Notably relaxed in delicately arranged armor made of spikes and studs, Discord Addams sat across from me, sipping some kind of mezcal concoction. It wasn’t an unusual Friday night scene for us—Discord and I have cackled over cocktails more times than I can remember (the drinks may have something to do with that).
But something was different about tonight—in just a few days, the entire world will be invited into the irreverent, punk rock world she’s built over the last 13 years. After a decade of auditioning for the megahit series, Discord was finally accepted as a contestant on Season 18 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”
With so much on the horizon, we did what any good friends would do: sat down for a drink to chat about the long road that led her here and the path she’s forging ahead.
It all began in the most unlikely of places: Akron, Ohio. Discord was well-embedded in the local punk scene, but didn’t make her way into the realm of drag until she had seen alternative style icon Raja take the “Drag Race” catwalk.
“I loved seeing that drag is a medium that you can communicate any message through,” Discord explained. Inspired by Raja’s high fashion club kid aesthetic, Discord made her drag debut in 2012 at Akron’s Interbelt.
“I’ve always just been inspired by anyone that challenges authority.”
Discord Addams
Four years later, Discord relocated to Chicago with her partner, Gidget Von Addams (the other half of what is soon to be America’s favorite quasi-lesbian couple). While she found plenty of opportunity in the Windy City, she felt there was still a need within the local scene to uplift women and people of color, who were often overlooked as drag entertainers.
“I’ve always been a champion for people who aren’t getting what they deserve. I think justice is a big core in the art that I make and also the way that I present myself in and out of drag.”
For Discord, platforming women isn’t just about doing the right thing, it’s also about giving back. “If you were to ask me point blank ‘What men do you find inspiring?’ I’d be really, really hard pressed to give you an answer.”
When asked who does inspire her, Discord had an immediate answer: Rosie O’Donnell. “She really, I would say, kind of changed my life. I have her Barbie doll.” She tacked Lady Gaga, Kesha, and her own mom onto the list of inspirational figures.
“I’ve always just been inspired by anyone that challenges authority.”
Discord escaped the cold and found her way to the Tampa Bay area in 2020—but was on a bit of a drag hiatus after experiencing social burnout in the Windy City. Thankfully, a healthy dose of southern hospitality from none other than St. Pete’s own Adriana Sparkle was enough to get her back in the saddle.
“Meeting Adriana is what got me back into happily doing drag,” she admitted. Discord credits the welcoming, noncompetitive energy of the Florida drag community as her motivation for pursuing drag as an artistic medium again.
Years after finding a home bar at Cocktail St. Pete, Discord got the call that she would be starring in Season 18 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She described the experience as “very validating.” Discord continued, “I’ve always been my biggest fan, but at some point you question yourself, like, am I delusional?”
Discord hopes that her run on “Drag Race” will inspire other artists to be authentic and speak loudly about what they believe in.
“I think due to being on the spectrum, I’m incapable of being too far outside of who I am at any given time,” she said. “I wish more people would realize that if you do exactly what you want to do at all times, people will like it. Even if it’s not everybody—the worst artists in the world are the people who are adored by everybody.”
She also aspires to be a public example that high fashion does not need to be expensive or new. Each of her creations has been put together, pulled apart, and reimagined, with the majority of her pieces made out of thrifted fabric: “We refuse to waste any scraps.”
Post-“Drag Race,” Discord is looking forward to creating art on a larger scale—including the realization of her longtime dream of releasing a punk album. Other than making music, Discord has one simple wish for the future: “I really want to find a way to cameo on “Wednesday.” Making Discord Addams canon in the Addams family would be crazy.”
Tune into the premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 18 on MTV on Friday, Jan. 2. Live local? Don’t miss Cocktail St. Pete’s Season 18 Premiere Watch Party with live performances and Q&A with Discord Addams starting at 7 p.m.
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This article appears in Nov. 27 – Dec. 03, 2025.