SFBG: Are the differences just because of the political climate back in the Midwest?

Pratt: Yeah, well, here in SF transgender people have a public presence, whereas back in Ohio it’s more of a secret. So they form these tight knit communities based around pageants.

SFBG: Is that why you moved here then, to get away from all that?

Pratt: No, I moved here for a job after I graduated. I never thought I’d be involved in any of this, actually. Then one random day someone asked me to dress in drag for a fundraiser and I just thought it sounded fun. I got a lot of attention that day, so instead of going home I went out to a drag event at Harvey’s. And that’s where I met Cookie Dough and she was like “Who are you and where do you perform?” That was April 27th 2006. It was the first time I had done drag and I was getting so much positive feedback. Someone actually came up to me and said, “You look like a future Miss Trannyshack.” So from that moment I knew I wanted to do this. My competitive edge had been sparked. I started doing the Star Search thing, met my dragmother, Landa Lakes, and just went from there.

SFBG: That’s awesome. What is a dragmother by the way?

Pratt: Well, it’s usually the first person who ever does your makeup, but that’s not the case with her and I. She was the first person to take me under her wing and sort of teach me how everything works and how to improve my look and all that. I dressed pretty outrageous when I first started doing this, but she urged me to work in more femininity.
I’m still pretty campy though.

SFBG: Yeah, I saw your video where you were, like, eating a foot. Can you talk about that for a minute?

Pratt: Oh that was the intro video for my Trannyshack pageant performance. The idea was that Pollo Del Mar, The Queen of the Wild, had been locked in captivity by a bunch of hunters. It was basically my take on the King Kong story. She gets captured, the hunters rape her and beat her and demoralized her sexually. Then she breaks free and goes crazy. They play the movie at the beginning and then there are two other parts. For the second part I did this She-Ra thing where I was like twenty feet tall. I busted out on stage and these hunters started beating me, and….

(At this point a person in a slim fitting lounge dress stepped onstage and started lip-synching to “I Want You to Die” by Storm Large. Paul was visibly moved.)

SFBG: Who is that?

Pratt: Oh, that’s Suppository Spelling. She’s one of the most revered performers in the city [Ed. -- ha! Work it!]. She was Miss Trannyshack 2004, a real rockstar. Probably my favorite performer. She’s a cult of personality, really. Her performances are great, but her energy and personality are an inspiration for me. She has one of those super expressive faces. Sometimes I feel like I’m a one-look-wonder. You know, like I’m angry all the time. It’s fine though. I usually just wind up doing these really angry numbers.

SFBG: So are there any draw-backs to being Pollo Del Mar?

Pratt: Well, I love being Pollo because it frees me to be flirtatious and crazy. But it’s weird because I’m not at all like that in real life. Like if I saw a hot guy walking down the street, I’m the type of guy that, even if we make eye contact, I won’t do anything. It’s very hard for me to follow up on it. So sometimes I’m like “what would Pollo do?” And that’s weird because it’s like I’m jealous of myself.

Landa Lakes and Pollo

SFBG: So you feel sort of trapped when you’re just Paul?

Pratt: Well, yeah. It’s like Pollo Del Mar gets invited to parties all the time. I get calls and people are like “Oh, is Pollo coming?” And I’m like “Psssh, NO. I’m gonna be me. Take it or leave it.” But otherwise, no complaints.

SFBG: So, you’ve already won Miss Trannyshack. Where do you go from here?

Pratt: Well, Team Pollo does this Wednesday night show at The Lookout, and that’s cool because I can relax a little while I’m dressed up. I’d like to be more of a fixture, like a celebutante, where I don’t really have to perform. I just am. And of course I’m always busy interviewing celebrities.

SFBG: Yeah, I hope it’s not obvious, but I feel funny interviewing you because you’re, like, a professional interviewer.

Pratt: No, no, no. You’re doing fine, I promise.

SFBG: Thanks. Oh, I almost forgot to ask, but I heard Trannyshack is ending. How is that going to affect you?

Pratt: Well, the reality is that Trannyshack isn't really ending. It's just evolving. After 12 years of weekly shows, Heklina has decided to keep things alive through a combination of monthly parties at bigger venues, special tours -- like the annual trips to Hawaii, Reno, L.A., Portland, Seattle and the U.K. -- and even things like Bay cruises. She also plans to continue the annual Star Search competition -- which I won in 2006 -- and, of course, the pageant.

SFBG: Oh, so it’s just changing then. Well where does that leave you?

Pratt: So many people have been asking about where the changes to Trannyshack leave me. Maybe I'm crazy, but I think all of this is really exciting! Worst-case scenario, I get to be the very LAST Miss Trannyshack. Best-case scenario, I go down in history as the LONGEST REIGNING Miss Trannyshack ever. Either way, I'm going into the record books. And being remembered is what it's really all about, right? Ha!

SFBG: You’re damn right. Any last words?

Pratt: I would definitely like you to mention that Pollo Del Mar is the campaign manager for Mercedes Munro, candidate for empress, 2008. Go Vote on February 16th.

(By this time the entire cast of The House of Glitter (H.O.G.), of which Pollo is an esteemed member, had gathered around the interview table. When they started throwing tampons smeared with ketchup at Paul and I, the interview was officially over.)