INDEX
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Why a magazina
from ms. Fagiolina?
1
Hey you!
It’s me, Flaminia Fagiolina. Award losing fashionista, postmodern artista, Jewish Princess, and so much more. I’m guessing if you’re on www.Flaminia.me you are at least vaguely familiar. Thanks so much for reading my first issue of…
FAGIOLINA
A FABULOUS NEW MAGAZINA
I made this website last year and since then it’s bloated into an unwieldy mess of buttons grown so much! I’ve been musing in my diary about how to make a more cohesive UX for some time now. The problem is that I’m a real renaissance bimbo; My imagination takes me to different avenues of expression, and I want to take you, not Flaminia, along for that ride.
With this magazina (that’s fake Italian for “magazine”) I can give you a scrumptious smorgasbord of juicy frocciagine (that’s real Italian for something the pope probably shouldn’t have said).
Keep scrolling for glamorous photos, silly art projects, and scandalous Flaminiapinions! These are stories, advice, and secrets you can’t get from a lip sync.
It’s won’t just be a platform for me, Flaminia, either. Each month will feature some of my friends that I think are neat industry experts and rising stars!
Monthly
Monochromatic
2
I chose to feature this self-portrait because I’m a lazy narcissist and I already had this finished from months ago this is the introductory issue, so it’s only apt to introduce myself as much as possible (´◡`❁)
This month’s monochromatic is me, Flaminia!
Pics that POP
A Treatise on Style from me, Flaminia
3
Wanna be as pretty as me, Flaminia? Tough luck! I can share some of my ideas though. Clothes, makeup, and pictures may seem superficial, but there’s more beneath the surface.
Have an idea of what you want! Pictures are your chance to tell a story. This is especially true for drag artists. Understand your persona. One of the best ways to learn more about fashion is to study anything else.
Study the past. The late fashion history professor Amanda Halley ran a youtube channel that inspired me, Flaminia, to think deeper. She had a saying, “fashion is not an island, it’s a response”. Historical trends are a reaction to the shifting attitudes and technologies of those times.
I’m personally enamored by fashion and art movements of the late 1960’s. I take a lot of inspiration from yé-yé musicians, giallo ingenues, and art nouveau revival (perhaps topics for future articles).
There’s so much about that zeitgeist that resonates and still feels relevant today. There was a spirit of rebellion, discovery, and artifice. The rigid status quo of the previous decade was being challenged. Hemlines got shorter and what was possible for people got bigger. Beauty was constructed, and old-fashioned ideas about life were deconstructed.
Trends today are largely fickle. They appear and disappear as fast as fast fashion companies can produce them. Don’t dress for algorithms. If you want a style that’s timeless, you need to understand the ideas behind it.
Inspiration is everywhere, and we have access to a wealth of information online (along with a landfill of garbage content). Embrace new opportunities to learn, grow, and develop. Think critically about what statements you want to make!
4
Last summer I introduced Flaminimis! Paper doll versions of me, Flaminia.
On the left you can see… not one of those. This Flaminimi is a fraud. She’s not paper at all. This is a 3D model. She’s a digiflaminimi, if you will.
The full process that led me to this point is a little ridiculous.
It started by getting into drag, I made some extreme digital edits to a photo, printed those out, cut magazine clippings for an outfit, and then recreated that collage digitally.
I love that my imagination takes me back and forth between different mediums in unconventional ways.
Here’s the original I made months ago next to her new digital doppelganger.
Overall, I think this was a successful experiment. The final render looks pretty faithful to the original. It’s not perfect, but nothing ever is. The topology is bad, which isn’t a big deal since this is effectively paper and won’t need to deform much. I should play around more with the materials of the clothes to try to mimic glossy crinkled magazine paper. You’re probably wondering what the point of this whole thing was…
I have passions in life besides drag. One of my other loves is games. Making a dress up game seems like a natural way to mesh these interests, and fairly simple.
At this point, it’s probably not realistic to expect the average person to be able to make an outfit for this digital doll. I’ll maybe post a tutorial later on my blog if anyone’s interested in learning! Now that I have this done, I should be able to use it in some cool ways down the line. I’ll include a download link for desktop users. It won’t work on mobile unfortunately, since you’ll need to use Blender to open the files.
