Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Whitneybell.
Ben, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, my favorite activities were dance and gymnastics. And I was good at them! But I quickly learned that these were viewed, by some, to be girls’ activities. I faced a lot of bullying for being an effeminate boy and for loving “girl things.” It caused me to learn to feel shame for and try to hide those parts of myself.
As an adult, I discovered the art of drag. I loved the live performance, counterculture, nightlife, and community aspects of what I found in the bars and clubs of San Francisco.
11 years and 8 crowns later, I am deeply grateful for my journey with drag and the healing it has provided. It’s given me the opportunity to reclaim parts of myself I had learned to hate and hide and turn them into something celebrated. I am thrilled to show the world the power and beauty in authenticity.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Historically, our LGBTQ+ safe gathering spaces have been out of plain sight, most often in bars and nightclubs. Because of this, and other factors like bullying, family rejection, homelessness, and undiagnosed mental health disorders, our community faces disproportionately high rates of drug and alcohol abuse.
Spending a lot of time in bars and clubs from the time I was 20 years old, I began to use and abuse alcohol and drugs on a daily basis. It was not until 2021, 6 years into my drag career, when my mental and physical health had deteriorated dramatically, that I made the executive decision to seek treatment for what had become drug and alcohol dependencies.
I have been sober for over 5 years now, and I recognize the incredible strides I’ve made in my personal and professional life as a result of my decision to leave those things that were no longer serving me in the past. I am extremely proud of myself for the work I put in every day to maintain my sobriety and happy to reap the benefits of this work on a regular basis.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an award-winning female impersonator, entertainer, activist, and influencer who hosts and produces drag shows, brunches, block parties, pride events, social media campaigns, concerts (opened for Chapell Roan), officiates weddings, and private events.
My fun-loving, quick-witted, humorous hosting style and high energy, acrobatic, theatrical performance style sets me apart from other entertainers. I bring high quality drag looks, natural (as well as synthetic) beauty and execute all my endeavors with my heart on my sleeve.
I am most proud of my current title as Miss Gay Arizona America 2026, having been recently crowned this July. I brought an exceptional, authentic pageant package to this competition and, through hard work and dedication, earned myself the crown after placing 1st Alternate last year. For the first time in my drag career, I won every category.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
My advice would be to connect with as many people as you can. Even if you learn that a certain connection isn’t right for you (or them), you still learned something. Keep things positive and stay in your lane—Don’t worry about what other people are doing. Find other entertainers who are doing what you want to be doing and ask them how they got there. Be kind to others and be gentle with yourself… We all started somewhere.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @benaddictionn
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/bwhitneybell
