Port Calls Shyanne O'Shea

In the lead up to the Port Bingo Brunch for Eastbourne Pride we catch up with our hostess with the mostest, Shyanne O’Shea to get the low down of her idols, her signature dance moves, and what to expect from her performance at Port.

Over to the sass that is Shyanne…

When did you discover drag?

I always wanted long hair, so age four could be found wandering around with a tea towel on my hair to get some length!

I grew up in Ireland in Shannon and for school plays, it was the girls roles that I loved...they were always more fabulous and got the best parts and characters.

Have you always loved performing?

Absolutely, yes.

I was five when I did my first ever performance and I remember it so clearly. Being a child of the 80s, Madonna was a big influence and I just adored the song La Isla Bonita.

I performed it to my class and the teacher lifted me up into the window sill to give me a stage.

From that moment on I knew I needed to and loved performing, and would take every opportunity to perform to friends and family, working my way through all of Kylie’s classic 80s hits.

Who’s inspired you over the years?

Jem and the Holograms – Jem was my idol growing up, and still is!

Eighties kids will know it…it’s an American cartoon that ran in the mid 80s and was on every Saturday morning at 7am. I tuned in religiously with my bowl of coco pops.

Jem has a pop star alter-ego who’s unleashed when she rubs her earrings.

I totally aspired to be like her when I was young and still turn to re-runs now.

You’ve probably been asked a million times, but how did you decide on your drag name?

O’Shea in my Nan’s maiden name.

And the first name is a shady move…

My brother, who I didn’t get on well with when I was younger, was having a child and he liked the name Shyanne.

I thought the name had a great ring to it with O’Shea so nabbed it as my Drag name.

When their baby girl was born she was called Jade, so all’s well that ends well!

“All the girls want to be me, all the boys want to be with me!

Shyanne is a sexy, cool, sassy, style icon.”

Where are some of the amazing places you’ve performed that stick in your memory?

I’m an ambassador for International Austin Drag Festival and have had some riotous fun with that.

I performed to over 150 cars for an outdoor cinema performance at the festival in Austin on an airfield. It was such a blast - my face was up on the big screen, I was climbing car bonnets, people were going crazy.

I love performing over there so hope the festival returns next year so I can be reunited with all the great friends I’ve met through it.

Another highlight was when I was also on Blind Date in 2008 with Paul O’Grady. I was Contestant Number 2, and was picked. The date was rock climbing in Cheddar Gorge, in full Drag! Unfortunately I had to ditch the heels so wore vintage furry snow boots instead…a winning look!

What are the tunes to get you on the dance floor?

Give me a pop princess and I’m on the dance floor.

Think Britney, Christina, Whitney - any pop princess track with a great beat.

Those kind of tunes will make me put down my vodka and coke down and shimmy to the dancefloor – centre stage of course!

My signature move is falling over a lot! But always recovering gracefully ;)

You’re a producer-DJ-model-wig stylist, not forgetting top bingo host! How have things evolved over time?

It’s all grown really organically.

I trained as a hairdresser and then did that for 24 years, opening my own salons, so wigs was second nature to me.

I started to style my own wigs and through that people started asking about them. A few years ago I launched Wig Mistress and now sell internationally. I do custom styled wigs and give old wigs a good revamp too!

I’ve had people ask me to DJ alongside performing so it’s something I’ve learnt over the years and it felt like a natural progression, having studied music at college.

I also recently launched a bookings agency for Drag Acts, so I do bookings for lots of various venues. I have brilliant Drag Queens on the books and always want the best for both artist and venue.

I am busy, but I like it that way!

What’s next for Shyanne O’Shea?

I would love my booking agency to take off so I’m putting a lot of energy into that. It will give me the work/life balance that I’d like in future, as I’d love to have a child.

What should people expect from Port Bingo Brunch? What are you dishing up?

A pop star, lots of laughs, plenty of sass, and a great memory.

Lock up your husbands – I’m coming to Eastbourne!

For more information on Port Bingo Brunch head here and call the team to book:

01323 438 526