Bianca Del Rio: Heaven Sent

It took a hurricane to finally wash up the Wicked Bitch of Oz nightclub in New Orleans onto our fair shores, but with a residency at Heaven and cameos all over town, kunty Katrina refugee Bianca del Rio is taking Manhattan by storm. My homegirl caught us up on her culture shock and Guido-fetus fanbase.

By Brandon Voss

HX: Have you been making nice with the other ladies around town, Bianca?

Bianca del Rio: Honey, when you're the new bitch, you have to be nice. It's like prison, but with better clothes.

What's it like performing for the barely legals at Heaven?

I have never in my life seen so much hair product and over-plucked eyebrows. Everyone looks like an extra from Growing Up Gotti. But they're really fun, very energetic and so damn young that I feel like a walking painted corpse. The advantage is that if I ever forget bronzer or lip gloss at home, there are at least 20 queens with an extra tube for that late-night touch-up.

What can we expect from your Saturday night show?

Each week is different, and it truly depends on how drunk I am. My favorite is the Sissy Contest, where we actually choose the nelliest queen in the bar. Imagine the options!

How does New York's gay scene compare to that of New Orleans?

No matter where you go, there are always trifling people. Some I've encountered here act pretentious until they have a few drinks, then they're just as low-class as me — a Southern girl with a wig, a dream, and a MetroCard.

Where can we come see you if we're too old for Heaven?

Honey, everyone's too old for Heaven. I'm doing the midnight Spunk'd party Wednesdays at Splash, and I'm hosting Money, a benefit for homeless LGBT teens, Sunday, April 30, at elmo. In the meantime, I'm exploring all my options — which is a nice way of saying, "I'm available for weddings, bar mitzvahs, and funerals!"

HX, April 2006.