NORTHFIELD, Ohio — Using a colorful eye shadow palette, Emmalee Svoboda created an eye makeup look that honors the Pride flag.

What You Need To Know

  • Emmalee Svoboda performs as Empress Dupree

  • Dupree said she's faced discrimination for being a cisgender woman queen

  • She said she considers drag an art form that everyone has the right to perform

“I just kind of pack in these colors here, and then I'll go and point that out later,” Svoboda said.

Svoboda said she goes by the name Empress Dupree when she performs as a drag queen. She said it takes her a while to get ready for a performance.

“On a good day, probably like two hours,” Dupree said.

Dupree said she's faced discrimination for being a cisgender, meaning she identifies with the gender she was assigned at birth. She said the art of being a drag queen is typically associated with men. But it’s something Dupree said she has the right to do.

“In my opinion, everybody does. But, you have to look at drag as an art form, and all art is subjective,” Dupree said.

Dupree said she started performing at the beginning of the year and is searching for more gigs.

“I will say, since January, I haven't had too, too many opportunities up in Cleveland. There's a lot of drag that happens there, and, you know, just like being an entertainer and getting your foot in the door, is just kind of hard,” Dupree said.

Dupree added she wants more diverse drag queens to be considered for productions. She remembers what it felt like getting signed for her first show.

“It was honestly, really, a full circle moment I had between Sassy Sascha and I. All those months ago with her, like talking to me, coaching me about how I can do this art form, and then being able to make my debut with her was just a phenomenal experience,” Dupree said.

Dupree said she recently connected with Bella Sin, a burlesque queen and historian in Cleveland, who helped her get booked for Flat Out Pride. 

“It's really nice to be able to connect people like Empress Dupree to other people because of what I see in her is just talent, charisma, uniqueness [and] nerve,” Sin said.

Dupree gave this advice to other cisgender women who may be considering the art of drag.

“Our community has brought me such, like, such close family. Not only friends, but family,” Dupree said. “So if that’s something that would make you a little bit more hesitant to try it out like I have, yes, I have been discriminated against. But also, like when you find a close little circle, like you'll be so loved, so respected.”

If you're interested in booking Dupree or learning more about her art form, she said she encourages people to reach out to her via her Instagram.