Drag Queen.
Author.
Playwrite.
Fulbright Scholar.

Sasha Velour is a gender-fluid drag queen known for her stage spectacles, fierce activism, and boundary-breaking scholarship. She is a new host of the Peabody and Emmy-award winning series We’re Here (HBO) which was recently nominated for two Critics Choice awards. Velour is the author of The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto Drag which the LA Review of Books said would “surely canonize her as not only one of the best drag queens of her generation but also one of the definitive voices on the history and art of drag.”

As a performer and producer she created the influential drag revue NightGowns which changed the landscape for drag globally and spawned an award-winning documentary-series on Roku. Her two solo shows have toured the world, selling out notable venues from the Folies Bergere in Paris to The Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco. She also won the 9th season of the Emmy Award-winning series, RuPaul’s Drag Race.

She holds a BA in Modern Literature from Vassar College, a masters degree in cartooning from The Center For Cartoon Studies, and she was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study political art in Moscow.

“in the feedback we received from both students and faculty, many mentioned that this was the best event they had ever attended at the university”

Gregor Sharp, Academic Director of The Phil Lind Initiative at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia

THE BIG REVEAL, WHY DRAG MATTERS?

Past engagementS

  • 3 US Embassies

    • Bogota

    • Oslo (in association with Oslo Pride and the Munch Museum)

    • Singapore

  • The Smithsonian’s “Long Conversation”

  • The University of British Columbia

  • The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne

  • Columbia

  • Purdue University

  • Netflix

  • LVMH

  • Mercedes Benz

  • Lyft

  • Teen Vogue

  • Fast Company

  • Boston Consulting Group

  • Jewish Queer Youth and more

Sasha has crafted a 90 minute speaking and performance set that is perfect for universities and corporate engagements. She begins with 10 minutes of speaking on the art of drag and the backlash and issues facing it today. Then in the second half of the 25 minute solo section of the program, she dives into theory of camp and visibility all while surprising the audience with sudden light shifts and dance breaks. It ends in a rousing number demonstrating the joy of camp, completely upending the audiences expectations of the “artist talk”. Afterwards, the audience is treated to a 45 minute chat with a moderator, ending in a short audience Q&A, and if willing, a drag duet! This program was recently delivered at the University of British Columbia’s Phil Lind Institute Speaker Series to rave reviews and is booked at two more universities this upcoming school year.

In addition to this perfected set, Sasha can speak on a range of topics tailored to your needs.

  • Gender-Identity and Drag

  • Allyship and Intersectionality in Queer spaces

  • Queer Activism Throughout History and Today

  • Tapping into Authentic Creativity

  • Being Your Own Producer and Making Your Own Success

Example

Sasha Velour’s engagement at the University of British Columbia

rave reviews

The University of British Columbia

“Sasha Velour's captivating presence at the Phil Lind Initiative speaker series at the University of British Columbia was nothing short of transformative. Sasha seamlessly blended incisive academic commentary, stunning artistry, and raw emotion through her keynote speech and performance.

In a stimulating commentary and performance situated at the forefront of debates in queer theory, Sasha wove together a genealogy of drag with contemporary political debates, such as that surrounding the rise of anti-trans legislation, in an approachable way grounded in compassion.

As for the performance, it was a breathtaking display of artistry. Each moment was carefully crafted, a testament to Sasha’s meticulous attention to detail and dedication to storytelling.

To say that this evening was well received by the campus community would be a gross understatement. To put it simply, in the feedback we received from both students and faculty, many mentioned that this was the best event they had ever attended at the university.

In short, Sasha Velour's appearance was a true highlight of the Phil Lind Initiative speaker series. For anyone seeking inspiration, empowerment, and a renewed sense of community, I would wholeheartedly recommend immersing yourself in the world of Sasha Velour."”

- Gregor Sharp, Academic Director of The Phil Lind Initiative at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs at the University of British Columbia

A Global Management Consulting Firm

"We asked Sasha to join our company for a discussion to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility, and they truly delivered a fantastic event with their energy, warmth, and powerful knowledge of contemporary trans issues. Since then, we have had members of our trans and gender non-conforming community express gratitude for a session that made them feel seen and represented, and countless allies reaching out to tell us how much they loved attending and learning more about the experiences of the trans community. Sasha has fabulous chemistry, stage presence (including virtually!), and are best-in-class in providing a captivating, entertaining time while articulating complex and urgent messages and calls to action on behalf of the queer community. We had an excellent experience and highly recommend them as a speaker!"

- Nataliya Gurba, A global management consulting firm

U.S. Embassy Singapore

“Sasha Velour was the perfect speaker to engage our audience of LGBTQ+ activists and community leaders in Singapore. The U.S. Embassy’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group invited Sasha to share insights on LGBTQ+ issues in the United States and ways to inspire positive change, which Sasha conveyed honestly, passionately, and diplomatically. As a speaker, Sasha offered thoughtful reflections and was unafraid to unpack shared challenges and explore meaningful solutions, building genuine connections with attendees and leaving them inspired and enriched. We appreciated Sasha’s nuanced understanding of the local cultural and political context, which made for a productive discussion that balanced American values with local sensitivities. Sasha’s ability to build cross-cultural connections and engage an audience from diverse backgrounds and experiences is a testament to her truly impressive skills as a speaker.”

- Cain Harrelson, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Embassy Singapore

Oakland University

“Since our event with Peppermint and Sasha Velour, I have received a number of comments of high praise from across the campus community. They provided the perfect blend of education, awareness-raising, and entertainment. The planning process was a breeze thanks to the hard work of House of Velour, who were flexible and highly responsive.  I highly recommend working with Sasha Velour!”

-Grace Wojcik, Coordinator of the Gender & Sexuality Center, Oakland University

The Smithsonian

"Sasha was a highlight of our signature speaking series The Long Conversation at the Smithsonian. She was inspiring, thoughtful and a delight to work with. It is a rare performer who can bring both star power charisma and deep intellectual engagement to a public event, but Sasha fits the bill. She took the time to really understand the purpose and mission of the evening, and from beginning to end was professional, gracious, grounded and a knock-out in killer heels. We can’t wait to have her back again."

- Rachel Goslins, Director Arts + Industries Building, The Smithsonian

Purdue University

"Sasha Velour is a brilliant, dynamic, and inspiring speaker who captivated the Purdue University community during her time on campus as a Visiting Scholar. Invited by the LGBTQ Center, The Honors College, and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Program, Velour engaged students in conversations on topics including history, politics, art, identity, activism, media, and her own experience as a student conducting research as a Fulbright Scholar in Moscow. With a thoughtful and compassionate presence, Sasha Velour developed insightful answers to every question and made sure that every student was not only heard, but also truly seen and appreciated. It is not an overstatement to say that Sasha Velour’s visit has forever made a positive change at Purdue University."

- Lowell Kane, Director of Student Engagement and Belonging & Director of the LGBTQ Center, Division of Diversity and Inclusion, Purdue University