We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elvis De Vil a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Elvis, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
Resilience seems innate, doesn’t it? Until we understand why it’s given that name. We must recoil in order to bounce back.
I’d say my earnest naivety paved the path I now call resilience, it is what often lead me into situations and experiences that beckoned me to learn how to overcome them. It was rarely done with ease, however I have consistently been the kind of person that enjoys experiencing things for themselves.
I have been warned, heeded and advised throughout my life, each time I must find out for myself – often (foolishly) seeing the advice as a challenge. Does it hurt, to get dirty? Yes. There is reward in learning how to dress the wounds of your soul. There is direction in the fall.
My lust for spontaneity and adventure have lead me into many events in my life, the moments of recoiling hold so much purpose. You will feel it in the release, the understanding, the recovery – the bounce back.
I get my resilience from my incessant craving to experience all that life has to offer, and to get dirty while doing so.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Folks around here know me as Elvis de Vil: loud, campy, and draped in rhinestones. What they might not know is that before I ever stepped onto a drag stage, I was a spoken word artist in Chicago, an activist in Wichita, and a mental health case manager in Milwaukee. Each of those chapters shaped the way I show up in the world – and onstage.
My performances aren’t just about the flash, though trust me, there’s plenty of that. They’re about connection. They’re about presence. Every act I do is layered with storytelling, vulnerability, and a little bit of rebellion. I draw on my background in community work and the arts to create performances that are funny, sometimes emotional, and always queer as hell. Drag, for me, is a way to say things that often go unsaid – to give voice and glitter to stories that deserve to be heard.
I’m especially focused on building spaces where AFAB performers, trans artists, and overlooked voices in drag can be seen and celebrated. Whether I’m emceeing a bingo, headlining a show, or helping organize a grassroots event, I aim to make the room feel electric, inclusive, and intentional.
Recently, I worked with Detroit People’s Platform playing a Victorian Ghost in This Land, a new mini-series about Housing Justice. Performing at both Ferndale and Ann Arbor Prides was a Summer highlight. Stay on the look out for more upcoming events, some unexpected surprises continue to be in the works! I want folks to remember that drag can be a powerful tool for storytelling, healing, and joy. Regardless of what my next endeavor is, it will be electric.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful things in my journey have been: adaptability, emotional intelligence, and community-centered thinking.
Adaptability has carried me through city changes, career shifts, burnout, and reinvention. I’ve had to pivot more times than I can count. From grassroots organizing to case management to building a pet care business. The skill isn’t just about surviving change – it’s learning how to listen to what’s shifting in you and around you, and letting that shape your next move with intention.
Emotional intelligence, especially as a queer person navigating these endeavors, has been crucial. Being able to read the energy in a room, respond with empathy, and check in with myself before reacting has helped me build trust and stay grounded in chaotic spaces. That took time and practice. And a lot of unlearning.
Finally, community-centered thinking changed everything for me. My work isn’t about climbing a ladder – it’s about weaving a net. Every performance, event, or project I take on, I try to ask: who else can benefit from this? Who can I uplift alongside me?
If you’re just starting your journey, my advice is: give yourself permission to shift. Stay connected to your “why,” and surround yourself with people who challenge and celebrate you. Learn to rest before you feel like quitting. And remember that success doesn’t have to look like visibility – it can look like impact, care, and quiet consistency.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Wait, I have an idea,” reach out! I’m especially open to collaborating with other queer artists, small business owners, mutual aid groups, and venue runners who want to do something meaningful, accessible, and joy-filled.
Lately, I’ve been shifting away from traditional drag bar spaces and focusing more on third spaces such as: community hubs, art galleries, bookstores, private events, festivals, and anywhere storytelling and performance can breathe a little deeper. I’m especially interested in acting work, immersive experiences, and spaces where poetry, drag, and lived experience can all live in the same body.
The best way to connect is through Instagram @elvis.devil or email me directly at [email protected]. Let’s make something that leaves folks feeling seen and a little more alive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Linktr.ee/elvisdevil
- Instagram: @elvis.devil
Image Credits
Erin Bobbitt
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