Spotlight: Ricky Mania
THIS is DRAG - SPOTLIGHT 027 / DECEMBER 2025
Ricky Mania
Curated by Kevin Blondin
For December’s Spotlight on THISisDRAG.com, we step into the chaotic, unapologetic, clown-goth universe of Ricky Mania — Hamilton’s alternative drag powerhouse who proves that being a freak is not a flaw, but a superpower. Standing proudly at 5’1” with the energy of someone ten feet tall, Ricky blends punk rebellion, horror inspiration, queer activism, and raw trans joy into an electrifying performance style all their own.
From silly numbers to political drag rooted deeply in their love for Palestine and social justice, Ricky embraces the outcast within — and invites the world to do the same. Four years into their drag journey, their voice is clearer, queerer, and louder than ever… and December’s spotlight shines right where it belongs.
Queer Punk Power
A Name Born From a Misread Shirt and a Lifetime of Mania
Ricky Mania’s origin story is as chaotic as their aesthetic — in the best way. Wearing a Nicki Minaj shirt, a friend misread it as “Ricky Mania,” and the accidental name stuck. Years later, when drag came calling, it felt perfect. “As someone who has been manic all my life, it felt fitting,” Ricky laughs.
Today, the name represents the very heart of their drag: loud, unfiltered, a little unhinged, and absolutely unforgettable.
Hamilton’s Smallest Drag Thing, Biggest Spirit
At 5’1”, Ricky affectionately calls themself “Hamilton’s smallest drag thing,” but their presence is enormous. Inspired by punk, goth, clowns, and freak culture, Ricky’s drag occupies the messy, maximalist space where absurdity and activism meet.
Three words they use to describe their drag? Silly, goth, trans.
Three things they love? Cats, Palestine, and weirdos.
Theme song? Chop Suey by System of a Down — which they’ve performed more times than they can count.
A Drag Aesthetic Rooted in Chaos, Camp, and Resistance
Ricky’s aesthetic is unmistakable: clown-goth makeup, exaggerated features, and a vibe that exists somewhere between a haunted funhouse and a punk basement show. They lean heavily into themes of freakishness, outcasts, and reclaiming space as someone who was never meant to blend in.
Their biggest inspirations range from alternative drag icons to political movements — but the largest of all is the resilience of the Palestinian people. “They are the strongest people on this planet,” Ricky says. “My hope is that they will someday be free.”
Drag as Liberation, Drag as Home
Ricky loves drag for its expressive power — the way a look or a number can say something loud even without words. Drag is the place where they shed insecurity and step into a version of themselves that cannot be silenced. “Ricky is a way to be free from the insecurity of my regular self.”
Some of their favourite memories come from performing alongside their drag mother, Jessie James, or getting the chance to work with their Drag Race favourite, Crystal Methyd — a bucket-list moment early in their career.
The Message Behind the Makeup
More than anything, Ricky wants their drag to tell outcasts that they deserve to take up space.
“It’s okay to be a freak. It’s okay to not fit in.”
Their drag is a celebration of queer resilience, trans joy, neurodivergence, and the fight for justice for all marginalized people. In their art and activism, they push back against the idea that drag must be pretty, digestible, or tame. Ricky’s world is messy, honest, and real — and that’s exactly why people connect to it.
Looking Forward: More Activism, More Drag, More Mania
In the next five years, Ricky hopes to expand their activist work through drag. Their passions range from Palestinian liberation to trans rights, sex-work decriminalization, disability justice, safe consumption sites, and the fight against homelessness.
“None of us are free until we all are.”
While they don’t have major upcoming shows at the moment, they continue to build community, create weird and wonderful performances, and stay deeply involved in the growing alternative drag scenes across Hamilton and beyond.
As 2025 wraps, THISisDRAG.com closes the year by celebrating the beautifully chaotic force that is Ricky Mania — a trans drag artist who refuses to shrink themself for the comfort of others. From punk-infused political drag to clown-goth silliness, Ricky reminds us that queer art can be loud, messy, emotional, hilarious, angry, joyful, and liberating all at once.
Follow Ricky on Instagram at @ricky666mania for performances, activism updates, and beautifully freaky goodness — and if you want to book them, slide into those Instagram DMs.
Here’s to a 2026 filled with more weirdos, more punk, more drag, and more freedom.