photo: Joe Montana
About
Lil Miss Hot Mess
book a performance or reading!Known for throwing extravaganzas like her “Bat Mitzvah x2” and roller skating parties, Lil Miss Hot Mess has appeared on world-class stages like SFMOMA, Stanford University, and Saturday Night Live, as well as legendary clubs from coast to coast like The Stud, Hard French, Bushwig, Queen Kong, and many more. She loves packing her performances full of political satire and technology to help illuminate what a hot mess the world can be.
Lil Miss Hot Mess is an author and storyteller and serves on the board for Drag Story Hour. She is the author of the children’s book The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish (Running Press Kids, 2020), If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It (Running Press Kids, 2022), and Make Your Own Rainbow: A Drag Queen’s Guide to Color (Running Press Kids, 2025). She has hosted readings around the country, including for the Brooklyn Museum, RuPaul’s Drag Con, HBO, WNET’s Let’s Learn, Utah Humanities, and numerous libraries, schools, and community groups coast-to-coast.
As an activist, Hot Mess was also a founding organizer of the #MyNameIs campaign that successfully challenged Facebook’s “real names” policy. Her writing on tech and culture has been published in NBC News, Slate, Wired, The Guardian, Salon, HuffPost, and them., as well as in academic journals like Curriculum Inquiry. As a thought leader, she has spoken at leading educational events and cultural institutions like SXSW EDU, Kennedy Center for the Arts, Tucson Humanities Festival, and several universities. She has also been interviewed and quoted by numerous media outlets, from the New Yorker to NPR, Rolling Stone to Teen Vogue. In 2022, she was “sainted” by the legendary Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence.
When not twirling, Lil Miss Hot Mess works a professor (she holds a PhD from NYU). She splits her time between Tucson and Los Angeles.
Books
Make Your Own Rainbow:
A Drag Queen's Guide to Color
Make Your Own Rainbow:
A Drag Queen’s Guide to Color
written by Lil Miss Hot Mess, illustrated by Olga de Dios
published by Running Press Kids, May 2025
Explore a kaleidoscope of colors beyond the rainbow in this celebratory and empowering book!
Drag queens love to dance to their own beat, speak their minds, and let their best selves shine. They love all the colors of the rainbow—as well as all the colors beyond!
From scarlet, marigold, lemon, and emerald, to azure, periwinkle, Byzantium, and onyx, the world’s diverse range of colors allows drag queens and kings to be authentic and creative. And you, too, can use any color or hue to express yourself and your fierce imagination! Travel through a colorful, playful, and uplifting world with Drag Story Hour storyteller Lil Miss Hot Mess and whimsical illustrator Olga De Dios in their latest inclusive picture book.
Pre-Order Now!
…or ask your favorite local bookstore to order.
Some of these contain affiliate links, so your purchase supports me ever more!
Pre-Order Now!
…or ask your favorite local bookstore or library to order.
Some of these contain affiliate links, from which I earn a small commission, so your purchase supports me ever more!
pRAISE
Kirkus Reviews: “Colors of the world, spice up your life!… The drag queens (and perhaps a pair of drag kings) in this tale offer an excellent message: Let’s learn about colors!… Readers whose favorite color is “yummy yellow” will eagerly discover citrine, maize, and mustard, for instance. The same applies across all the colors of the rainbow and a few additional shades as well. (We see you, brown!) Along the way, the divas dazzle, presenting readers with more than just a range of colors… Fierce and fun, just like the best queens.”
Publishers Weekly: “Short sentences from Lil Miss Hot Mess highlight de Dios’s stylized characters, portrayed with various abilities, body types, and skin tones. Fantasy elements and collections of objects representing each color are integrated into the uplifting spreads, which encourage readers to express themselves however they choose.”
If You're a Drag Queen and You Know It
If You’re a Drag Queen and You Know It
written by Lil Miss Hot Mess, illustrated by Olga de Dios
published by Running Press Kids, 2022
Strike a pose. Blow a kiss. Mouth the words. A fun, sing-along book with a drag twist that encourage kids to embrace all the playfulness of drag culture.
If you’re a drag queen and you know it, let it show by winking, shaking your bum, laughing real big, twirling around, and more! Join a cast of fabulous drag queens as you sing along to the tune of “If You’re Happy and You Know It” in this playful celebration of expressing your brightest and boldest self.
Order Now!
…or ask your favorite local bookstore to order.
Some of these contain affiliate links, so your purchase supports me ever more!
Order Now!
…or ask your favorite local bookstore or library to order.
Some of these contain affiliate links, from which I earn a small commission, so your purchase supports me ever more!
pRAISE
Kirkus Reviews: “The classic children’s action song gets a fabulous twist. Drag queens take center stage in this adaptation of “If You’re Happy and You Know It.” The lively, colorful illustrations and the characters’ wild costumes will engage readers from the first page…. Adults will enjoy reintroducing children to a new version of a timeless childhood song. And of course, for libraries participating in Drag Queen Story Hour, this title is a must! A delightful spin on an old musical favorite.”
