Transformation Tuesday just got a whole lot QTer…New queers featured every week! Tag us, take a pic of us and follow us on Instagram at QWERRRKOUT, and you too could be the next QT! YOU BETTA QWERRRK! (Mx Qwerrrk pic by celebrity photog Santiago Felipe).

Axel Andrews

Age: 30

Location: Orlando, Florida

About:

“Raised in a small town on the west coast of Florida, drag was the last thing I thought I’d ever do. I grew up on the beach, playing sports and surrounded by a loud and loving Italian family. I was introduced to the nightlife and gay community shortly after moving to Orlando to attend UCF…and that’s when I started evolving into the person I am today.

Drag is EVERYWHERE in Orlando! Every successful night here is reliant on a good fun drag show. So, naturally, my curiosity got the best of me when I saw a local favorite Kitana Gemini perform a Fall Out Boy song at Pulse for their Wednesday college night. Growing up, I rarely related to female artists. Bands like The Used, MCR, Taking Back Sunday and Fall Out Boy helped me through a lot of insecurities I was having throughout school. So, I started developing my drag persona around the music that I personally love.

Shortly after starting my drag journey, I became close friends with my mother Roxxxy Andrews who took me under her wing and helped me to polish my character. That’s when I started to really grow. For a while, my drag wasn’t taken seriously, but over time I was determined to show everyone that you don’t need tits, heels, and Britney to make it in the drag world. I was a cast member at Pulse Orlando for 6 years until the tragedy happened. Thankfully, another local bar, Southern Nights, stepped in and extended jobs to many of us.

I’m responsible for an annual charity event called Dancing with the Queens where we have raised 10k a year for the Hope and Help Center of Orlando- who specialize in helping those living with HIV and AIDS…I’m the producer of a local drag battle called Dueling Divas… and you can find me hosting every Tuesday and Thursday at Southern Nights Orlando…and I’ll be in NYC for RuPaul’s DragCon at Drag Queen Divas booth.”