Most times when drag queen Jessica L’Whor is in full makeup, she entertains adult crowds across Colorado. But every so often, she sets up camp outside of Denver’s Union Station — or other crowded city centers — with a sign that reads “Ask A Queen Anything.”
She offers passersby a spare dollar bill to learn more about the art of drag. As of June 2025, she had given away over $1,000 from this act alone.
L’Whor’s videos have gone viral on TikTok and Instagram, showcasing young people asking for advice on how to work up the courage to become a drag performer, or curious young women wondering “how do you get your lashes to stick?”
One time, a stranger even prayed for L’Whor — not so she would change, or leave the public space — but for her safety in a world that doesn’t always protect its queer folks.
“Lord, would you protect Jessica? She’s out here spreading good things and good cheer,” the stranger said in a video.
The drag queen has even taken the Q&A bit on the road, dressing as a female pope (Moira Rose-style) in front of a church in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Once, a child approached L’Whor and asked why she was handing out dollar bills to question askers.
“I wanted to show that drag queens can go out like anyone else and just have conversations with people,” she responded.
“Usually, we get tipped dollars, so I thought it would be fun to give dollars to people … and I get to meet people like you and laugh and get asked really cool questions.”
Ultimately, as L’Whor wrote in a TikTok caption: “Ask A Queen is all about getting the world to know that drag queens are just like everyone else; we’re just a little more glittery.”
While Denver’s drag scene isn’t as robust as cities like New York City, San Francisco, or Chicago, L’Whor has been a devoted ambassador for her community.
“Drag in Denver is so overlooked, it’s as wonderfully prominent as other cities,” L’Whor told local magazine 5280 last year. “It’s such a huge community aspect here. I could move, but I’m so invested in this scene and supporting local artists.”
A couple of years ago, she launched a local competition called “Colorado’s Next Drag Superstar,” but people who aren’t embedded with LGBTQ+ culture still might not totally understand her vision.
So that’s why she continues to take to the streets for “Ask A Queen Anything,” now nearly three years into the project.
“Wearing full glam on the streets is a way to show people that we exist, and offering them money is a way to see if we can get some healthy conversations going,” she told 5280.
“I’ve gotten such a broad spectrum of questions; it’s been one of my favorite projects.”
A version of this article was originally published in The 2024 Pride Edition of the Goodnewspaper.
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Header image courtesy of Jessica L’Whore/Instagram