I’ve still got plenty of paper ones available too, just ask niceys. If you do dress up any Flaminimi, I’d love to see what you, not Flaminia, make!
5
Yoohoo! It’s me, Flaminia. I’ve been working with the one and only Moxie Angel on the artwork for her new EP MEGAMOX! Check out behind the scenes of how I made her model here.
I asked the diva herself if there was anything she wanted to tell the world about MEGAMOX before its premiere. Here’s what she had to say…
Rapping and songwriting is my way of letting my heightened emotional thoughts have a space to be said. I end up not giving a fuck what I’m saying. Whether it’s mean or sad or ridiculous. Megamox acts as the person who is almost allowed to say these things, ya know? Megamox is just a mega version of Moxie. Mega-Mox, duh. It’s also kinda a play on “megamix” because I’m literally a megamix in human form. It just makes sense.
These four tracks are the perfect representation of MEGAMOX. She’s very specific yet very vague. With these songs being written and finding their first form in 2023. There’s definitely a feeling of controlled chaos. At that point in my life, I had consistency in my schedule, but I was still as spontaneous as I was when I was 18 or 19 years old. As I did my edits and rewrites last year, I was reflecting on a lot of shit that’s happened in the past three years.
Moxie on the inside has changed a lot, but Megamox has always kinda been the same on the outside. Also being able to rediscover myself on stage in the past 3 years, which is the first thing I’ve ever fell in love with. I stepped on a stage for the first time at 5 and I literally never left. I literally fell in love with the feeling of everything when I was performing on stage. Getting applauded and cheered on for showing off? Say less.
I’m at a point where like, if you take life seriously, it’s literally not good. Like everyone has their own life that you’re supposed to do whatever you want with. Like wake up, this isn’t a dream ya know?
Hannah Montana literally said “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock!” You think that’s just some bullshit? No that’s so real. There’s a difference in being serious and being taken seriously. I’m so dead serious in not being taken seriously. It’s honestly what I live for. This that pretty girl mantra!
Thanks Moxie! Ugh, she really is such an Angel.
A lot of people in this scene chase meaningless status symbols, external validation, and competition. Moxie’s always been someone who’s here to sparkle and make art that matters to her. This album has been so fun to make art for. I’m thrilled for her, and so so excited to see her perform these new songs live…
Friday the 24th at 11:30 PM at the Chez Est
458 Wethersfield Ave, Hartford CT
This event is 21+
I got a chance to work with another recording artist that will be at the event too. Let’s hear from Glass Staine about her newest album…
SUPERNOVA
5.5
SUPERNOVA
Hello my little Staines… or should I call you guys my Shards?
… Girl anyway here’s the inside tea:
Hello my little Staines… or should I call you guys my Shards?
… Girl anyway here’s the inside tea:
I just filmed the music video for my next single from SUPERNOVA and it’s coming out January 31st, oooooh! I’ll also be releasing a super special remix version with one of CT’s cuntiest queens. Any guesses on who? or which song? Hmmmmm….
I just filmed the music video for my next single from SUPERNOVA and it’s coming out January 31st, oooooh! I’ll also be releasing a super special remix version with one of CT’s cuntiest queens. Any guesses on who? or which song? Hmmmmm….
Whether you’re right or wrong, I’m so excited to continue the Supernova era. The one year anniversary is coming up! Supernova has been a dream come true for me and I wan to give a huge thank you to everyone who listened (and if you haven’t, please never talk to me again).
Whether you’re right or wrong, I’m so excited to continue the Supernova era. The one year anniversary is coming up! Supernova has been a dream come true for me and I wan to give a huge thank you to everyone who listened (and if you haven’t, please never talk to me again).
After this music video, I have one final thing planned for the year anniversary and then I’m moving onto creating new music. Supernova has allowed me to live out the character of a rich, famous, coke-addicted, blonde woman, but that character isn’t truly me… I’m not blonde! My next album I’m staying true to Glass Staine.
Ready to hear me perform music from Supernova and my next album?
Come out to Megamox LIVE at The Chez, January 24th.
After this music video, I have one final thing planned for the year anniversary and then I’m moving onto creating new music. Supernova has allowed me to live out the character of a rich, famous, coke-addicted, blonde woman, but that character isn’t truly me… I’m not blonde! My next album I’m staying true to Glass Staine.
