By Kevin Ferrisi –

Valeryan began her drag journey in March of 2023, just celebrating her second year, but the seeds were planted long before that. It all started when she was working at a school, a place where she had already been teaching at for a while. One day, she was asked to participate in a lip sync battle with other teachers. Her partner, excited by the idea, suggested she try performing in heels. Though she had never done it before, she decided to give it a shot, slipping on a pair of heels and performing Whitney Houston’s “It’s Not Right But It’s Okay” in front of the entire school. The reaction from the students was overwhelming; they went wild for it, and in that moment, something clicked inside her. She felt an energy she had never known, a feeling that stirred something deep within her.

Later, she confided in a friend who had done Wacky Wednesday at Trevi Lounge in Fairfield, CT. Her friend, knowing her desire to perform, grabbed her phone and signed her up for the event, saying, “You have a month to figure it out.” Unsure of what was happening, she found herself preparing for her first drag performance. When she finally hit the stage for Wacky Wednesday, something magical happened, and she was hooked. From there, she kept coming back, reaching out to others, seeing shows, and making appearances. Nearly two years later, she’s still doing drag, and all she can think about is how one person’s encouragement and her own leap of faith brought her here.

Valeryan, outside of drag, has been teaching high school for six years, and during her first year at her current school, she started doing drag. She knew that some parents might not agree with it, so she immediately told her administration, who were supportive from the start. Before the students knew, some of her coworkers and administrators even came to Pride events to support her, introducing their families and showing their backing for both her identities, Ryan and Valeryan. In her second year, some students found her drag online, following and commenting on her content.

As a teacher, she couldn’t have contact with students on social media, and she was initially unsure how to handle it when a group of 20 students started following her. After consulting with her administration, they assured her that they had her back. When she returned to school, she learned that students were defending her, saying that her drag life had nothing to do with them and that they should respect her privacy. Over time, the students grew more comfortable with the situation, and a few of them expressed their support by asking about her performances in a way that respected her boundaries, silently showing their respect for her.

Since she had been teaching, from day one, she made it her mission to show up authentically, not just for herself, but for her students. With her nails painted black, a pride flag on her classroom slides, and a quick intro that includes her love for Adele and pizza, she casually weaves queerness into everyday conversation. For her, it’s not about making a dramatic declaration, it’s about normalizing difference. “I’m here, and I’m no different than anyone else,” she says. Her purple hair and painted nails aren’t just personal expression, they’re silent symbols of representation, reminders to her students that being different is not only okay, but powerful. By simply being visible, she takes the power away from whispers and shows her students, many of whom may never have seen this kind of openness before, that they can be themselves, too.

Valeryan is the proud drag daughter of Midnight and granddaughter of Kiki Lucia, a legacy of fierce queens she carries with pride. She met Midnight at Trevi Lounge during a show hosted by Crystal Starz, after starting her drag journey. Their paths crossed again at Chez Legends, season 11, where Midnight, impressed by her potential, offered to welcome Valeryan into her drag family. Valeryan, moved by the gesture, couldn’t hold back tears in class. Being embraced by Midnight, a fellow Puerto Rican queen, felt like a dream come true, marking the start of a powerful drag lineage shaped by Kiki Lucia’s influence.

She’s always had a knack for creativity, and when it came to choosing her drag name, she wanted it to be something truly unique. Back in college, she toyed with the idea of becoming a drag queen and even came up with the name Fibonaughty Sequins as a playful math pun, inspired by the Fibonacci sequence. It seemed like a clever joke at first, combining math with the sparkle of sequins – but when she shared it with others, the reaction wasn’t what she had hoped. “I get it, but is it funny?” someone had said, and she realized maybe it wasn’t the right fit after all. So she began thinking deeper, wondering what name would truly reflect who she was, if she ever did pursue drag seriously.

Her “aha” moment came when she was watching Game of Thrones and kept hearing the name Valyrian. She was drawn to its beauty, the way it sounded, and its significance in the show. But it wasn’t just that, it was also the name of a flower, one that put people to sleep. Intrigued by the different spellings of the name, she decided to create her own version by combining the first half of her last name with her first name. Thus, Valeryan was born. The true moment of affirmation came shortly after her first performance. She was talking to friends at Trevi Lounge, discussing her drag journey, when one messaged her with “Hey Valeryan.” That was the first time anyone had ever written it out, and as she saw the name on her screen, she couldn’t help but tear up. That was it. Valeryan felt like the perfect name, and she knew in that moment that it was meant to be.

She had considered the idea of adding a last name to her drag persona, especially when Midnight, the mother of the House of Night, suggested she take on “Night” as her last name. Midnight, who is also Kiki Lucia’s daughter, had envisioned creating a sub-house within the House of Kiki, and at first, the idea of being Valeryan Night seemed like a natural step. She even saw it written on a poster as a trial, but when she reflected on it, something felt off. The name didn’t resonate with her; it didn’t feel like it embodied her essence. She also played around with names like Valeryan Steel and Valeryan Root, but nothing clicked. It was a mix of things that just didn’t seem to fit.

Ultimately, she realized that the simplicity and ease of Valeryan was all she needed. It was straightforward, easy to remember, and didn’t require an elaborate collection of names to define her. Just like Cher, Madonna, or Ariana, one name was all it took for people to know exactly who she was. She appreciated the simplicity and the power that came with it, sometimes, less really is more. In the end, Valeryan felt like the perfect fit for her identity, both on and off the stage.

She describes her drag style as a blend of beauty and fierceness, like a flower with a steel edge. She enjoys subverting expectations by mixing comedy with sensuality, flirting with the audience while keeping them on their toes. Though not a “dancing diva,” she excels at telling stories through her performances. For example, during an ’80s-themed show, she blended “It’s Raining Men” mixed with a Rickroll twist, wearing a silly clear raincoat to mislead and entertain the crowd. Her style is all about surprising the audience and keeping them engaged.

Drag has taught her that she’s far stronger than she once believed. Initially, she thought of drag as a shield, a layer of armor that allowed her to be the person she wanted to be, a performer who exuded confidence on stage. But through self-reflection and therapy, she realized that the strength and confidence she displayed as Valeryan was always within her, she just needed to tap into it. She had grown up shy, often struggling to talk to new people or make friends, but drag transformed her. As Valeryan, she found herself approaching people at the bar, mingling, and engaging before shows. When she was no longer in drag, however, she reverted to being quieter, more reserved, and disconnected. It wasn’t until she recognized that Valeryan was still a part of her, even outside of drag, that she truly understood her power. Just like in Yu-Gi-Oh!, where the Pharaoh’s power lies within Yu-Gi, her confidence was always there, it just needed to be brought out.

As an adult, she came to realize the profound importance of representation. Growing up, she didn’t have positive queer role models, especially ones of color, in her direct life. Drag has given her the opportunity to fill that gap and create space for others. Hosting The Round Table, a show in Connecticut that emphasizes POC voices, was a pivotal moment for her. She never would have thought she could be part of such a platform if she hadn’t found her community in the queer and drag scenes after moving to Connecticut from New Jersey. She’s proud of the work she’s done, especially at Trevi, where she helped bring The Round Table to life. For her, drag is more than just performance; it’s about spreading love and creating change. She never fully understood before how drag could be a political statement, but now, as a performer, she knows it’s a responsibility. Drag gives them a voice, something the community can use to speak for those who don’t have a platform.