{"id":269095,"date":"2026-06-17T00:23:11","date_gmt":"2026-06-17T00:23:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/269095\/"},"modified":"2026-06-17T00:23:11","modified_gmt":"2026-06-17T00:23:11","slug":"behind-the-scenes-with-the-queens-of-barbara","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/269095\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Scenes with the Queens of BARBARA"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Santa Barbara-based drag queen Jaundice Joplin prepares for a performance in their home. | Credit: Maya Johnson<\/p>\n

In the age of RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race, the type of drag represented on our screens is often impossibly perfect: harshly judged runways, thousand-dollar outfits, and beautifully filtered makeup. But, to the queens of BARBARA<\/a>, hosting a local drag show is a lot more real. It means kooky, out-of-the-box performances, floors covered in crumpled dollar bills, and real, in-person community building.<\/p>\n

Drag queens Aria Cummingtonite, Jaundice Joplin, Linda, and Cherry Von Illa have been hosting their Santa Barbara\u2013based drag show, aptly named BARBARA, every 2nd Friday (and now 3rd Saturday) at Eos Lounge for more than a year now. This Pride Month, we sat down with these gorgeous and hilarious queens out of drag to get the exclusive, pre-show tea on what local drag means to them.<\/p>\n

Read our Pride Month cover story here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Conservationists
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