Queen of Screams: Luxy Charms Rules Halloween

Windsor’s spookiest queen celebrates her drag birthday with a killer lineup and a cult following.

Four years ago, a nervous young performer stepped onto the stage at Koko Starr’s Life’s A Drag – Open Stage event at Turbo Espresso Bar. That performer was Luxy Charms — who would go on to become Windsor’s undisputed queen of screams, blending horror, humor, and heart into every performance.

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Show poster from Luxy Charms’ first event. Friday, October 29, 2021.

Since that debut, Luxy has evolved into a local legend — known affectionately as the cereal killer, and the very first queen ever spotlighted by THISisDRAG.com in the premiere Halloween edition of DRAG MAG.

This October, Luxy celebrates her fourth drag birthday with two major events: Ryan & Steve’s 6th Annual Halloween Bash Extravaganza (Saturday, October 25 – invite only) and The Cult of Belle Vyra (Sunday, October 26 at The Barbershop Bar), featuring a killer lineup of Windsor’s finest creatures of the night.

🕸️ BLOOD, BEGINNINGS & THE BIRTH OF A MONSTER

THISisDRAG.com: You’re celebrating your fourth drag birthday this Halloween — congratulations! Can you take us back to that first performance at Life’s A Drag and what that night meant to you?
Luxy Charms: I remember being very nervous. It was the first time I’d ever stepped outside of the house in drag, and my entire friend circle came to support — sporting homemade T-shirts they made from Vistaprint or something. It was a competition-based open stage, and I managed to make it to the final lip-sync battle round through audience voting.

The song choice was determined very last minute, so I ended up learning it in literally a day — just listening to it on repeat until I couldn’t stand it anymore (I still can’t). I ended up winning! My best friend actually cried like a baby. We all celebrated by dancing the night away upstairs at a rave that was going on. I came home way too late, covered in dollar-store glitter, and tried to scrub it off just to get a few hours of sleep before work.

TiD: Since then, you’ve carved out a space as Windsor’s spooky queen. When did you realize that horror, Halloween, and all things creepy were part of your drag DNA?
LC: When I was a kid, I’d stay up late watching way-too-adult movies with my mom. That was our form of bonding. I always loved Halloween because it was an excuse to wear capes and grim reaper dresses with billowing sleeves — and nobody batted an eyelash. I’d give my little sisters’ Barbie dolls goth makeovers with black markers and nail polish. So when I started drag, going spooky felt completely natural — it’s what I’ve always loved.

What are some of your biggest inspirations — horror icons, movies, or moments — that have helped shape the Luxy Charms persona?
Tiffany (Bride of Chucky), Elvira, Morticia (The Addams Family), Tank Girl, Nancy (The Craft), Ginger (Ginger Snaps), Hexadecimal (Reboot), Leeloo (The Fifth Element), and Blind Mag (Repo! The Genetic Opera). Some horror, some not — but all empowered female characters. Growing up in a family full of women, my drag is really a love letter to badass femininity.

Fans know you as the “cereal killer.” Where did that name come from, and how does that playful horror energy show up in your performances?
“Luxy” came from two inspirations — Lux Interior, the lead singer of The Cramps, and Lux Lisbon from The Virgin Suicides. “Charms” came from my love of cereal as a comfort food. Ironically, Lucky Charms isn’t even my favorite cereal — but it just sounded right.

Halloween seems to be more than just a theme for you — it’s a lifestyle. What does Halloween mean to you personally and artistically?
Halloween has the best weather, decorations, color palette, parties, and candy — what’s not to love? It’s the one time of year when everyone feels free to dress however they want without fear of judgment. It’s equally magical as a kid and as an adult.

You’ve become a master at blending horror and humor on stage. How do you strike that balance between terrifying and entertaining your audience?
I always try to strike a balance — creepy, sexy, and funny. When the look says one thing and the performance flips it on its head, that’s when drag becomes really captivating.

If you could build your dream horror movie cast, which drag performers or local artists would you want to star alongside you — and who would die first?
Epoxy, Howl, Mercury Retrograde, Mina Gorgina, Randy Johnson, and Airress.
Epoxy would definitely die first. She’s the accident-prone bimbo one.

For all the baby ghouls and monsters just starting their drag journeys, what advice would you give to those trying to find their own voice (or scream) in the scene?
Just do it (insert Shia LaBeouf meme here). It’s easy to talk yourself out of it, but the best part about starting off rough is getting to look back and see how far you’ve grown. Do drag that you want to see — when you love what you’re doing, the audience will too.

“Drag taught me that my softness is my strength — even monsters can have heart.”

— Luxy Charms

🎭 RYAN & STEVE’S 6TH ANNUAL HALLOWEEN BASH

TiD: You’re on the cast of Ryan & Steve’s 6th Annual Halloween Bash Extravaganza — a fan-favourite private event that’s become a staple of Windsor’s spooky season. What makes this Halloween bash such a special gig for you?
LC: It’s such a fun gig because it’s not your typical drag venue. The audience is super diverse — people who might not normally attend shows. It gives everyone a reason to dress up and experience something they’ve never seen before.