Ready to hear me perform music from Supernova and my next album?
Come out to Megamox LIVE at The Chez, January 24th.
Kiss Kiss…
See you there Stainers! …Shards…?
ugh idk whatever! FUCK!!!
Kiss Kiss…
See you there Stainers! …Shards…?
ugh idk whatever! FUCK!!!
Amethyst will be performing at the show too. I caught up with her and she said she’d love to give a statement. That was a few days ago and I guess she got busy. Oh well, maybe we’ll hear from her in a future issue about some other project.
In the meantime, I spoke to a different Amethyst about her music! She looked just dazzling when we met in my studio. Really sparkled. Read our exclusive interview below.
“Hey Amethyst, we’re all so excited to hear your music. you mostly do rock, right?”
…
This Amethyst may have been a looker, but she was so shy. Which was even more awkward because we sat in the studio for like 45 minutes. Bummer.
On the bright side, it made the prospect of seeing the real live fun bubbly Amethyst next Friday at Chez even more exciting.
*
yoohoo, you’ve reached the centerfold
Specialest
Swatchy
of the Month
6
Dainty Apricot
Making a swatchy is simple.
That’s the whole point.
Grab a paint swatch.
Make a doodle
using that color and name.
So many people see my drawings and say “oh I wish I could draw!”
You can! Just because you’re not making the Mona Lisa doesn’t mean you can’t have fun being creative. If a painting feels too daunting, start with a swatch… and don’t take yourself so seriously.
I had a lot of options to choose for the premiere Specialest Swatchy, but I just knew it had to be Dainty Apricot
As soon as I made this ridiculous little drawing, it activated something in my brain. I’ve become a little obsessed with this character ever since. There are many references to her on this site
Apricots are so mysterious.
Where do they even come from?
It’s impossible to know.
Where I wear Big
Huge Hair
7
“You’re never naked when you’re wearing a wig”
There’s a lot of things that I bargain hunt for in drag. I love to thrift for clothes and to mix and match separates in unexpected ways. It’s a great way to get affordable pieces that are durable and interesting. I like to keep my makeup bag simple too. I wouldn’t recommend dubious dollar store eye shadows, but past a certain price point you’re mostly paying for names.
Budgeting is crucial if you want to sustainably do drag long term. Whether you’re doing this as a hobby or full time, you need to understand how much money and time you’re willing to spend before you start a look. It’s not worth it for most people to spend hundreds of dollars or countless hours on something that’s only going to be worn on a few special occasions. Be fair to yourself!
One thing I’m willing to spend more on is luxurious long-lasting locks. That’s because I’ll wear them over and over. When it comes to wigs, I believe in quality over quantity. It’s tempting to want new hair for every single outfit, but this approach could be worse for your budget and your brand. Let’s look at some iconic pre drag race queens. Lady Bunny, Varla Jean Merman, and Coco Peru:
Part of what made them stand out is signature hair. This is true for mainstream celebrities too. From Marilyn Monroe to Ice Spice to countless others, hair is part of what makes famous personas. It doesn’t have to be as literal as always wearing the same color and/or style, but your wigs should have a distinct feeling. If there was a lineup of wig heads, someone should be able to point out which hair belongs to you.
I’ve tried styling wigs myself, it’s difficult! The more skills we have at our disposal the better, but it’s ok to pay for someone else to help you realize a vision. Styling hair, real and fake, is a skill people go to school for years to learn. It’s possible to learn on your own, and some queens do. In the past I’ve gotten great hair from my drag sister Ambrosia or my friends Indica Fontaine and Sativa Sarandon. Lately I’ve been having all my wigs done by professional hairstylist and wigstress Jacqueline Valentino.
She works out of the Hair Spa & Wig Loft in Plainville. It’s reassuring going to an established salon. The owner, Lee Longo, founded the place in 1980 with her sister. Wigs may seem simple, but there’s so much variety. Lee specializes in more realistic styles for chemotherapy patients.
Jacqueline has been working with real hair and wigs since 2006. She has the industry training to produce elegant classic styles, and she knows us divas well enough to make wigs at larger scale for our big heads! Check out this timelapse of her creating the beautiful French beehive I wore for my centerfold photo this month.
I had a chance to see how the wig looked and get some finishing touches done at the Hair Spa Jacqueline. She gave it some more spritzies and some zhuzhing.
