Nearah Nuff is a Calgary-based drag queen, known for starring in Canada’s Drag Race with her iconic lip-syncing and dance performances. Nuff made an appearance at Cowboys Music Festival Drag Me To Cowboys—bringing even more life to the Stampede season.
Initially from Lloydminster, Nuff has had to work incredibly hard to build her name and break free from the small-town limitations. Growing up watching shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, and watching all the performers live out their dreams, inspired Nuff to pursue her own career in drag.
“People like Brooke Lynn Hytes, who is a Canadian drag queen but went on to do great things on Drag Race in the U.S. The people who inspire me have broken down the walls and barriers,” she explained. “In the U.S., they have more resources and I feel like more exposure.”
“Fans truly are the greatest gifts. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for people who have uplifted and supported me. My goal is to be so famous, you know? I want to represent Alberta, and I want to travel the world and share Nearah with everyone.”
– Nearah Nuff
To Nuff, Canadian representation in the drag scene is now more important than ever, and it’s inspiring to see herself and so many other queens becoming so successful. Farrah Nuff, her drag mom, is also a local-based queen who helped her grow into the queen she is today and taught her how to navigate working in the industry.
“She’s always just taught me to be kind to people because you never really know what can lead to an opportunity. And I always made sure to just stay humble and work hard.”
Humility in a world of fame is a balance that she takes to heart, ensuring that her integrity is not compromised—no matter what. And while staying grounded, Nuff is not afraid to shy away from bold costume designs. Nearah Nuff describes her style with three key words: beautiful, snatched, and sexy. Benjamin Toner, a costume designer and close friend of Nuff’s, has designed multiple looks for her, including her promo look for Canada’s Drag Race All Stars. Collaborating with Canadian designers is a way for her to support and connect with other creatives, especially when there’s so much talent that needs more visibility.
In terms of makeup, Nuff locks everything in with plenty of powder and an alcohol-free setting spray. With the help of YouTube tutorials and years of practice, she can now get her face done in under an hour and a half. “You can take inspiration from other people’s makeup, but find a way to make it your own. My signature is probably a sharp brow and a bold, juicy lip,” she says.
However, underneath the surface of fancy layered textiles and airbrushed makeup is still just a drag queen with a passion to share her talent and energy with the world. “Fashion to me does not make Nearah who she is. It’s my talent that makes Nearah who she is. The clothing is just a little cherry on top of everything that I am. I just like to look pretty, and it’s just a good way to show self-expression,” she says.
To Nuff, coming from a small town and becoming an idol has been a meaningful part of her career. Hard work has proved that it doesn’t matter where you start; it’s about where you want to end up. Today, people stop her in public to ask for pictures and Nuff only plans on growing her fanbase further.
“Fans truly are the greatest gifts. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for people who have uplifted and supported me,” she says. “My goal is to be so famous, you know? I want to represent Alberta, and I want to travel the world and share Nearah with everyone.”
Featured Image: @thedragseries
