Bold & Beautiful: Starlett Mars-Magazine

Although Starlett Mars-Magazine is relatively new to the Utah drag scene, she is not one to miss. After landing her first show in October, Mars-Magazine has been rising through the ranks with stunning speed and style. 

Mars-Magazine’s first drag experiences were a bit unconventional, with no stage or audience. She says, “[Utah drag queen] Beverly Vesper and I would go to a park in the middle of the night and do runways, do our makeup and do lip syncs. That’s really how we started doing drag.” Before long, she performed in her first show in front of an audience at Utah Tech University, where she met Mitski Avalōx, the CEO of Southern Utah Drag Stars. Avalōx says, “I was a judge at the Utah Tech drag show, and I saw Starlett Mars-Magazine and Beverly Vesper do this duo number, and I was like, ‘I want them in my little troupe here in Southern Utah.’”

Even though Mars-Magazine came into the drag world without a background in dance, she doesn’t pass up the opportunity to choreograph her own numbers to a range of peppy artists. “I love a good, bumping beat, like Lady Gaga, Chase Icon and Nicki Minaj; something that can gag the audience,” she says. “Once I pick a song, I see if I can do any choreo with it. I use the lyrics and the beat to my advantage, and if it doesn’t work, I just scrap it and move on.” 

“Once I pick a song, I see if I can do any choreo with it. I use the lyrics and the beat to my advantage, and if it doesn’t work, I just scrap it and move on.” 

Mars-Magazine’s overwhelmingly positive experiences haven’t come without their struggles. Even elements of performance such as finding an outfit and keeping it intact throughout a number pose unique challenges. “Honestly, keeping that wig on is so scary,” Mars-Magazine says. “At any moment that could slip off, and then what do you do? That happened to me, but I snatched my wig cap off and gagged the audience with my real hair.” 

After being signed to Southern Utah Drag Stars, Mars-Magazine hit the ground running with an all-ages, Grinch-themed Christmas show followed by a New Year’s show and many others. Even in a smaller drag setting, Mars-Magazine has been able to find a strong community and support for her work. “[People] don’t see much drag [in Southern Utah], so when they do see us, they’re ecstatic. They love it,” she says. “They live for all the drag queens here.” 

Especially in southern Utah, resources and equipment for drag performers are minimal. “St. George is really conservative,” she says, “so there aren’t that many places to get outfits, or tall heels or wigs.” Without those resources, Mars-Magazine finds pieces for most of her outfits online or handed down from other drag queens. 

“[People] don’t see much drag [in Southern Utah], so when they do see us, they’re ecstatic. They love it.”

The tight-knit drag community in southern Utah is great for extra help with outfits, but it’s also so much more. “It just feels like a family,” Mars-Magazine says. “I’ve never really had a full, queer group of friends, but everybody here kind of has the same experience growing up queer, so it’s definitely cool to all see that.”

The flexibility and creativity of performing drag have allowed for Mars-Magazine to thrive and grow in her confidence. “Drag takes a lot of nerve,” she says. “Everyone is always looking at you, both in a good way and a bad way, so you just have to learn to feel the good vibes from it and avoid the negative.” Performing has also impacted Mars-Magazine’s general mindset. “Drag is such an open thing—there’s not a set way to do drag, so that just makes you more open-minded to anything,” she says.

“Just do it. You won’t know how you feel about it until you do it. If you have that dollar store eyeshadow, put that on. If you have that twenty-dollar party store wig, put that on. Do a lip sync, give a twirl—Just see how you feel.” 

Although Mars-Magazine hasn’t been doing drag for long, she values the empowerment and joy that it has already brought her. “Drag is the embodiment of confidence and being a bad bitch,” she says. “It’s powerful.” Mars-Magazine also encourages others to try drag and get involved in the community, urging them to “just do it. You won’t know how you feel about it until you do it. If you have that dollar store eyeshadow, put that on. If you have that twenty-dollar party store wig, put that on. Do a lip sync, give a twirl—Just see how you feel.” 

Mars-Magazine has mainly been performing at venues in southern Utah, and now she is branching out to northern Utah and the Salt Lake City area and is a force to be reckoned with. “Nothing is gonna stop me,” she says. “Watch out for Starlett Mars-Magazine, ‘cause she is coming for you; for everybody.”

To follow along with Starlett Mars-Magazine and get updates about her upcoming shows, follow her on Instagram and TikTok @themars_magazine. You can also find her on Venmo @TheStarMagazine to support her hard work.

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