- Hey, everyone.
Welcome to year two of It Gets Better:
a digital Pride experience. I am your host, Kalen Allen,
and I am so excited to be joining you all this year.
Now, we have an incredible lineup of talent
over the next two days, but before we get started,
I want to talk a little bit about why we're here.
We are here to celebrate Pride month and everything that
Pride represents. Individuality, diversity,
embracing your journey, whatever that means for you today.
Because you don't have to be out, proud, and covered in
rainbows to celebrate in your own way.
Just be you unapologetically. We're also here to celebrate
"It Gets Better", which has been working to uplift,
empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth for more than a decade.
If you want to support "It Gets Better",
Follow them on socials, like, and share their post.
You can also donate right here on YouTube
or @itgetsbetter.org or just text your friends and tell them
to watch right now, because it's a party after all.
(laughs)
Now we also want to quickly thank our sponsors who helped
make all of this possible. Presenting sponsors
American Eagle and Lexus, and event sponsor, Converse.
Thank you all so very much. Let's get this thing rolling.
Hey, everybody it's Kalen Allen here.
And I'm so excited because today we're going to do
a very special drag transformation.
And I brought in the one and the only
the incomparable, Monique Heart.
- Hello? Hello? Hello? - Oh my darling!
- How are you?
- I'm wonderful, how you doing?
I'm good. I'm good.
I'm ready for this beat.
- I'm ready for it too.
- We talked about it during
the Christmas special,
- Yes, yes, yes.
- We're going to paint and I said, "those cheek bones, those
cheekbones". So smooth look at the cheekbones.
So, we're going to start,
you already shaved and moisturized
we're just going to start by going to the brow down.
- Okay.
- You, like me, have eye space,
however, you just- your eyes just are a little bit
more hooded. - Okay.
- So we just want to... Maybe I could-
let me see,
I think we still might glue the whole thing down
and then redraw them.
- Okay! I'm down for it - Alright, boom.
All right, Let's start.
- Do you always do other people? Do I need to turn my-
my chair in or anything? - No.
- Okay.
So do you ever do anybody else's makeup?
- I haven't done someone else's makeup- Actually,
let me go this way- I haven't done someone else's makeup
since All Stars, I think.
- Okay.
- Uh, for the Judy challenge.
- Gotcha. Okay. - Yeah.
- Yeah, I don't have that.
I can do like my own makeup for like, when I'm going,
you know, on to shoot something or whatever,
but me and drag makeup, I don't have a clue.
- Yeah. You know, drag makeup. It's not like.
"Oh, I'm just gonna put on a light B"
- Right.
- As you will see, this is the production.
- Yeah, a lot of work, a lot of work.
- Because you have to take this man,
- Uh-huh - and make him disappear.
- Uh-huh. - And you know, sometimes,
that is a production. - Yes, it is.
Now how usually- how long does it take you
to do your makeup?
- I can do my makeup in 45 minutes.
I've done it in 15, and looked amazing. I was like,
"oh my gosh, girl, I'm a woman."
- Oh wow. 15? - Yeah, girl.
- That's Impressive. - Good bone structure.
- That's crazy.
And you're originally from Kansas City. Same as I am.
- No. I'm originally from New York,
- Oh! - and I- yeah.
I moved to Casey for Bible college.
- (gasps) Oh! Which college? - I went to the
International House of Prayer, IHoP.
It was in Grandview. - okay, Yes.
- So it was a 24 hour, um, prayer ministry.
And then they had a- a Bible school, and a music academy.
- Okay. - And I went to be a preacher.
- Amen! Now, did you like Kansas city? How did it feel?
- Um, (cough) excuse me. - (laughs)
- Kansas City- well, here you go, when I first,
it was a culture shock, you know?
going from New York and then Virginia
to middle America is very like, woo, woo, woo.
- Yes. - Um, but I found my group.
I would say like downtown KC by the union,
you have the jazz district as well,
- Okay - you have less poor,
so I found my group. But in the beginning it was like,
"what do y'all do out here?" And it's just, you know,
and because I was in Grandview, there wasn't a whole lot-
- To do. - To do.
- And Grandview was so far from the rest of, like,
the center of the city. - Yeah, So you're like,
what are you doing? - Right. Exactly.
Okay, Alright. Interesting. I did not know that.
Yeah, moving from New York? Ooh, Yeah, that's a,
that's a big culture shock, you know,
'cause I moved from Kansas city-
and I was born and raised there,
but I moved from Kansas city to Philadelphia.
- Really? - That was a culture shock.
I mean, when I was seeing people walk across the street
before the light was telling them to, I was like,
"what you doing?" - (laughs)
- You know, like, that- that made me uncomfortable.
So I really had to learn and grow at a rapid,
you know, pace because I had just,
I moved to a big city all by myself. You know?
Now when did you start doing drag?
- I started doing drag in KC.
I will say I came out in KC, in Kansas city.
- Okay - let me move this
because I feel like I'm going to fall
- Oh, yeah. Here just put it right there.
There we go, there we go, there we go.
- Um, I feel Kansas City was a great safe space for me
to kind of come out. - Okay.