I loved it, but I wanted to make the roots darker to match my natural hair color and give the wig some more dimension. We talked about it and came up with a solution. She went in with some hair chalk along the roots and voila, I was ready for my closeup!
What if we were
nicer to each other?
Hmmmmmmmmmmm?
8
hMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmMMmMmMMmmmmmM?
I was this close to absolutely losing it recently. I was ready to fly off the handle. Poised for a major freak out. I almost got… fussy. Yeah, it was that bad.
The last week of December I went on a romantic getaway to Middle of Nowhere, Massachusetts. I should have left my phone at home, but alas I opened social media. Open Stage at the Chez Est was being hosted by two of my drag sisters and my drag niece! I found this out from an Instagram story. None of them told me, Flaminia! I felt betrayed. Had I been tossed aside like yesterday’s apricot?
When I planned out my outfit, put on my makeup, and put on my ravishing new wig, it felt like preparing for battle. I had come to the conclusion that I wasn’t wanted, and if I was going to show up and make a scene I was gonna be the prettiest star in the picture and I was gonna chew some scenery.
You know what those backstabbers said when they saw me, Flaminia?
“Oh my god you look so beautiful! Did Jacqueline do that hair?”
Huh. That was… a pleasant surprise. This wasn’t fake either. Over text it would have been tricky to tell, but I could see everyone was truly wowed.
Turns out that there was no grand conspiracy. I hadn’t been excommunicated. It was an unfortunate miscommunication with bad timing.
It still definitely hurt my feelings, but honestly I get it. I had disappeared again. I hadn’t been to a gay bar all December. I hadn’t talked to anyone in the scene since the last Chez Legends Finale. Even when I found out about this open stage hosting lineup, I was a state away with a beautiful baron. It makes sense that when they were scrambling to come up with a plan, I slipped everyone’s mind.
These are friends I’ve had for years. People I shared some of the happiest moments of my life with. Confidants that helped get me through some of the worst moments. I hate that my first instinct was to assume they would ever do something to hurt me on purpose. That wasn’t fair and I’m sorry for that. The landscape has just become so hostile.
Social media is full of vague posts. Dressing rooms are brimming with gossip and cruel jokes. We compete for bookings and in literal contests. It makes sense that we’re primed to think everyone is secretly against us. I was even able to imagine reasons why my friends might be mad based on what I’ve heard other queens get mad about in the past.
Any entertainment business has fragile egos, and it’s even more true for us. Many queer people grew up feeling bullied and ostracized. We paint these imposing faces and tower over the world in high heels and buxom bodies, but most of us are delicate as cashmere. Even I’m not immune to having insecure thoughts from time to time. I know! Me, Flaminia! I’m fun, conventionally attractive, and basically universally beloved in and out of drag. Logically I am aware of this.
What should we do when our egos start sabotaging our peace?
Get perspective on the situation. If it’s gossip or drama, it’s usually not that serious to begin with. If it is serious, then take some time to process your emotions first. Vent to some confidants. It’s ok to be angry, frightened, or hurt. It’s not ok to let those feelings make things worse!
If you’re upset with someone, figure out what you actually want before you talk about it. Explain how you’re feeling, why you feel that way, and what you want to see change for the future. If someone’s upset with you, don’t get defensive. Just listen, try to understand, and offer potential solutions. I’ve regretted lashing out at people and acting for revenge, but I’ve never regret being patient and empathetic.
K thx ttyl <3
9
Huge thanks to everyone who helped out on this!
There’s a lot I wanted to do this month that I didn’t get a chance to, but I knew if I didn’t give myself a concrete deadline for this project, I would never get anything out at all.
Nothing is ever exactly how you picture it in your head. It’s always worse and better than your expectations. Did I achieve everything I wanted to this month? No! But I did a lot more than I thought I could. I’m rediscovering my passion for art and community, and it’s nice to have a platform to share that.
Check back for new issues of FAGIOLINA the second Friday of every month (next one’ll be out Valentine’s day). I update my diary every day (that I feel like it) and you can see my latest, least filtered updates there.
If you liked this, please share it with your friends, sign up for email updates, and check out my other socials linked below. If you didn’t like it then like… x out I guess idk I’m not your mother. Signing off…
Yours,
-Flaminia