Meet Jackie O’Nasty | Drag Queen, Visual Artist, and Spaghetti Enthusiast

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

Hi Jackie, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
I know it probably doesn’t sound punk rock or anything but stepping up the organization of my ideas and environment made it a lot easier to really sit down and think of some of my best art and drag ideas. Making lists, having a schedule and a routine rather than the artistic chaos i thought i needed has really helped me produce some of my better work.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started doing drag about 4 years ago as a way to combine all of my favorite kinds of visual art, which i’m sure is the reason a lot of folks do drag. I put all aspects of my personality into my art and I’ve always hoped my drag reflected that. One of the challenges that presented itself along the way is learning when to take constructive criticism and being a little more flexible with my ideas. I found when i got stubborn and really dug my heels into an idea that wasn’t translating well in real life , that it had the opposite effect of what i wanted. Change your opinion when presented with a better alternative. Understand that your way may not be the best and seek out different perspectives, and above all, never be afraid to ask for help.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ok so obviously any Denton trip will start with coffee at Golden Boy Coffee. They have a cheddar rosemary sausage scone that I dream about. In the same food arena we have to either go to Tortillieria La Sabrosita or Layalinas for lunch, those are easily my favorite restaurants here. No trip to Denton is complete without visiting the square. If you’re not from the area it’s customary to take several selfies with the courthouse. Once you’ve done that make sure you go to Recycled Books in the courthouse where you will inevitably spend way too much time and forget what you originally planned to do. If you’re into weird old things that used to be other peoples things we can check out the Mini Mall (the one that didn’t burn down) for some antiques. Finally, we’d check out my absolute favorite bar Cool Beans, near the University where you can get a pitcher that tastes like a cold boozy sour patch kid, and kindly ask Jackson to play Carly Rae Jepsen and try not to smoke too much on the patio

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I quite literally would not be where I am now without my incredible partner. He’s my muse and has been a part of some of my favorite projects. The same goes for my best friend who loves me enough to tell me when i seriously need to edit. And finally a shoutout to the two Davids who’s work has influenced my drag and art more than anything else; David Byrne and David Lynch (call me)

Instagram: @thejackieonasty

Twitter: ohitsjackieo

Image Credits
Nicholas Woodfin