- Um, being the fact that I think I came-
not because I came out of, but I would say having a
background coming out of full-time ministry and whatnot.
I don't know if all of the, if Miami,
or LA would have been the right city for me to- whew!
That would have been a lot. - I needed to ease my footage.
- Yes. And Kansas city will do that because it's still,
even though it is, you know, a conservative place,
I think sometimes even if you are very liberal and ha-
and you, especially when you are queer,
there is still that balance of still having a little bit of
conservativeness in you. You know,
I know I definitely experienced that compared to other
people that grew up in more liberal states.
- Yeah like when- my friends, Who like grew up
in like, LA and you know. Or even a hot Lander baby.
- (laughs) - You know, you know.
- They're like, different beings. Yeah.
- Whew! And then you're like, oh, okay let me, ooh.
Um, but it's, it was, it was great.
Like I learned about that amazing barbecue.
- Yes. Love a good barbecue from Kansas City.
That, that can not be matched.
- At all - At all.
- So, - Okay.
- we're going to just apply a little setting powder.
- You know, what I find interesting is your,
your, how, how grounded you in, in your, in your faith.
And I think that's so interesting because we don't often see
that. So were your parents like preachers or anything?
- Mhm - Okay.
So you're a preacher's kid?
- I am. My mom was a minister and um,
I went into full-time ministry before coming out. So... I...
it's weird, like even when I- I'm working on music right now
in a little project.
- Uh-huh - And one of my friends said,
"What are you writing about?" And I said, the Holy Spirit.
- Amen. - And he said, "Really?"
And I said, "I don't have dating experience
to know what it's like. To like, so I can't sing about like,
only to a certain extent.
- Yeah, okay.
- So I mean, that is my greatest love affair,
The biggest heartbreak.
Coming out was so devastating for me
so, I'm leaving the only world that I ever knew behind,
you know?
- Yeah. So how did you find the balance
in that as you got older? - I- leaving seminary school,
I would have these weird dreams
where like, in the dream, like this godlike figure would be
barking at me and screaming and I would wake up
and I would go, "you never, ever in my life,
spoke to me that way." And I have done some crazy shit.
Um, So why now?
And from that place,
um, I really just started to remain in the truth.
Like, this is who you say you are, you say, you love me.
You say you paid such a high price. You say you never fail.
And so then it was just truly a matter
of getting the B.S. that was so long digested,
like out and just living
in truth, which is a daily journey.
I mean, to be 35-
I just turned 35 May 22nd. - Happy birthday.
- Thank you. Which is a blessing. Cause you know,
being a black man and then being black and gay, you know,
we're not promised to see what to 18.
So, to make 35, you're like, woo, woo, woo.
- Right.
- So it's this journey of like,
throwing up a lot of homophobia
that you didn't know, was there. You know?
And just seeing like where that foolishness is coming from.
So I think it's just a daily place of just letting him love
me. And then from that place, I feel like everything else
just falls into play.
Um, I mean, I feel freer than I'd ever been
and I also feel closer to him.
And I can look at the evidence
of my life as a queer individual coming from my background
and going, "if he really had a problem, the blessings?"
- I said the same thing. - you know?
'Cause I am very clear to stay far away from anything that
looks remotely like the devil.
So, and I'm very one that's like "Holy Spirit,
I don't want to be deceived. So if I'm deceived
at any point likes slap me." - Yes.
- And he still is showering down opportunities.
And I be like, "Holy Spirit. I-"
like, I take care of my mom, you know?
And I go, for like, "Jesus, you did that
in the midst of the pandemic."
- Okay. - Okay. Like-
- I- you know, you know, you're absolutely right.
And when you grow up, especially as black people,
we are very ingrained into, you know, Christianity
into religion.
And that was definitely something for me is like when the
world would try and tell me that who I was was wrong for,
you know, whatever reason, I always didn't understand it
because I was like, "Well then, if that was the case,
Why would I be living such a wonderful life?
Why would I have these blessings?"
Wouldn't they stop? - You should be like,
stopping stuff Like, "I don't want this for you."
- Exactly. You know? And so I was like,
I just don't know if I can believe that
because my life tells me something different,
the results tell me something different, You know?
Because I believe that for me personally,
I believe that I am the violent guy.
I am always taken care of no matter what goes on.
So you started to do drag, and did you think that it was
going to become the phenomenon that it is?
- No, I started to do drag because I was broke, poor,
and you know, and destitute, like most black drag queens.
- (laughs) - You know, and literally,
I did drag so I could pay my tuition down
on my cosmetology license so I could start hair.
And then I started hair and then recognized, "wait a minute.
If I cross-dress," - Uh-huh.
- "I'll make more money." So I started cross-dressing
for the Lord. - (laughs)
- Actually, when I got on drag race, I was actually thinking
about quitting to be perfectly honest. I was over drag.
Um, and my friend said, "Just put a tape in"
and I thank God that I was like, "You know what? Whatever.
It'll be my last hurrah." And I did.
And I'm so grateful that I did.
- I mean, you did it. You're an iconic queen.
