Tiffany De la Vega

By Johnny Trlica

Bad Bunny may have had some people clutching their pearls with his Super Bowl performance, but he could have sent them completely over the cliff if he had brought out Isabel Pantoja for a cameo performance.

Not only is Pantoja, 69, a legendary Spanish singer, but she is revered as a drag icon due to her dramatic flair, emotional performances and iconic fashion. She is frequently honored in queer culture, notably with performances on Drag Race España and tributes by drag artists like Valentina.

Pantoja’s passionate, high-drama musical style resonates deeply within the LGBTQ+ community, and she was famously impersonated by Samantha Ballentines on Drag Race España.

Tiffany De la Vega cites Pantoja as the singer of her go-to song during her stage performances, and she is in the MONTROSE STAR Spotlight this month.

Name: Tiffany De la Vega

Pronoun: Whatever you want to call me, I’m fine with.

Zodiac sign: I’m a Cancer.

Where is your hometown?
I’m from Brownsville, Texas but have been in Galveston for the past 25 years.

How long have you been in the entertainment business?
I want to say 34 years. I started as Ruby, a name I got from a Mexican telenovela.
After a couple of years, I changed my name to Tiffany, a character in Chuckie’s Bride and my last name is in honor of my late first boyfriend.

Describe what it was like the first time you did drag.
I was scared because back in the day it was hard for us to be accepted. I felt like a piece of meat.

Do you have a signature song — a number your fans insist you perform or perhaps your go to song?
That would be “Así Fue” (“That’s the Way it Went” or “How it Was” or “It is What it is”) by Isabel Pantoja. The song tells of the singer dealing with her ex-lover after she has a new fiancé. I’ve been listening to her since I was a child.

Do you get stage fright?
Yes. Well, sometimes.

What do you enjoy most about being on stage?
You get to be somebody else. Plus, I love the feedback
from customers.

Do you have a pet peeve about being on stage?
I do not really have one.

Who are your inspirations — personally and professionally?
Professionally, I love Celia Cruz! On a personal level, it’s my mom. She was a single parent and is the strongest person I know. Nothing can break her down.

What do you feel is the most misunderstood thing about the drag culture?
The way they look at us, the way they have branded us. Not all of us are whores and drug addicts. We are not all the same.

March brings a lot of spring breakers to the Island. How do you cope?
Well, we have the space here and a pool. We like the increased traffic and especially like those Austin boys. By the way, love Lady Liberty Bell!

You’ve taken a personal interest in getting Robert’s Lafitte back in shape. What is that all about?
It’s my home bar and I don’t want it to close down. I’ve been here for 25 years! It’s become a part of me. There’s a legacy here. Many past customers and drag queens have their ashes spread across the back yard here. Recently a customer from the past, who is terminally ill, came here to enjoy his last smoke.

We have recently hired a new events coordinator, Pride Galveston’s chief executive officer, Terry Michael Fuller. In addition to continuing our Leather Nights, TGRA Night and annual Pup Weekend, we are planning new and exciting events for the summer. We have also opened the pool bar and named it Tiff’s Texas Tiki Bar. It will be open at 3 on weekdays and at 2 on weekends.

Are you on social media?
Yes, I am on Facebook, Instagram and Snap Chat.

Where and when can we catch your act?
As show director I am at Robert’s Lafitte all the time. I am in the shows on Friday and Saturday.

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