Black Peppa – Paint it black
It’s been just over a year since Drag Race UK viewers first encountered self-styled ‘Caribbean Empress of Birmingham’ Black Peppa, arguably the fiercest queen to tread the UK’s catwalk to date. Fashion-forward looks and lip sync assassin skills aside, it was Peppa’s inspiring story of self-realisation that truly captured viewers’ hearts. We catch up with Peppa alter ego Akeem-Anthony Adams about growing up in Sint Maarten, their unique style and life after reality TV.
Interview Adam Mattera Photography Christian Trippe
Dress by Mariusz Malon
It's been just over a year since the finale of the Drag Race season you were in. How has your life changed over the last twelve months?
Oh, it's changed drastically. I went from doing gigs in Birmingham and Manchester to travelling all over the world and meeting people that were inspired by my story and who loved my art form and my craft. So it's been life-changing to say the least.
Are there any particular moments that stand out as highlights to you?
Well everything about the show I have to say was a highlight. From when the promos first came out introducing all the girls to every episode as it aired on TV. And then going to the finale viewing and realising how many people supported me and seeing all the girls and the production team again. It was all such a great experience.
You’ve recorded a few singles since then too.
You know I never thought I would do music, but I really enjoy it. I write a lot of poetry and that can be translated into lyrics which I love. I’ve released three tracks now: Why Is She Calling? was first, and then I did Money with James Indigo and Naughty featuring INDI.
And you say you’ve been all over the world?
Yeah, the top four – me, Cheddar, Danny and Jonbers – went on an Australian tour together which was amazing. And I've been to Toronto to do Pride, Helsinki… honestly, I've been all over, I can't even remember everywhere. Going to all these places makes you realise it’s not just the UK watching – you can be walking down the street in Australia and someone recognises you and it’s like ‘Oh my god, you know who I am?’. It makes you appreciate how international the show is.
Dress by Mariusz Malon
Do people recognise you as much out of drag as in drag?
Of course, I have a very distinctive look. And if you're a fan of someone – like I'm a fan of Beyoncé, even if Beyoncé is wearing a hoodie, I would know it’s her. I’ve gone out in disguise and people still recognise me.
You've talked about your past and having to hide your light as it were, and to go from that to being in the full glare of the public spotlight – I imagine that’s been difficult at times, or has it?
Well, when I was on the show, I was scared a lot of the time thinking ‘Oh my god, when the show airs everyone back home is going to see this’. But that was me still feeling I needed to hide myself and dealing with that shame I had from the past. Once it aired, I had loads of messages from people back home who were like ‘you inspire me, we love you so much’. So I’m so glad I overcame my fears and that I've been able to help other people from my hometown and other Caribbean islands who feel like they can't be themselves or they can't be out as a queer person.
Tell me more about that – what was it like growing up in Sint Maarten?
I don't want to say I had a terrible childhood – when I was really young, life was great. And then as I got older, I started having feelings towards boys and everything changed. People at church started saying things about me and then my parents started noticing things. We were raised in a strict Christian household, and they didn’t like me hanging around with my queer friends and dancing at school, stuff like that.
Who was the first drag queen you ever saw?
There was this underground club in Sint Maarten called Club Eros, which I don't think exists anymore. That was the first time I saw a guy put on make-up and a wig and I was fascinated by that. I remember thinking ‘wow, this person doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks about them, they're just doing their own thing.’ So that was very inspiring.
How old were you when started going to that club?
I was in high school, so I would have been around 19. I used to sneak out the house on a Saturday night. We had sliding doors that I used to open as quietly as possible and tiptoe out. I’d come back in late and then go to church on Sunday morning, extremely tired because I was out partying all night. One time I was so drunk I fell asleep on the porch outside and woke up with my parents standing over me shaking their heads. That was the first time I got caught.
You’ve told a story before about somebody who videoed you at some club and sent it to your mum.
That was at the same club. Till this day, I don’t know who it was. Probably someone who knew me and my parents and wanted to be spiteful and cause trouble.
Dress by Belladonis, wig by Luna Bundy
“I’m so glad I overcame my fears and that I've been able to help other people from my hometown and other Caribbean islands who feel like they can't be themselves or they can't be out as a queer person.”
Eventually you left and came to the UK to study biomedical science at Coventry University. That was a very brave thing to do – to move to a completely different country on your own. It must have been daunting.
No, it felt great. I finally left home, which is what I always wanted to do. I was on my own being an adult, and honestly, it felt wonderful. I could finally live my life the way I wanted to without anyone monitoring me and giving me curfews. It was complete freedom.
Was that when you first started doing drag?
No, I didn’t start doing drag until I moved to Birmingham after Uni. I started going out on the queer scene in Birmingham, meeting drag queens and feeling inspired by them. And then Halloween came in 2018 and I dressed up as Catwoman and it was a very liberating experience. After that, my drag mother Yshee Black asked me if I wanted to perform in drag. The first time I went on stage just felt amazing. And it all kicked off from there – I started competing and performing a lot in Birmingham and I won the main competition, The Church of Yshee. And then it just kind of branched out to performing all over the UK.
Dress by Mariusz Malon
“Being from the Caribbean, I had different influences growing up that no one else would have had but me. And that makes my drag completely unique…”
Dress by Mariusz Malon, wig by Mecca Christophe
How would you describe your drag aesthetic?
