VALENTINO KING is the UK’s no.1 Drag King entertainer who works, mainly, in Manchester.

Have a look at the details of Valentino’s ‘King to Diva’ performance and what Valentiono’s thoughts on Leeds are.

Where are you from?I was born in Rochdale, Lancashire from Italian /English parents. I still live in Rochdale today. It’s a good central base for my work.



How would you describe your sexuality?I am very open about my sexuality and always have been. I am very proud to say that I am a Lesbian.


Relationship status?I am married to Suzanne. As well as being my wife, she has the job of managing Valentino.

How long in relationship?
We married in November 2008, in The Town Hall, Rochdale. I proposed after only a couple of months. I recommend marriage to anyone. It’s very grounding.

What is your job?I have been a professional solo artiste for ten years, working venues throughout the UK and Europe. The last two years I have focused my attention on the Drag King scene to create my alter ego. My act as a drag king focuses on performing as a convincing “male vocalist” with the delivery of a totally live performance.
As well as performing on stage, I also promote venues, events and merchandise.
The last twelve months has been a busy one for me, but that’s just how I like it. I’m a bit of a workaholic!

Can you describe what a drag king is?Drag kings are female performing artists who dress in masculine drag and personify male gender stereotypes. The style of each King depends on the individual’s interpretation and personal character. Most kings tend to lip-synch whilst performing. Fortunately for me I have a deep voice, so am able to sing live.

When did Valentino start for you and why?I would say two years ago I began to think about it seriously. Working and socialising on the LGBT scene, I was intrigued and slightly envious of the Drag Queens in respect of their open creative expression.
With this in mind I began to explore the possibilities of myself being accepted as a transgender performer.
The research into The Drag King Culture began, and I became very excited of the whole prospect of creating an alter ego to rival any Queen. Drag Kings have been around since the late 19th century appearing in the old style music halls. However there seems to have been a lack of progression, that is up till the 90’s. With the help of TV and film productions, the king has been brought into the public eye making the concept more acceptable on the gay scene. With this in mind, I began to develop my act. And so Valentino King was born.

You have said that you would love to do some work on the Leeds scene. Why and what would you do?

Leeds has developed its gay scene over the past few years to rival any of the other major cities, and obviously I want Valentino to be a part of that. The Drag King culture does attract attention from the whole of the LGBT community which is great.
I get so many comments about how refreshing it is to have something different on the scene. Of course I want to encourage more women to get involved, as many venues do tend to target male audiences. Having said that, my audiences are very mixed. Many people have just never seen a Drag King before.
My Stage Performance incorporates themed costume to deliver hits from male artistes and bands, such as Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond., Bryan Adams to the Killers and Kings of Leon. I also deliver a King to Diva show, which highlights the transition of female to male. This incorporates a set as Valentino, then with a quick change to perform as “myself,” Gizell.


Have you ever been subject of discrimination or hate crime because of who you are?No I am fortunate in that sense.

Anything else you would like to add?There are many women who express an interest in the Drag King culture.
For anyone who would like to get involved, a group has been set up on face book called the Drag Kings of Manchester. This has tips on dragging up and forthcoming events and gigs. The group is quite new but growing fast. It is a very liberating experience, but most of all it’s a whole lot of fun.

GAY LEEDS WOULD LIKE TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO VALENTINO FOR A FASCINATING INTERVIEW AND WE HOPE TO SEE MUCH MORE OF YOU IN THE FUTURE.

Sarah Carmody