Interview: Paul Hofman
Theatre queen, Miss Travestie Holland 2016. A theatre creature with a heart of gold who loves singing beautiful songs. “Be true to yourself, true to someone else and true to the world. This Is My Pride! Everyone experiences Pride differently. We are all unique, yet during Pride it often feels like we are one. To me that is the real Pride feeling.”
Interview
“TAKE A CLOSER LOOK IN THE MIRROR”
Last year Niki Today unexpectedly won the title Miss Travestie Holland as a drag queen. He wears the title with pride. To him it was a great personal victory, a dramatic story. Whenever he steps onto a stage anywhere in the country an enthusiastic roar always breaks out. Niki Today is the alias of Nikolai Slisser. His alter ego came about by chance, he says with a smile.
At the Amsterdam office of the Pride organisation people are constantly coming and going. Niki Today welcomes us cheerfully. When we ask Niki to tell us about his life he falls silent for a moment. “The creation of Niki came from a very serious incident. A little over three years ago I had a heart attack and that literally and figuratively woke me up. For years I was ruled by fears and insecurities so I didn’t really live. I was running away from myself and never dared to face myself. To at that moment being a drag queen didn’t seem possible for me. I was an actor and in the theatre world the role of drag queen felt like a step too far. My near-death experience opened my eyes. It sounds like a cliché but a weight really lifted from my shoulders. From that moment I decided not to let fear rule my life anymore. I remember my first performance as a travesty like it was yesterday. Suddenly I was shining onstage with glitter, glamour, feathers and beautiful dancers. I love playing a character like Niki. Dame Edna is my great example.” When we ask what makes him so special he replies spontaneously: “Unlike many drag queens I sing live.” The stage means everything to him and he admits he’s nervous before every performance. “But that’s healthy tension. I’m always grateful that I get to sing. I really enjoy the moment I’m onstage.”
The theme of Pride 2017 appeals to him strongly. “My live rendition of ‘This is my life’ has become my anthem. That is how I was chosen as the winner of the Miss Travestie contest.” He reveals softly: “During Pride week I will sing this song regularly. In gorgeous gowns with elegant coiffures and amazing heels. At the closing concert on the main stage I will really let loose. My dream is coming true. It means so much to me.”
The moment he was asked to become an ambassador for Pride Amsterdam is etched on his mind. “It was completely unexpected. You don’t get an opportunity like this every day. You can imagine I grabbed it with both hands. Together with the other ambassadors I want to dive deeper into the heart of Pride. Because Pride is so much more than the, admittedly impressive, Canal Parade with only beautiful people on board,” he says with a laugh.
Niki Today’s eyes light up as he laughs about how his name came about. “Did you know that Eurovision winner Johnny Logan played a part in my career’s beginning? Two years ago I was working for Amsterdam Gay Pride and I jokingly dressed as Conchita’s mother — Conchita had won Eurovision that year. I went up to him and said literally: “Hi Mr Logan, normally my name is Nikolai but now I am Niki today”. He replied immediately: “Well hello Niki Today”. And that’s how my alter ego’s name was born.”
How does he want to fulfil his role as ambassador? He thinks for a moment and then says: “I want to raise from the heart things that are rarely named or, worse, simply denied. When something dramatic happens in the gay scene, like the recent assault of two gay men in Arnhem, we present a united front outwardly. Then we stand hand in hand and radiate equality.” He continues: “I’m not the slimmest gay man, so people often overlook me. How often are people excluded because they are darker-skinned or too feminine? I notice that in our community we too often look at each other with blinkers on. It’s very difficult to meet people and have a nice conversation when you’re already sized up the moment you walk into a bar. No one is the same, so why do we insist on pushing each other into boxes? We criticise that pigeonholing mentality in straight society, yet we take part just as much.”
As ambassador I want to show that we should look in the mirror more often. Because do we always treat others the way we ourselves want to be treated?”
At the last moment he says: “Everything in the scene revolves around appearance, you are judged on it. I’m happy with how I look with my curves, but many in the gay scene see it differently. True beauty lies in imperfection. In my role as ambassador I hope to smash those self-created boxes.” And personally? “To meet a nice guy and have a fairytale wedding.” He can’t wait for Pride Amsterdam to begin.
Pride Ambassador since 2017
