By Johnny Trlica
On October 20 when the Second Annual PrideFest Parade rolls down the Strand in downtown Galveston, the Grand Marshal will be a fixture on the Island’s LGBTQ+ scene. Chachie Pedraza Van Wales is the parade’s 2024 Grand Marshal.
Chachie has been performing at various venues on the Island for several years and has developed a large following. It seems like everyone knows and loves Chachie.
“I was so thankful and grateful that my community sees me for me,” says Chachie.
“Chachie is a lot of things to a lot of people. To me, she is a friend, a member of the Haus Of Dolls cast here at Island Time and a great person!” said Michael Cassavaugh, general manager at Island Time Beach Bar & Grill. “As a member of the Third Coast PrideFest (3CPF) Board I am so happy that she was selected by vote out of a list of more than twenty amazing individuals that our committee considered. Chachie is not only an amazing person and performer, but she is a friend to all here in Galveston! Chachie personifies the idea of community and inclusion — things important to 3CPF! I can’t wait to see what she will bring to the parade on October 20 in downtown Galveston.”
Chachie Pedraza Van Wales is in the Montrose Star’s Spotlight for the month of October.
Name:
Chachie Pedraza Van Wales
Preferred pronouns:
Boogie Man. No, really. You never know what you are gonna get from me.
Zodiac sign:
Aries
Home City:
Houston
How long have you been doing drag/entertaining?
I have been doing drag for over 12 years now.
Favorite thing about drag/entertaining?
I love making people enjoy themselves and watching them have fun. I just love seeing people having an enjoyable time.
What is your favorite number/and or celebrity to perform?
My favorite is always going to be the Whitney Houston mega mix. It has four different songs.
Who is your inspiration?
I have several inspirations. I’m inspired by the older drag queens of Houston. I hope I don’t get in trouble by that. Kofi, Tommy Ross and Chloe Knox are three I have admired for years. Audrey Love got me started doing drag a long time ago and of course my drag mother, Kiki Dion Van Wales.
An interesting fact:
Something people don’t know about me is that I have twelve kids (drag kids) and am always there to help them. I love them all. I do a lot of benefits for my community.
When not on stage what do you do for fun?
I love to work and to me work is fun. I work as both a bartender and server and like making customers happy.
Where can we catch your act?
Thankfully, I keep pretty busy on stage. I am a regular at Robert’s Lafitte and Island Time Beach Bar and Grill. I just started Drag Me to Bingo at Stuttgarden Tavern On the Strand and Daiquiri Time Out. And I’m at Barcode in Houston once a month. I will be there on October 23.