JAYLEN
WISCONSIN| SERIES # 4
Stage Name: Becky Jo Faugette
Gender: Male
Pronouns: (Out of Drag) He/Him/His (In Drag) She/Her/ Hers
Ever since I was little, I knew I was different from the “regular” boys. While they were playing video games and wrestling in the dirt, I was playing with Bratz and Barbie Dolls.
Of course, being so different from everyone else, I got a lot of attention from my peers at school.
I always hung out with girls and I could never relate to the typical “boy” things. I would always get called names but the girls in my class always had my back, even though I tried to flirt with all of them.
It got a little better in high school. People were a lot more accepting and I was actually taking time to accept myself as a queer individual. I did a lot of theater and even joined my school GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) club. Although, while I was being more comfortable with myself, I was still afraid to tell my parents because of their strict religion.
It wasn’t until sophomore year that they found out I was gay. I planned on coming out myself after I turned 18, but they found my Instagram and everything was exposed to them. At that moment, everything started going downhill.
I was so unhappy going through the rest of high school. I was very shy, and with my family not wanting anything to do with me, pretty much making me always feel like an outcast, I was very lonely.
My junior and senior year of high school got a little better though. After fully accepting the fact that I was gay, I made a lot of friends who either supported me or could relate to some of the struggles I went through at home.
I got into Advanced Musical Theater in my senior year and that really helped me come out of my shell and show people that I was more than a sad little boy. Being on stage and playing different roles was something I have always loved doing. After high school I didn’t do much acting, but I still wanted to be on stage.
That’s when I got involved in the art of drag.
I always was interested in drag but it wasn’t until I moved out of California and to Milwaukee, Wisconsin that I could actually do it and try to do it well.
Now, I’m currently 8 months in and already doing shows in many places— from Milwaukee to Madison and even some places in Chicago. Drag has not only showed people that I’m a gorgeous woman. It shows my passion and determination to chase my dreams. And hopefully one day people will look at the trials and tribulations I went through and see that I managed to stay true to myself, regardless of what society or my family says.
I plan on doing drag for years to come, and who knows, maybe you’ll catch me on Rupaul’s Drag Race soon!