Mombian: “The author/illustrator duo behind 2020’s The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish reunite for another fun riff on a classic children’s song… this book will have obvious appeal at [DQSH] events, but it’s also a great book for home fun—although it may not be the best for winding down at bedtime!”
Booklist: “Primed for a drag-queen story time or any dress-up and sing-along fun, this spin on ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ features glam drag queens in sparkling and patterned outfits leading the action.”
Out Front Magazine: “A beautifully illustrated children’s book that will be a fun, joyous, nightly read for the kids, with the possibility to make it into a fun song! It features inclusivity on every page and makes sure the entire book is full of beautifully styled illustrations.”
Coloring Pages
Now’s your chance to color the characters from the book, with these phenomenal (and printable) illustrations by Olga de Dios!
You can also draw your favorite characters — or create your own drag persona!
Post your artwork on social media and tag me @lilmisshotmess with #drawadragqueen.
The hips on the drag queen go Swish, swish, swish
The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish
written by Lil Miss Hot Mess, illustrated by Olga de Dios
published by Running Press Kids, 2020
The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish encourages readers to boldly be exactly who they are. Written by a founding member of the nationally recognized Drag Story Hour (DSH), this playful picture book offers a quirky twist on a classic nursery rhyme by illustrating all of the ways to “work it”. The story plays off “The Wheels on the Bus” as it follows a drag queen who performs her routine in front of an awestruck audience. A fun frenzy of fierceness, this book will appeal to readers of all ages.
Buy Now!
…or ask your favorite local bookstore to pre-order.
Some of these contain affiliate links, so your purchase supports me ever more!
Buy Now!
…or ask your favorite local bookstore or library to order.
Some of these contain affiliate links, so your purchase supports me ever more!
pRAISE
Kirkus Reviews, starred review: “This book’s gonna werk, werk, werk all through Pride Month and beyond. Drag persona Lil Miss Hot Mess rewrites ‘The Wheels on the Bus’ to create a fun, movement-filled, family-friendly celebration of drag. . . . Appropriately psychedelic. . . . Fun, fun, fun all through the town!”
BuzzFeed: “The Wheels on the Bus? Throw her out, she’s OVER. The Hips On the Drag Queen Go Swish, Swish, Swish is a funny, inspiring picture book that encourages children to be themselves. Remember, children need to learn how to read books before they read people.
Elizabeth Bird, Fuse8 (School Library Journal): “The Hips on the Drag Queens Go Swish Swish Swish takes the familiar and renders it fabulous.”
Matt Baume, them.: “features bright, imaginative illustrations of dancing drag queens accompanied by kid-friendly song lyrics designed to get youngsters excited to read, move around, and express themselves.”
She Knows: “a fun romp into Dragland kids of all ages will love. From the costumes and the makeup to the rhymes, this story and its queens make it clear: Being yourself is the coolest.
The Tiny Activist: “All of the drag queen characters… encompass a variety of drag styles, so much personality is conveyed through the illustrations!… Having a space where everyone is accepted for whatever they like to do is crucial for kids, and having books that specifically celebrate creativity and fashion assist in making that happen.”
More Press
PRESS
- Publishers Weekly: “Dressed for Success: LGBTQ Children’s Books 2020”
- Romper: “The Spirit Of Drag Queen Story Hour Has Moved Online & Onto Your Shelves”
- Mombian: “Drag Queens and Other Performers Take Center Stage in New Kids’ Books”
- 48 Hills: “A Drag Queen Story Hour star and activist publishes her own kids’ book”
Extras
Coloring Pages
Now’s your chance to color the characters from the book, with these phenomenal (and printable) illustrations by Olga de Dios!
You can also draw your favorite characters — or create your own drag persona!
Post your artwork on social media and tag me @lilmisshotmess with #drawadragqueen.
Book Stickers
Request a personalized book sticker from Lil Miss Hot Mess!
Since I can’t travel now to sign books, I’m happy to send a signed sticker to all my friends and fans! It’s FREE, but donations to Drag Queen Story Hour are welcome if you can! Just fill out the the form.
Please note: at this point, I’m taking a break from sending stickers — hopefully more will come later!
Work With Lil Miss
Lil Miss Hot Mess is available to entertain audiences, educate communities, and share her talents in all sorts of ways! Below are some of her offerings — or reach out to discuss your ideas. She even does weddings and bat mitzvahs!
FORMATS
- Drag Story Hours
- author visits
- lectures + workshops
- drag performance
- event hosting + emceeing
- bingo!
