Photo via YouTube

Josh Kilmer-Purcell studied writing at Michigan State University.

He met his husband, Brent Ridge, a physician who was the Vice President of Healthy Living at Martha Stewart Omnimedia, in NYC in 2000. Kilmer-Purcell worked at several big deal Manhattan advertising agencies as an art director.

Kilmer-Purcell has written six books, including two bestselling memoirs, a novel, and three cookbooks. I Am Not Myself These Days: A Memoir (2006) is a funny/scary tale his early days in NYC, living as an advertising art director by day and a drag queen named “Aquadisiac” by night. The memoir details his relationship with a crack-addicted male escort.

His other books include the novel Candy Everybody Wants (2008) and The Bucolic Plague (2010), a memoir about his purchase of a historic mansion and goat farm in Sharon Springs, New York.

Aqua, via YouTube

As Aquadisiac, Kilmer-Purcell performed at clubs all over the planet. Aqua was best known for her use of live goldfish in the boobs of her costumes.

“The Fabulous Beekman Boys”, World Of Wonder, Kilmer-Purcell on R, photo via YouTube

In 2008 Kilmer-Purcell and Ridge launched Beekman 1802, a green lifestyle company inspired by their farm. The Fabulous Beekman Boys was a reality television show produced by us, World Of Wonder Productions. It ran for two seasons beginning in 2010 on Planet Green and a third season on The Cooking Channel. I was a devoted fan of the series, a sort of 21st century real life Green Acres. The couple also participated in the 21st season of The Amazing Race, where they were the season’s grand prize winners, making them gay heroes.