What are some of your favorite memories or wildest moments from past Halloween performances?
It’s hard to narrow down! I’ve done everything from killer nurses to mosquito drag, witch hat reveals, zombie bites, and spider ladies eating men on stage. Horror always finds its way into my performances somehow.

🕷️ THE CULT OF BELLE VYRA

TiD: The next day you’re headlining The Cult of Belle Vyra at The Barbershop Bar. What can audiences expect from this dark and divine lineup?
LC: It’ll be the first time my entire drag family is performing in the same show, which is so special to me. Expect creepy, witchy, cult vibes — and maybe a little sacrilege. It’ll be enthralling and just the right amount of uncomfortable.

Without giving too much away, what kind of performance are you summoning for the night — are we in for a ritual, a resurrection, or something even more unholy?
You can expect something different from me — a heart-wrenching, somber ballad followed by something creepy and silly to lighten the mood.

The Cult of Belle Vyra
Sunday, October 26, 2025
TICKETS

💀 WRAP-UP

TiD: Finally, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans, followers, or the creatures of Windsor getting ready to celebrate Halloween with you this year?
LC: All I can say is — wow. Four years. From the bottom of my cold, dead, shriveled little clown heart, thank you to everyone who’s supported me and my art. Drag has truly saved my life and helped me gain confidence I never knew I had.

I’ve met so many amazing people through drag — friends, family, even love. These are trying times, especially for those deemed “other.” Be kind, be compassionate, and show up for one another. It costs nothing — and it could save someone’s life.
Stay safe this Halloween — and please, don’t drink and drive.

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Four years after first stepping onto a Windsor stage, Luxy Charms continues to cast her spell on audiences with a mix of fright, fantasy, and fierce authenticity. What began as a one-night experiment at Life’s A Drag – Open Stage has grown into a legacy of glitter, gore, and unshakable individuality — proof that sometimes the monsters we create become the most beautiful parts of ourselves.

You can catch Luxy in all her dark glory this Halloween weekend at Ryan & Steve’s 6th Annual Halloween Bash Extravaganza (Saturday, October 25 – private event, invite only) and The Cult of Belle Vyra (Sunday, October 26 at The Barbershop Bar), featuring an unholy lineup of Windsor’s most wicked performers.

Whether she’s making you scream, laugh, or both at once, one thing is certain — Luxy Charms is a drag force to die for.

By Kevin Blondin
Photos by @timedrightphotography @darkelflx @crisco1492 and @photography.by.lilo

Epoxy & Iddy Prepare 4 Battle

Get ready to sashay into the captivating universe of Windsor's drag scene with Epoxy and Iddy Oats. In this exclusive interview, they reveal the secrets behind Battle of the Babes and their journey as dynamic drag duo.

DRAG MAG: Could you start by telling the readers a bit about yourselves?

Epoxy: We are husbands in real life, but our drag personas are what we refer to as sister-wives. We moved back from Montreal a handful of years ago to start our business Interrobang Vintage.

Iddy: In Montreal we weren’t doing drag yet I guess, but we were dressing in our weirdest looks and hitting the streets. Epoxy was working in vintage and designing graphics for Urban Outfitters, I was working in all sorts of bougie restaurants.

Epoxy: But, we were both originally from Windsor, so moving back here to start the business just made sense. We sold lots of cool people vintage, and we even did costuming for tv shows including Stranger Things season 4. And then over covid Epoxy and Iddy Oats were officially born.

DM: Can you give us a brief overview of Battle of the Babes?

E: Battle of the Babes started as a show that would allow new, novice or under-booked performers a way to showcase their talents. It’s not your typical show, the kings and queens have to collect points throughout the show. We’ve had lipsync battles, talent shows, mini-challenges, and all sorts of gags and goops. Every show is a bit different. But overall we have 5 or 6 performers who battle it out for a cash prize and crown. Iddy, do you want to tell them why we co-host?

I: Because we’re sister-wives! Before doing drag, Epoxy was hosting pop-ups, parties and events for the University of Windsor… and we’ve been there working together on everything this whole time. Epoxy just decided to finally share the damn spotlight!

DM: Could you share some background on the past battles?

E: BOTB, the original show, took place at Villains back in August 2023. It didn’t have a theme, and our very first winner was B.Martini.

I: BOTB2 was in October so obviously it was Halloween theme at Meteor. It was a landslide win for Remedy. It was her first show ever but she slayed the house down boots.

E: BOTB3 was called Love Sick as it was around Valentine’s Day. All the songs were breakup and single girl anthems. It was a packed venue at Walkerville Brewery, with over 130 tickets sold. Our winner was Venom VonSnaps. Battle of the Babes 4 is May 3 at Meteor again, and this one is called Babes in Space.

