for self-expression during her time in college, her exploration into drag introduced her to a community that would forever change her perspective on identity and artistry. Embracing drag, Harmony found inspiration in the empowering performances and the mentorship of her first drag family. Today, with the Gem Dynasty and the Haus of Valkyrie by her side, Harmony is poised to push the boundaries of her art further, aiming for more significant competitions and productions that celebrate and elevate trans visibility within the drag world. Her journey is a testament to resilience, self-discovery, and the power of drag to transform lives and communities alike.

Harmony has been doing drag for many years, though pinpointing the exact moment it all began was a bit hazy. Her first experience with drag was more of a spontaneous adventure, where she dressed up and headed out to a place called Divas. It was a Wednesday night, and they were hosting a competition. Harmony went to support a friend, wearing an outfit that was far from polished – more like herself in a dress than anything truly drag. Her serious foray into drag started with Sky Caspers’ first competition, a pivotal moment that reignited her passion. That was around 2016 or 2017, marking a significant chapter in her drag journey. Looking back, she realized how long she had been performing – almost eight years. The time had flown by, and it was only when she revisited old photos that she saw the transformation and growth.

She began her journey into drag during her time at Manchester Community College (MCC), where she had a few gay friends. One of them mentioned being part of a drag haus with incredible performers and an amazing drag mom. Intrigued, Harmony decided to check it out and went to Polo, an old club in Hartford. There, she unknowingly met her drag mother and grandmother. Harmony vividly remembered watching a performer, who exuded a style of drag that deeply resonated with her. The profound impact her drag mother had on Harmony was not only inspirational and beautiful but also taught her many things about the type of drag she performs. The experience was reminiscent of Carmen Carrera from RuPaul’s Drag Race, and the drag haus had many trans women, which was eye-opening for her. Before this, her only exposure to trans women was through negative portrayals on shows like Maury and Jerry Springer. Polo provided her first real representation of what trans women and drag queens could be, shaping her understanding and appreciation of the community.

Harmony would describe her drag style as deeply empowering for trans women and rooted in body positivity. She often incorporates elements of burlesque, showing plenty of skin and using pasties. Recently, she’s been experimenting with blending her personal interests into her performances, such as video games and nostalgic TV shows. This includes unique outfits like a Teletubby, characters from Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, and even a Furby. By incorporating elements from her childhood, she aims to recreate joyful memories and bring a sense of happiness that she may have missed out on back then. It’s her way of highlighting the positive aspects of her past. She infuses her performances with this blend of nostalgia and joy, such as her rendition of Super Mario’s green pipe topped with a piranha plant.

When she first ventured into drag, Harmony was part of a friend group that adored My Little Pony, and her initial drag name was Pinkie Pie. However, she eventually took a break from drag and never thought she’d return. Her friendship with Robin Fierce and Angel Rivers reignited her passion for performing. They convinced her to participate in Sky Casper’s Tuck and Strut event, despite her initial reluctance and feelings of intimidation and embarrassment. Determined to fully embrace her return to drag, she sought a name that truly resonated with her identity. Reflecting on her qualities, she realized she had a knack for bringing people together and fostering connections. This led her to the name Harmony, inspired by the Chinese characters on her wall from her high school Chinese class. She loved the way it looked and sounded. Initially, she didn’t have a last name and just went by Harmony.

The Gem Dynasty, originally known as the Haus of Gems, sprang to life from a shared passion for drag among Harmony, Angel Rivers, and Robin Fierce. They deliberately chose not to appoint a traditional mother figure, opting instead to function as equals and sisters within their haus. Harmony Gem, inspired by the tradition of carrying a surname, was her chosen drag name during this period. Their collective love for the show Steven Universe, with its themes of diversity, unity, and the transformative power of crystals, deeply influenced their decision to name their haus after gems. Each member resonated with the show’s message of different individuals coming together to form a supportive and diverse family, reflecting their own values within the drag community. As their haus grew, they embraced the title of the Gem Dynasty, celebrating the uniqueness and individuality of each member, including their drag children, who enriched their community with their distinct styles and personalities.

