Tampa drag performer Sixx Black. Credit: c/o Sixx Black

Sixx Black’s art can’t be contained by the binaries of queen or king. They love being a drag…thing. And audiences love them for it.

Black grew up in North Port and became obsessed with makeup artistry from watching his mom get ready for her bartending job.

“She would always drop, like, the most sickening mugs you can think of for special events,” Black said. “I was always sneaking through her makeup and seeing what I can do with eyeliner, and like, what fun shapes and things I could just draw onto my face.”

They were headed to college for theater when COVID hit. But the shutdowns actually helped launch his career. After watching “Dragula”, Black crafted a horror persona inspired by Nikki Sixx from Mötley Crüe and started performing at Southern Nights’ open stages.

Creating Sixx and getting onstage has helped them battle social anxiety a lot of people struggle with post-pandemic. “Being able to put on this character really helps me get out of that shell,” they added.

Just as much as Black loves gorgeous makeup, he loves a bloody mess.

“I knew Sixx wasn’t a cartwheeling diva,” Black said. “I will still look pretty, but I will, like, bite the head off a bat. Or staple dollar bills to me.”

More than shock value, Black’s horror acts come from showing people the beauty in not being the norm.

“I know that there’s somebody out there who feels just like me, who doesn’t know what groove they fall into…And really, it’s all a lie. There’s no grooves or anything for you to fall into. Just be yourself.”