March 21, 2005

VR: Hi there lady! Can you tell me and the fans of this section of my site, who is Ashley LaRue?
AL: Ashley the the 6ft 6in amazon goddess of Greenville SC a lady with a passion for performing also a TV that love being a lady

VR: Where are you living these days?
AL: Greenville SC (for the moment) one never knows what the future holds

VR: I know this is a hard question, but can you tell us what your life has
been about?
AL: Learning with in the last few years I've learned so much, not just about performing but learning to love who I am and that who I am is very special. Learning to over come obstacles and live to be proud of who I am and make the most of it.

VR: Have you always liked to dress up and perform, even as a child or did this urge to perform come to you when you got older?
AL: Even younger I always wondered why I wasn't a girl. Since I was 14-15 I wanted to be a performer but at that time it just wasn't possible till a bit later in life.

VR: Lets go back to when you were growing up. Did you feel you were “A women trapped in a man’s body” like so many say they feel, or were you happy as a boy and did all the things little boys did at that time?
AL Yes, I did and still do to a point but I had a good childhood I did the typical boy things but also alot of girl stuff as well.

VR: Who was your inspiration growing up?
AL: Mom, her strength and courage was and is still amazing, taking 2 young boys after a divorce and moving from the industiral north to the rural south to where we had little family or even people we knew and starting a new life.

VR: Where can we see you performing, do you have one main stay or do you
perform in many different clubs?
AL: At the moment I'm working at the cove in Spartanburg SC.

VR: I know you stand above the crowd, how tall are you and does being this
tall hurt or help you as a performer?
AL: I am 6ft 6in without shoes it helps that I always attract a crowd. It hurts
heght wise in finding stuff to fit and also a tad bit ungainly at times but
one makes due with what one was dealt.

VR: I am told you don’t try to mimic any female star or performer, you
are you. I am also told when we see you perform, the music you like to work to
is not really main stream or top 40 type music, is that true and if so, what could we expect to see and hear if we came and saw Miss Ashley LaRue performing?
AL: I love all music I tend to go back in time, 70-80s old heart Blondie, The
Pretenders, Joan Jett, anything with a good rock beat. I just do what feels
good for the crowd. I try to get a bead on what they may like before hand
and go out and just do it. Ashley's character is rebel rock chick I guess you
can say I do gown numbers, I do feather and headress numbers and sometimes I even sing the song myself, as I have been told I have a decent voice.

VR: What about costumes and gowns, do you have to have yours specially
made?
AL: Some, especially gowns because of the length, most are 59 inches I have about 66 inches or more for a good fit. I make some of my own as well and modify what
I can find off the rack. I'm thin I can fit into a lot of stuff, just the length is the biggest worry

VR: Do you have any pageant titles or are there any plans for the future
compete?
AL: I currently don't hold a title, I've won a couple of local pageants starting out, then I made a major move form Michigan to South Carolina and that took alot of time and money. I do plan to compete in a few events this year. I dont have major backing at this time, so its a slow process but I do plan on competing yes.

VR: What has been your biggest accomplishment?
AL: Just being able to perform alot. Some critics didnt give me a snowballs chance in hell of ever being a success. I won't say I'm a huge star but, I've done well locally and have fan base of sorts. Plus I was also in an accident, which left me with a knee problems. It limits my dancing to a point but I've wanted this too long so I dont let limits stop me.

VR: Do you have any pet peeves?
AL: Yes all the drama that sometimes comes with doing drag. I do not understand it, we have enough going against us with being who we are and what we do, in fighting does not help.

VR: Do you think you are a nice person or do you think you can be a bitch
at times?
AL: I'm a very nice person. I can get along in most situations, but I'll admit I can be a devil of a bitch at times too, but mostly im the nice guy, dragqueen...lol

VR: Who do you admire these days?
AL: Anyone with the courage to follow their dreams and doing it no matter the odds! Also those that help and support the T community, its helped me in more ways I can describe.

VR: What do you think makes you stand out above others(besides being
6’6”)?
AL: I guess my diversity. I always like to try different things, I'm not afraid to try something new with clothes or makeup or music. I do it if it works, if not then don't do it again. Also the fact that I try to live as a lady as well, especially here in the bible belt, while not always full time but I do enjoy being a lady even when not onstage.

VR: Do you get nervous when you are asked to speak to a group or perform
on stage?
AL: Speaking no, doing drag stopped that fear of public speaking..lol... Performing sometimes yes, because I'm a bit of a perfectionist and I always want to give a good show, but once the music starts it goes away.

VR: Would you ever get any kind of surgery or take female hormones to help you look more like the women?
AL: No plans at the moment but I never rule it out. I'm content with what I have at the moment as far as performer goes, but one never knows.

VR: Are you in love now?
AL: Single and looking.

VR: Where do you see yourself in the future?
AL: Still doing what I love hopefully, in a larger venue or with a major title. If not I'll still keep plugging away even if not performing ashley will still be ashley and supporting the T community however she can.

VR: Do you consider yourself a transgendered person?
AL: There is so many labels TV TS CD DQ, but I have to have yes, honestly I do.

VR: What do you think you have to offer the transgender community, anything
at all?
AL: Showing its ok to be who you are, embrace it, it is power!

VR: Who is your favorite fiction character(s), in literature, the movies or on stage, and why?
AL: The quiet unsung ones, the underdogs, the losers that become winners, the quiet intelligent thinkers that become the heroes, why, because there not given a chance but still prove the naysayers wrong cause ultimately they believed in their selves!

VR: What words of wisdom would you give to someone who is reaching out for help?
AL: Embrace who you are, and make the most of it. Dont be afraid of limits or what others may think. I did early on, and it might have cost me some prime years onstage. But things happen for reasons. Don't be afraid to ask others! Love yourself this is a awesome life we live.

VR: Do you have a final statement, for our readers?
AL: I just want to say thank you to the readers that support this site and to those that come out and watch the shows and support the T community. As a whole you are very appriciated and I say thank you.

Note from Vicki Rene: Ashley from what people tell me is a very caring and giving person, someone we should all try and be like. I don't know her personally but, I am proud to call her a friend.