TOPICS
- drag pedagogy + the power and politics of drag
- LGBTQ+ history
- creating diverse children’s literature + media
- book bans + censorship
- digital drag + technology
VENUES & AUDIENCES
(in person + virtual)
- preK-12 schools
- universities
- libraries + museums
- bookstores
- corporate events + ERGs
- Pride festivals
- community organizations
Venues & Partners
Among many others, Lil Miss Hot Mess has worked with:
- Allied Media Conference
- Blackbird Books
- Books Are Magic
- Brooklyn Museum
- Brooklyn Friends School
- Brooklyn Public Library
- Bucknell University
- Cayton Children’s Museum
- Collective Power
- Conway Strategic
- Courage California
- de Young Memorial Museum
- HBO
- Institute for Contemporary Arts LA
- James Madison University
- John F. Kennedy Center for the Arts
- LA Natural History Museum
- LinkTree
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Tucson
- New York Public Library
- New York University
- Performance Studies International
- Provincetown Family Week
- Seattle Pride
- SFMOMA
- Swarthmore College
- Stanford University
- SXSW EDU
- Tucson Humanities Festival
- UC Santa Cruz
- Utah Humanities Book Festival
- We Need Diverse Books
- WNET
Testimonials
Here’s what some real-world collaborators have said about working with Lil Miss Hot Mess:
“Lil Miss Hot Mess hosts fun and interactive classroom visits! The kids were laughing, dancing — and reading!”
— We Need Diverse Books
“Lil Miss Hot Mess hosted a very fun and interactive digital event for us during Pride Month that my coworkers are still talking about! Our ERG was able to bring in folks from all over the company and participate in a LGBT media and history themed Bingo event energetically led by Lil Miss. Parents were especially excited to hear her read from her adorable book, The Hips on the Drag Queen Go Swish Swish Swish with their kids in tow. I would highly recommend her for any corporate or small business event, and she is a great option to support community-focussed queens outside of the Drag Race universe!”
— Scott Reed, Senior UX Researcher and ERG Lead, Esports gaming startup company
“Lil Miss Hot Mess sparkled her way into our school library to read aloud her books to my first-grade students. She provided a unique and laughter-filled opportunity for my first-graders to engage with her stories that celebrate diversity, creativity, and self-expression. The event fostered a sense of inclusion and helped broaden my students’ understanding of gender and identity in a fun, welcoming way. We hope to have Lil Miss Hot Mess back again soon!”
— Nick Williams, 1st grade teacher
“When Lil Miss Hot Mess visited our bookstore to read her fabulous (and bestselling) books, we had an enormous crowd of families with children young and younger in tow. They laughed, they sang, they danced, they swished. It was the most fun storytime at our bookstore has ever had. And real joy and celebration was experienced by all. We love Lil Miss Hot Mess and Drag Story Hour!!”
— Kathryn Grantham, owner of Black Bird Bookstore, San Francisco
“Lil Miss Hot Mess is everything Courage California has wanted in an event emcee and speaker — a consummate professional with infectious energy, quick wit, and a fearlessness about politics and the importance of representation and rights in a time when we see progress and pushback side-by-side. She deftly manages a fine balance of humor, fun, and gravitas in response to the context, other speakers, and our organization’s goals, and I am constantly impressed by how she problem-solves issues in real time without missing a beat. I look forward to the next time we work together!”
— Irene Kao, Executive Director, Courage California
WRITING + Press
“Drag Queens won’t be cowed by haters. The story hour goes on.”
NBC News, June 2022
More Essays + Articles
- Curriculum Inquiry: “Drag Pedagogy: The Playful Practice of Queer Imagination in Early Childhood” (with Harper Keenan)
- Walker Reader: “In Defense of the Playful Dangers of Drag”
- Strategic Transparency Network: “An Internet Like a Drag Show”
- Slate: “Don’t Let George Santos Bring Drag Down”
- Wired: “A Drag Queen’s Guide to Protecting Your Privacy on Facebook by Breaking the Rules”
- Them: “I’m Deleting Facebook Until It Learns to Respect Queer Users”
- Wired: “Facebook’s Hate Speech Policies Censor Marginalized Users”
- Salon: “Not so fast, Mark Zuckerberg: 4 reasons to be skeptical of his $45 billion giveaway”
- Huffington Post: “One Year Later, Facebook Fails to Fix Its Biased Real Names Policy”
- Salon: “Say my name: Facebook’s unfair “real names” policy continues to harm vulnerable users”
- The Guardian: “Facebook’s ‘real name’ policy hurts real people and creates a new digital divide”
- Huffington Post: “Shame on Facebook: How Zuckerberg’s Confusing “Real Names” Policy Hurts More Than It Helps”
- Salon: “Let me be Lil Miss Hot Mess: Facebook took away my stage name”
press clippings
- LGBTQ Nation: “Rising queen Lil Miss Hot Mess on how drag upsets the status quo” (interview with Michael Musto)
- New Yorker: “Kids Attend Drag Queen Story Hour”
- Vox: “Drag queens are more political than ever. Can they lead a movement?”
- Them: “Drag Queens Are Bringing Families Together at Public Libraries Across the U.S.”
- Tablet: “Lil Miss Hot Mess Makes a Great Children’s Storyteller”
- New York Times: “Drag Performers Fight Facebook’s ‘Real Name’ Policy”
- NPR: “Facebook Requires Real Names. What Does That Mean For Drag Queens?”
- More coming soon!
Lil Miss Hot Mess on Channel 4
Photos
@Lilmisshotmess Instagram
More photos, videos, and press clippings coming soon!
Get in touch.
Love letters only please!