After you do drag race and you slay it,
what becomes the life of a drag queen after that?
- You're- okay, here you go. Now I'm going to say,
if you are blessed and I do- it's true because first of all,
as a black girl, is not the same. The opportunities are not,
they're not okay. Um, if you are a successful black girl,
your life changes now. Anybody who gets to do drag race,
you truly get to be the superstar that you've always wanted
to be, but you were limited to just the gay bar,
unless you were a smart queen who works social media.
- Yes. - You know what I mean?
- Yes. - Um, So.
- Or going on to do movies like Shangela.
- Right. But you know, she wanted to,
I think she got into drag- she fell into it.
It really wasn't like the thing she wanted to do.
- Yeah, 'cause Shangela was working at TGI Fridays
in corporate. - Okay. Getting the coin.
- That's why she made coin after.
And that's the other thing. I would say this,
you have to have some form of a game plan
and I think a lot of the girls get on the show
and they're just like, "(scoff) Baby, I'm- I'm in."
- Right, it's not that easy. - And you know
Like you gotta now work.
- Like you have to continue to put out content,
because the bar and the tours are only going to pay
but X amount of dollars while you're hot,
which is only for six months, if you made it far.
So... - You are absolutely correct.
I mean, I think that goes the same way
with like going viral, you know?
Cause it's like when I did the food videos,
a lot of people were expecting that- that just to be it.
But every- anybody that knew me,
knew that was not going to be the case just because
of how I work and what the overall
dream was that it would beyond the videos, you know?
And then I was able to build a career from it and sustain.
And I think even now I'm always trying to figure out
what's next.
- Right. Well,
you're- the crazy thing about the entertainment industry is
you're only as hot as your last, greatest thing or whatever.
- Yeah. - So,
- So you always have to one up yourself,
- you really do.
That's why Beyoncé has survived for so long.
She didn't become complacent, you know?
And it was always about the art regardless
of how much money she made or not.
You know, I didn't go to Pride
for the first time until I moved to Los Angeles.
- Really? - Yeah.
And I think it's because I knew why Pride was created and
how it all happened. You know after the Stonewall riots.
And I think because I understood the meaning,
I felt like we had lost what the purpose of Pride was.
- I'm not going to lie, I slightly felt some of that
as well, because I think for me, I wanted some
of the fantasy that they give on the television show,
which is like, you bring your mom to Pride, Woo, woo, woo,
everybody would have these great emotions,
but that's not what Pride was about. Like, you know.
- As y'all can see the drag formation is underway.
So, be sure you come back tomorrow
to see the big reveal, darling.
'Cause it's going to be sickening trust and believe that.
- Okay. Give me your tremor. (whispers)
- Oh, I do. Okay.
This brow is sickening
- She's coming in. - She is.
- I think I could've pulled this one a little bit more,
but yeah, she's she's right. Okay.
- You know, also growing up in Kansas city,
when it came to knowing about, you know,
resources for LGBTQ+ youth, it's- my first introduction
probably was, It Gets Better. - Really?
- I think that was probably the first thing that I ever
knew about, you know? - Wow.
- And I think it's something that we-
it's a universal statement that we all use in general.
- It really does. - You know?
- I mean not does, but it really is a statement that we use.
- Yeah. And a concept, especially as-
as youth is we hear it all the time and not necessarily
knowing, "well, okay. You say that cause they did for you,
but it may not do that for me.' You know,
And I think it's understanding and trusting that everybody's
journey is different. - That is very true
- And also you have to realize what does better mean to you?
- Yeah.
Your better is not going to look like
somebody else's better. - Very true.
- You know?
But I think the work that they do is absolutely amazing
because I always loved the fact that the focus is on youth,
you know? 'Cause I think those are the pivotal moments
and the deciding moments of who we become as adults
- Very true
- and having that support system
and knowing that there's a place where you can go in
and feel loved unconditionally and supported and have
resources given to you is something that not a lot of people
are afforded to. You know, especially when I think about
like growing up in Kansas City, you know?
- Yeah. Because the,
I think as a queer person, I was just,
I remember when I came out thinking like if I was 12,
where would I go? Like, who do you talk to?
How do you, so I think it is so necessary.
(lively music)
- We're back for day two of
It Gets Better: a digital pride experience,
and I'm back as majestic 49, you know, or, you know,
Kalen Allen in drag, whatever you want to call me.
But yesterday Monique Heart started preparing me
for my drag debut, and we're going to show you
the reveal today. Listen, we've got so much exciting stuff
ahead for you today.
But before we get started, we want to once again,
thank our sponsors for making all of this possible.
Presenting sponsors American Eagle, and Lexus,
and event sponsor, Converse. We can not do this without you.
No. we cannot.
Also, Just a reminder,
We're here to celebrate It Gets Better.
If you want to show them some love,
like and share their posts, donate here if you can,
or just get your friends to watch the live stream now.
It's a Pride party, let's celebrate together.
Monique, I'm snatched. - Snatched.
- It's sickening. - very
- (Laughs)
It's giving Hollywood glamor realness. Well, Thank y'all.