Later her admiration for the Valentino Haus, which had inspired her at Polo, led to her adoption into the Valentino family. Harmony Valentino was born. After parting ways with the Valentinos, she found solace in starting a new haus with her drag mother, the legendary Vanessa Valentino. Vanessa was a revered performer from the Polo days. Together, they embarked on an intense boot camp, solidifying their vision and the new haus’s identity. Vanessa explained that Valkyries, in Norse mythology, are powerful women who choose who gets to go to Valhalla, their version of heaven. This concept resonated with her desire to empower other trans women. Inspired by this, she embraced the name Valkyrie for their haus, infusing it with a new symbol of strength and empowerment for the trans women within their community. Thus, the Haus of Valkyries was born, dedicated to uplifting and supporting trans women. After the start of their new haus, Vanessa Valentino took on her new name as Venus The Valkyrie, and Harmony Valentino became Harmony The Valkyrie.

Her journey into mentoring and nurturing drag children began with a sense of frustration, initially feeling inadequate to guide or support others. Harmony confided in Robin and Angel about her feelings of discontent, comparing herself to them as they already had drag children. However, as she focused more on her own growth and artistic expression, people naturally gravitated towards her, forming deep connections that transcended the stage. For her, it was crucial that her drag children were not just performers but also close-knit family members, embodying old-school values of mutual support and accountability. As part of the Gem Dynasty, specifically the Valkyries, they held each other accountable for personal growth, whether it was pursuing therapy or achieving personal goals. Each drag child, including Lumen The Valkyrie, Cloaca The Valkyrie, Ruby The Valkyrie, Amaris Ghost, and Carina Concealed Weapon, had their own unique story of how they became part of her extended drag family, each relationship cherished for its individuality and depth.

Drag has been an incredible journey of self-discovery for Harmony, revealing aspects of herself that she hadn’t fully realized before. Initially, she saw drag as a form of expression and experimentation with femininity, not realizing it would lead her to understand her identity as a trans woman. As she immersed herself more deeply in drag, she found herself yearning to be addressed with feminine pronouns and exploring her femininity in ways she had suppressed earlier due to societal pressures.

Drag provided Harmony with the freedom to embrace her femininity fully, unlike her earlier experiences with masculinity in the gay community, which often enforced strict norms. Laser hair removal was a pivotal step in her journey towards self-acceptance, allowing her to shed the image she had once struggled with. It was during a moment alone in a bathroom mirror that she had a profound realization – she saw herself not as she had been, but as a woman. This moment of clarity and acceptance brought her to tears and marked the beginning of her journey towards embracing her true identity as a trans woman. With the support of her drag family, particularly her trans drag mother, she embarked on a transformative journey of self-discovery and empowerment, paving the way for her to mentor and support others on their own paths of self-discovery and acceptance within the drag community.

Her proudest accomplishment in her drag career was undoubtedly her facial feminization surgery and the subsequent face reveal performance. Struggling with a long-standing dysphoria towards her facial features, she embarked on this journey not only to affirm her own identity but also to inspire others facing similar challenges. The process was not just a physical transformation but a profound emotional and mental journey. Harmony meticulously teased her face reveal week after week wearing elaborate costumes that covered her face with a mask to build anticipation, not just for the audience but for herself, pushing the boundaries of her drag beyond what was expected. 

The day of the reveal, as she stood on stage, unwrapping the layers of anticipation and emotion, she felt an overwhelming sense of validation and acceptance from the audience. Seeing their genuine reactions and feeling their support, she realized she was not only seen but truly understood and celebrated. Despite the emotional hurdles post-surgery, she found solace and strength in the unwavering support of her drag family – her trans mother, and her other drag children – who stood by her side, offering care and encouragement throughout the challenging recovery process. As Harmony recounted this profound chapter of her life, tears streamed from her eyes in an extremely moving moment, reflecting the depth of emotion and personal growth she had undergone.

In the upcoming journey of Harmony The Valkyrie, you can expect an expansion of her vibrant presence and influence. Since her transformative surgery, Harmony has found new comfort in her skin, emboldening her to embrace and express herself more fully. Her future plans are ambitious: from competing in pageants and other competitions to elevating her haus, the Haus of Valkyrie, to legendary status through larger productions and artistic endeavors. Harmony is determined to amplify trans visibility and pride, promising a future filled with growth, creativity, and impactful contributions to the drag community.