I: Think 1960s sci-fi b-movie with homemade sets and weird music. It’s going to be a fun one. But most exciting is ALL STARS. We are bringing back the past winners and some fan-favs to have our first ‘battle of the legends’! If we continue with more BOTB shows, we might even do an All Stars 2.

DM: How do you choose the themes for the events?

E: We always brainstorm ideas. Or I will think of an idea and Iddy helps me expand on it, and helps me follow through. We have a whole roster of event titles and ideas just waiting to happen. We don’t want our themes to be tacky or feeling like a high school semi-formal. We’re serving production value on a dime, and people are gobbling it up honey.

DM: What can attendees expect from the upcoming events in the BOTB series?

I: May 3, Meteor Babes in Space. June 8, Walkerville Brewery, All-Stars.

DM: Are there any surprises or special guest appearances planned for these upcoming events?

E: If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise now would it sweetie.

DM: How do you determine the winners of the battles?

E: It all depends on their C.U.N.T. of course. We give them points for their charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, based on their lipsyncs, talent show numbers, etc. And after the top 2 are chosen, the most exciting part… the audience votes by ballot for the winner!

DM: Have you seen any notable trends or evolutions in the performances over the course of the series?

E: Each show has gotten bigger and better. All Stars is going to be amazing. The queens and kings are really coming in blazing and giving it their all. Giving the Babes the opportunity to perform in a quality show in front of a full-house has made it all a lot of fun.

DM: Tell us about the format of the show. How do you structure each event to keep the audience engaged and entertained throughout the night?

I: Epoxy’s hosting is a big part of it. She’s quick as hell and really engages with the audience. We both do weird lipsyncs, and really give ‘em a show they’ll remember. I always try to be over the top and give people something they’re not expecting from a Windsor drag show.

E: We also try to read the room. If people are getting bored for even a minute we change gears and switch up the vibes. Iddy and I have been event organizers and business owners for over a decade, and I guess you could just say we’re naturals.

DM: The all-stars finale sounds like a spectacular culmination of the series. How did you go about selecting the all-stars cast, and what can fans expect from this grand finale?

E: It was hard choosing our cast. We didn’t want to exclude people, but we only had so many spots. We’re bringing back our winners, so B.Martini, Remedy, Venom, and whoever wins Babes in Space. Plus some of our ‘fan-favs’ who did really well in the rankings during their show. We have Mina Gorgina who came in 2nd at Love Sick, Daisy with a Y who dazzled us with her angelic voice in BOTB1, and also our first lipsync assassin Hudson Bae.

DM: Looking ahead, do you have plans for another season of BOTB after the finale in June?

E: I might have run out of Babes, but we’ll see! I’ve always wanted to do a Y2K themed one, or maybe another Halloween one. But I might also move on to new horizons instead.

DM: Are there any other upcoming projects or events that our readers should keep an eye out for from Epoxy and Iddy Oats?

I: May 31 at Craftheads were doing an indie/goth/emo type of night called Dolls and Demons. We’ve got our hottest queens in town and we’re going to be shaking our padded booties all night to some lipsyncs, and live dj’s. We also have Summer of ‘69 at the Walkerville Brewery which will be kind of like an improve dinner theater. Lots of other stuff in the works too.

E: I may or may not be hosting a show at the Capitol Theatre this summer. I can’t say more yet, but there’s more info about that coming soon.

DM: How do you balance your involvement in BOTB with other creative endeavors?

E: Just barely! We both work hard, I am a graphic designer and also sell vintage online and at Sidecar Collective on Ottawa St. Iddy has a dad job and works an office job full time. Unless we get a grant, our shows are fully funded by ticket sales and fully put together by Iddy and myself. Our shows are totally grass-roots and DIY, but we’ve been creatives and entrepreneurs for so long that it all comes naturally. I have my Bachelors of Fine Arts from UWindsor, and school taught me a lot about curation and how to make a lot with only a little.

DM: Finally, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers about BOTB, your journey as drag artists, or anything else that's on your minds?

E: I would like to say that we are so pleased to be featured in your publication. Keep doing what you do, and keep featuring our local talent! There are so many performers who deserve a spotlight. We can’t wait to see the evolution of this magazine.

DM: Are there any messages or words of encouragement you'd like to give to aspiring drag performers in the community?

E: I just want to take this opportunity to enlighten your readers about some Windsor history. We have had drag performers working here for over 150 years! Walkerville was a haven for vaudeville acts traveling between Montreal, Detroit, Chicago and New York. People often act like Windsor’s drag scene is small or unimportant, but we’re actually part of a rich history of queer and gender-bending performers. Don’t listen to these people who say that we don’t belong. Queer people, non-binary people, trans people and all 2S-LGBTQIA+ people have been here for centuries, and they just can’t handle how amazing we all are. Get out there and keep slaying!

By Kevin Blondin

BOTB - Babes In Space
Friday, May 3, 2024
At Meteor in Windsor, Ontario

BOTB - All Stars
Saturday, June 8, 2024
At Walkerville Brewery in Windsor, Ontario