Sasha Velour

A comprehensive profile of Sasha Velour — drag artist, visual creator, performer, and cultural thinker. From early life to RuPaul’s Drag Race, theatrical work, activism, and memorable quotes.

Introduction

Sasha Velour (born Alexander Hedges Steinberg on June 25, 1987) is an American drag performer, artist, writer, and producer whose work stretches across stage, page, and screen. RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 9, and since then has expanded the definition of drag through theatrical solo shows, curatorial projects, publications, and public commentary. Her persona combines aesthetic daring, political consciousness, and deep engagement with queer history.

Early Life and Education

Alexander “Sasha” Steinberg was born in Berkeley, California, and spent parts of their childhood in New Haven, Connecticut, before the family moved to Urbana, Illinois. Sasha grew up with exposure to literature, art, and visual culture.

In high school, they attended University Laboratory High School in Urbana. Vassar College, earning an A.B. in 2009, with a focus on literature and queer theory. Fulbright Scholar in Russia, exploring arts and social dynamics abroad. Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont in 2013.

Before fully pursuing drag, Sasha worked as a graphic designer, illustrator, English tutor, and in children’s book publishing. Their background in visual art and storycraft would deeply inform their drag aesthetics and projects.

Career and Achievements

Rise on RuPaul’s Drag Race

Sasha auditioned for Drag Race in earlier seasons but was not selected; eventually, they competed on Season 9 in 2017 and won the crown. lip sync to “So Emotional” by Whitney Houston in the final was widely praised as one of the most memorable performances in the series.

Their Drag Race run was distinguished by conceptual looks, strong storytelling, and an emphasis on drag as both art and activism.

Theatrical & Stage Work

After their win, Sasha developed and toured a solo theater show called Smoke & Mirrors (premiered in 2019).

They also curate and produce NightGowns, a drag revue showcasing experimental and artistic drag performers. The show expanded from the Brooklyn underground to national and international stages.

Publishing, Visual & Curatorial Projects

Sasha has published several works:

• VELOUR: The Drag Magazine (art magazine about drag)

• Three Dollar Riot, a history comic on the Stonewall riots

• The Big Reveal: An Illustrated Manifesto of Drag (2023)

They also engage in visual, comic, and gallery work. Their cut paper art and drag-related illustrations have been shown in gallery settings. Sasha’s background in cartooning and visual design is integral to their drag aesthetic and public projects.

Cultural & Public Impact

• Sasha’s drag frequently foregrounds intersectional queer narratives, highlighting trans, nonbinary, and queer people of color.

• They speak publicly on drag history, representation, and the politics inherent in performance.

• In 2023, Sasha was selected as one of the hosts for Season 4 of We’re Here (a show bringing drag to diverse U.S. communities).

Sasha’s work helps shift drag from nightclub spectacle to a medium of storytelling, identity, and social critique.

Personality, Values & Style

Sasha Velour is often described as thoughtful, introspective, and artistically ambitious. Their approach treats drag not merely as entertainment, but as a visual and political language. They seek to merge personal narrative, queer history, and avant-garde imagery.

A distinctive feature of their drag is performing bald, often as a tribute to their mother, who lost her hair during cancer treatment. Sasha uses drag to both honor memory and challenge norms of beauty.

They identify as genderfluid, using she/they pronouns out of drag, and she/her while in drag. Their drag persona is deeply engaged with queer history, community responsibility, and expanding how drag can be conceived and appreciated.

Famous Quotes of Sasha Velour

Here are selected quotations that reflect Sasha’s philosophy, vision, and voice:

“Queer art is as much about starting conversations as it is about making dramatic statements.” “To costume yourself in the way that you fantasize … to make that a reality, and then to go right into the universe looking like an exceptional being takes a lot of courage.” “I’d say my fashion or beauty tip is to take the thing about you that makes you most distinctive and then exaggerate it.” “Make no mistake, queer and trans people may not all identify the same way, but we do share the same mission: to fight back and survive!” “Drag is about asserting your power and your brilliance and your importance.” “The truth is, a lot of people go to drag shows … for very light entertainment, and I think sometimes maybe we don’t even give the audiences enough credit as to what they’d be down for.” “I’ve found that embracing the things that make me a little strange and different from other people … makes me feel beautiful and fashionable every day.”

These lines reflect her emphasis on identity, inclusion, self-expression, and challenging conventional boundaries.

Lessons & Insights from Sasha Velour

1. Drag as art, not just entertainment.
   Sasha’s work shows how drag can integrate narrative, visual art, history, and identity—not just spectacle.

2. Own what makes you different.
   Many of Sasha’s quotes and choices emphasize embracing uniqueness and letting it become your creative statement.

3. Visibility with responsibility.
   With public platforms come obligations to represent marginalized voices, amplify community, and engage in dialogue. Sasha frequently reflects on this in their work.

4. Merge mediums to expand impact.
   Sasha leverages performance, publishing, visual art, and media to reach wider audiences and deepen impact.

5. History is alive.
   Their work underscores that drag, queer struggle, and performance are deeply connected to historical lineage; honoring that past gives current art more resonance.

Conclusion

Sasha Velour is more than a drag queen—she is a storyteller, visual artist, and cultural curator who pushes drag into new dimensions. From winning RuPaul’s Drag Race to creating theatrical works, magazines, comics, and public discourse, she redefines what drag can mean in the 21st century. Her voice is one of expansion, inclusion, remembrance, and bold creativity.