Lana Turner was discovered when she was a junior at Hollywood High School, skipped a typing class and bought a Coca-Cola at the Top Hat Malt Shop. Charlize Theron got her big break when completely broke, she was trying to cash an out-of-state check at a bank. An agent in line, hearing her desperate pleas, approached her.
This month the Montrose Star Spotlight looks at a Galveston performer who took to the stage on a whim, got a little help from perfect strangers, and has been rocking the stage ever since.
The February Montrose Star Spotlight shines on Kitty West.
Name: Kitty West
Zodiac sign: Pisces
Home City: Galveston
How long you have been doing drag/entertaining? Six years.
Favorite thing about drag/entertaining: I love the feeling of just being on that stage and the energy from the audience. That is such an amazing feeling for me as a performer.
What is your favorite number/and or celebrity to perform: My favorite number to perform is “Me and Bobby McGee” by Janis Joplin. She is my favorite singer ever.
Who is your inspiration? I would say my inspiration would be my Nana who’s passed away. She always showed everybody kindness and love, and always helped people out when they needed help.
An interesting fact: My interesting fact is that in March of 2018, I had just turned 21 years old. I wanted to go out to a gay bar. So, I started going to Robert’s Lafitte during the day, and then one night I decided to try going out at night. I went to Robert’s Lafitte when they used to have a talent night every Wednesday called Shipwrecked.
I walked in and was asked if I would like to enter the talent night contest. They said you can sing, dance or do drag, etc. I said I don’t know what I could do. They said, “Have you ever done drag?” I said, “No, the only thing I knew about drag was watching RuPaul on Logo TV.”
So they put me in drag, put a wig on me, did my make-up and I went out on stage for the very first time, wearing sneakers. I didn’t win the first night, so I went back the next Wednesday and entered the talent night again.
Still wearing the sneakers, I won Talent Night this time. I loved it so much after that I kept doing it.
And then one time, two guys I didn’t know came into the dressing room and handed me two pairs of black women’s heels. They said to me, “These are for you.” I told them I didn’t have money to give to them to buy them for me. They replied this is our gift to you and that they just wanted to help me out. I was so thankful to them.
They said, “We watched you the other night on stage and we loved you and your performance, but the sneakers have to go, honey.” I was never more grateful to anyone than these two guys.
After that day I never saw them again because they said they were moving out of town. But I am so grateful to them for what they did for me.
When not on stage, what do you do for fun? I love to sing karaoke.
Where can we catch your act? At Robert’s Lafitte in Galveston, Texas.
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