From Struggling With Psoriasis to Becoming ‘Soraya Sis’: How This Drag Artist Learned to Embrace Their Skin

At first, Felix was skeptical that it was psoriasis. With each misdiagnosis, they had grown to distrust the medical system “instead of recognizing it as a resource.” It took time for Felix to accept having psoriasis and identify the lifestyle changes and skin-care routine that worked for them — including one unexpected element that combined artistry, joy, and movement.

Felix was introduced to drag by their partner at the time, who was a drag artist. At that point, Felix was too busy being a supportive stage partner — and grappling with self-doubt, due to their skin — to consider doing drag themselves. But a few years later, Felix found themselves at a poetry night and decided to participate.

“It was my first time onstage in nearly a decade, and it made me realize that I was open to being perceived in that way. And ironically, I had a red flare-up that day and still felt embraced and like I could be vulnerable and fully seen as me,” says Felix.

A few months later, Felix was given the opportunity to participate in a drag competition.

“I was so anxious about throwing my wig in the ring, but it also just felt so right,” says Felix. “I hadn’t had butterflies in my stomach for years, which is how I knew that I was supposed to throw myself into it.”

Among the many things to consider — apparel, makeup, music — was their drag identity. Who did they want to be, and what did they want to stand for, when they got up onstage? “I had known for so long that psoriasis was something that made me hide from people,” says Felix. “So, why not use that as the perfect excuse … to put me in front of people?”

The perfect drag name became clear: Soraya Sis.

At their first show, Soraya worried that psoriasis would be on their mind too much. And it was, but in a good way.

“I kept thinking about psoriasis the whole night, but instead of thinking about it because it was on my face, I was grateful to finally be thinking about it from a place of happiness, because every time someone heard my name — Soraya Sis — they laughed,” says Soraya. “It was the first time that psoriasis didn’t have a connotation of shame or frustration. It was joy and humor.”

For their first performance, Soraya had their makeup done professionally. But over time, they learned how to apply it on their own. Their goal is to even out their skin tone while minimizing agitation to any red spots or skin tears. They also play up facial features that they once tried to hide.

Equally important is proper makeup removal. Initially, it felt grueling to go through the lengthy process of thoroughly cleaning their skin, Soraya says, but they learned that when they gave their skin the time and attention it deserved, they would “wake up glowing.”

Now, Soraya looks forward to every step of their routine, which involves using cold cream to remove makeup, makeup wipes to ensure their face is completely free of cosmetics, and, finally, face cleanser. They follow up with gentle products and lots (repeat: lots) of moisturizer.

Soraya pays close attention to the foods they eat, too. They learned that many parts of their vegetarian diet, including nightshade vegetables, such as eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes, could be contributing to psoriasis flare-ups. So they tweaked their diet to be kinder to their skin.

Soraya also drinks a lot of water, because staying hydrated is crucial when you have psoriasis.

By diving headfirst into drag, Soraya went from hiding to standing center stage.

“I feel like I finally love and accept myself,” says Soraya. “I feel like those first performances were me giving my inner child a hug and recognizing a lot of things I abandoned as a child — hope, fun, art. There were so many things that I was wanting to reconnect with, but I didn’t know how.”

Soraya has learned how to embrace their fears and insecurities instead of letting those feelings shrink them. They hope that other people struggling with a chronic condition can learn to do the same.

“Your condition is part of your story,” says Soraya. “It’s not all of your story, but it’s part of it. And if you hide it, it [can become] bigger than it actually is. … So find a safe space and a way to embrace it.”

Making lifestyle changes, such as using skin-care products with psoriasis-friendly ingredients, maintaining a healthy weight, and implementing pharmacological interventions recommended by your dermatologist, can help keep symptoms at bay.

And finding a joyful outlet — whether it’s yoga, cooking, or, yes, drag — can help you embrace yourself as you are, psoriasis and all.