Meet Chelora | Drag queen & Twitch streamer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelora and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelora, is your business focused on helping the community? If so, how?
Being a social media/live streaming content creator, my business helps the community and the world by providing (and/or helping provide) content that I think is beneficial to any age range, sexuality, ethnicity, gender identity, etc. An online platform allows anyone from around the globe to experience the art of drag, the importance of LGBTQ2IA+ rights, creating a safe space (as it is still illegal to identify as LGBTQ2IA+ in some parts of the world), however outside of my personal channel, I’ve assisted with events such as Reclaiming My Time, an all-Black online convention that helped discuss topics such as Black Lives Matter and Black transgender visibility. The effort I personally try to make, whether it is on my channel/s, or assisting with the projects of others, helping advocate for what is important and doing your best to contribute in whatever beneficial way you can, matters. Helping minorities and those who need it is its own reward.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is inspired by the strong female characters in video games, nature (such as insects and arachnids), and I’m just sort of a sponge, constantly absorbing visual information around me and applying it. What I’m most proud of being able to achieve so far is consistent growth, despite taking frequent breaks (self care is important!) is that I’ve noticed my makeup’s evolution and I’m pleased with how the details I try to paint are still improving and growing, and I feel that lets me know I can keep going and I’ll only get better. Practice WORKS, don’t compare yourself and your personal journey to anyone else, yours is unique and there is beauty in that. My journey was not easy, I moved houses a lot, and not only did I need to navigate the makeup & fashion world, but I needed to learn about technology, hardware, software, editing, lighting, chroma keys, microphones, settings, and JEEZ is it irritating! But with the help of my husband and chosen family online, everything ended up alright! Streaming and social media continues to not be easy, balancing between mental health, personal life, wanting to help others, and my community, I often end up being inconsistent in how often my content is created/released, but I found it’s better to come to terms and say “it’s okay,” because it is! Worrying and over-stressing only goes so far into pushing yourself to your limits for creation, but eventually I think it’s best to realize it’s okay to go at your own pace and do what you can. What I’d want the world to know about me is that since day 1 (but more likely somewhere between the ages of 14-16) I’ve set a mantra for myself: “Just do your best, every day.” Acknowledge your personal boundaries because we are only human, and allow yourself to be happy in that. We can only do so much in a day, and as long as you can look back and think “alright, that was enough, even if I could’ve done more, at that time, I did my best” and be reasonable/realistic, we aren’t mutant superhuman perfect beings who can ignore when our brains, stomachs, hearts and bodies give up on us and tell us they’re done. Don’t beat yourself up, (which seems very YOLO) it’s not worth lingering on the pains of the world when there is so much good.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I could go anywhere, and do it all (within where I’ve been before, and not during a pandemic), I’d love to enjoy some time in Canada (where I’m from), visit the boundless nature there, feel the winds of Newfoundland, the Sugarbush (when it’s in season), their maple treats and horse rides through late-winter forests. I’d love to re-experience (or do a new version of) the first dates I had with my husband, the amazing food, sights, sounds, of Washington DC. If the plane rides weren’t so long, Ireland for their cozy lounges with good drinks (and for some of their delicious butter and brown bread), Portugal’s shops and streets and food (try the green wine!). Above all, I think a successful trip is based on the time you get to spend with someone special, whether it’s good or bad, at least you experienced it with an entire other being and can recall it together.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Part of my successes is definitely attributed to being a member of Team Stream Queens (an all-drag team of streamers including Kings, Characters, Creatures and Queens), they’re my chosen family and I do all I can to support and love them, because they’ve loved and supported me for so long. Above all, the person who is the absolute backbone of me and my content (yes I know this is cheesy) is my husband (and our cat Lola). He has been my support in all ways, and every way. I can lean on him when I fall, when there’s drama he is someone I can scream to (whether or not he remembers their names), and through our hardest times he has lifted me not only as a content creator, but as a Non-Binary person, trying to navigate gender, art, and the world.

Website: https://www.twitch.tv/chelora

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheloraflora/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Chel0ra

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chelora

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxpW6reJN6cQc-8oxPRIo8Q