I think I'm a chameleon. I don't like limit it to just one thing – I can do fashion, I can do club kid, I can do editorial. I like to do concepts that no one has ever seen before. Being from the Caribbean, I had different influences growing up that no one else would have had but me. And that makes my drag completely unique, because only I have been through these things. I wouldn't say I'm a fashion queen – I didn't go to fashion school. But I have style and I know what works. I used to do painting when I was younger, so that artistic side of me has always been there. I've always had an eye for stuff. I'm an artist.
A lot of people might have assumed you had a fashion background. Your looks are amongst the strongest of any of the UK contestants we've seen so far. Especially your entrance look with the high ponytail and mask reveal, that was stunning. Very Grace Jones, of course. I imagine you’re a fan?
Absolutely – I’m so inspired by her. She's been a huge influence in my life, because she is a strong black woman who doesn't give a shit what anyone thinks. Even when I was very young, before I even thought about drag, she ignited a fire in me to be more confident, to be a bit rebellious and not care what people think about me, whether that was my parents or people in church. I always knew I was going to be someone, and Grace Jones gave me that hope that I could do it.
“Grace Jones has been a huge influence in my life… before I even thought about drag, she ignited a fire in me to be more confident, to not care what people think about me, whether that was my parents or people in church.”
Can we talk a bit about your experience of being on the show? I’m interested in how long you get to prepare before the filming starts – and also the investment you need to make in pulling together all the looks.
Well, every girl is different – I got the call a little before, so I had time to prepare. Luckily, I know a lot of designers from Birmingham, Manchester, London, so that was very beneficial for me. But either way, it's so stressful. I'm not gonna disclose how much I spent, but it definitely cost me a lot of money and it took me about a year to be fully out of debt for the show – to pay back all the designers, wig stylists and the rest. I went for a steak dinner to celebrate, it felt so good.
Well, it was definitely worth it. What about the filming schedule – how condensed is it? Is it literally day after day filming back-to-back challenges? It must be exhausting.
Once again, I can't disclose. But what would say is when they say it's drag race, it's a race. You go in and you need to do your makeup quick. You need to make sure you have your outfits ready, your wigs ready. Everything in place. Sometimes it was easy for me, sometimes it was incredibly stressful.
Of the other contestants who did you bond with the most?
Luckily, I don't have any beef with anyone. But I absolutely adore Just May and Cheddar Gorgeous – they’re my best buddies. Baby as well. But honestly, I've bonded with all the girls.
What was your parents’ reaction to you being in the show? Did you let them know beforehand?
I told my mom close to when it was about to air. Out of respect I wanted them to hear it from my mouth before hearing it from other people's. My parents wanted me to be a doctor and study medicine, so you can imagine it was hard to tell them ‘Oh, I'm a drag queen now’ and it’s been tough on them with everyone talking about ‘Oh your son’s dressing up like a woman’ and stuff like that. Obviously, I'm very protective of my family and I don't want to do things that hurt them, but also, I just want to live my life. At some point, it has to be ‘look, this is me’. And it's gonna have some consequences. I have to live my life the way I want to.
Dress by Belladonis, wig by Luna Bundy
“You have to stick to your brand, because if you're just all over the place, it's like ‘what kind of Queen are you?’ Do you just do anything?”
Dress by Mariusz Malon, wig by Mecca Christophe
Yeah, of course. And since being in the show, what’s your take on life after Drag Race? I mean I’ve seen queens on TV ice skating, baking cakes, you name it – it’s such a big platform to launch yourself from. How do you differentiate and sustain yourself after the show?
Well, I think you really need to know your own brand and tailor what you want to do to that. Some girls want to be on TV shows, some girls want to go into fashion – there's so many different aspects to what you can with drag. But you have to stick to your brand, because if you're just all over the place, it's like ‘what kind of Queen are you?’ Do you just do anything?
I totally agree with you. I guess that expectation is set up by the format of the show, which after all is a contest. People seem to forget that.
Totally. It’s like a pressure cooker to see the fitness of the fittest, who has skills get to the end.
Which reminds me, I have to ask you about the current season – are you watching and who have you been championing?
Of course I've been watching. Well, I don't want to be biased but I’ve known Banksie for years, so I was really rooting for her. She’s one of my closest friends from Manchester. She was a huge influence on me when I first started drag – she helped me a lot and I’ll never forget that. So seeing her have the chance to finally be on the show was very full circle for me. Regardless of the outcome. She's going to take over the world and I'm really, really proud of her.
I have to say I was shocked she left when she did. For me, she was a front runner, I thought she was definite final four.
Well, that says a lot about someone when everyone thinks they shouldn't have left.
For sure. And it’s not always the queens that win that people necessarily gravitate towards afterwards. Ok, last question, what’s next for you, where do you see Black Peppa in 2024?
Well, I have so many things I want to do, especially in terms of spreading awareness of queer minorities who just don't feel represented enough – whether that’s black, Asian or whatever. I want people to know it's okay to be yourself. And I just want to be the best version of myself that I always imagined I could have been as a child. That's what I want to do.
Dress by Mariusz Malon
Team credits
Interview Adam Mattera
Photography Christian Trippe
Film Timothy N. Heinrich
Fashion Mariusz Malon
Wigs by Mecca Christophe and Luna Bundy
Make-up artist Jack Oliver
Nails Anthony Lloyd
Photo Assistant Joshua Heavens Onabowu
Retouching Stefanie Schneeberger
To Keep up to date with Black Peppa, follow her on Instagram
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