Today we’d like to introduce you to Burly Esque.
Hi Burly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Greetings! I am Burly Esque, Kansas City’s premier opera-singing drag queen. As a drag artist and queer community builder, I champions all things fat, funny, and fabulous. Audiences are delighted by my humor and live vocals, in addition to my larger-than-life makeup and unique sense of style. I was recently awarded The Pitch KC’s Best Drag Artist of 2025. This was a huge accomplishment, having just started my drag career in July of 2024. I have quickly become a staple in the drag and nightlife scenes around Kansas City and Lawrence, regularly hosting and performing several nights a week at Missie B’s, in the monthly show ‘Nightingales’ at Nighthawk, and around Lawrence as a member of the drag haus/production company Dorothy & The Dolls. As Burly Esque, I have also been seen around the city working with various bands, musical ensembles, arts organizations, and comedians, hosting shows, fundraisers, and galas. Bringing drag outside of the nightclub and into non-traditional drag spaces with new audiences is one of favorite things to do. If you have a check, I have a talent and will bring drag into your space, Or, to put it simply, I’ll do just about anything for a dollar!
Despite my newness to the drag scene, I am lifelong entertainer and a natural-born performer. A Kansas City native and 2016 graduate of Platte County High School, I went on to receive my Bachelor of Science in Vocal Performance with a Minor in Theatre from William Jewell College in 2020. I then moved to Lubbock, Texas, where I obtained a Master’s Degree in Voice from Texas Tech University in 2022. Since moving back home to Kansas City and starting drag, I have taken the queer nightlife scene by storm with my quick wit, vibrant personality, and masterful vocal ability. Some of my biggest highlights in drag include hosting various events with People’s Pride KC, winning The Pitch KC’s best drag artist of 2025, and having regular cast positions at some of the best drag shows Kansas City and Lawrence have to offer. My main goal in drag is always to entertain, inspire joy, and show off. While I proudly boast being a seasoned live entertainer who is completely at home on any stage, I am equally versed in social media and have worked hard to amass quite the internet presence. I continues to find community online through posting my drag and creating content. Please take a moment to find me peddling my sparkly self all over social media (and Venmo!) @Burly_Esque 💖
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not! The life of a performer is never an easy one, but every single setback and hiccup is worth it. I have had a lot of ups and downs as a plus-size queer person advocating for myself in performance spaces that are not always accepting of me. Despite being more open to and accepting of diversity than most spaces, the queer community is still affected by diet-culture and fatphobia. I recently was told by someone I looked up to in the community that if a an average size performer had my talent, drive, work ethic, and personality they would be twice as successful as I am today. But I am nothing if not stubbornly determined to chase every single one of my dreams (I’m a Taurus…) and eternally in love with every single part of myself (… with a Leo rising!). My work ethic and resiliency are key parts of who I am and I am unafraid to bring my radical self love and acceptance of my body into every space imaginable. It is always my goal to communicate my self-love to audiences whenever I perform in the hopes that it will rub off on them.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a live singing drag artist who specializes in classical music and musical theatre, comedy, and crowd work. I am known for always being a positive light in spaces and bringing joy to audiences. I am most proud of the community that my drag has fostered. I am constantly meeting new people who are moved by my art, and that connection is something I will never take for granted. I think the combination of my vocal ability with my larger-than-life presentation and comedic sensibility sets me apart from the drag scene in Kansas City. I want to bring a more camp style of drag back to Kansas City, and I think I am doing it quite glamourously if I do say so myself.
What makes you happy?
I am happiest when I am on stage. Being able to make people laugh and smile and experience joy through my performance is a feeling that I am always yearning for. Even when I am at my busiest in drag multiple days in a row doing 10-12 shows a week, I don’t get tired of it. I love the way I feel in drag and the way my drag makes others feel.
Additionally, as a flaming extrovert and social butterfly, I am obsessed with the community I have found since starting drag and feel truly fulfilled by being a part of it. Even when I am not performing, you can likely find me at a show or an event supporting my friends and colleagues. It is incredibly important for me to continue to support others in my community as much if not even than they support me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://forms.gle/zioTZ4CiqS9x9NzC7
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burly_esque/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burlyesque
- Twitter: https://x.com/Burly_Esque
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Burly_Esque
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@burly_esque
