The Show Must Go On
Talking Royalty, Resilience and 3rd Degree Burns with Keyska Diva
Interview By Joslyn Hatfield
Photography by Yev Z Photography
You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get a jump on Keyska Diva. Already a six-time titleholder, Keyska visited Las Vegas for the first time in 2006. Three months later, she pulled up stakes in Texas and made the Las Vegas valley her home. She has represented national brands and advocated for the LGBTQ+ communities through her involvement in innumerable projects across the Southwest United States – and she knows a thing or two about putting on a show.
Keyska can keep you laughing or render you speechless within the confines of a single conversation. And she is everything a true diva should be glamorous, sassy, smart, and funny – no surprises there. What sets her apart is the subtle warmth that tinges her persona. She draws you in with the trappings of glitter and glam, but you want to stay because she is effortlessly a star and welcomes anyone interested warmly to have a taste of her world.
“glamorous, sassy, smart, and funny”
Photograph of Keyska Diva by Yev Z Photography
She has an impressive history of community involvement that speaks for itself. The titleholder, entertainer, cover girl, and stylist currently performs at least two shows a week at The Phoenix, where she serves as the Entertainment Director and Jill/Jackie of All Trades. The whirlwind pace of nightly shows was never a problem for our Diva, but things all took an abrupt and unexpected turn in early 2020.
“Like everyone else, The Phoenix was at a standstill,” Keyska said. “We were fortunate to have existing foodservice operations that we were able to open when we came out of the shutdown.” The shift represents a common scenario for the LGBTQ+ bar community forced to reimagine their business model to stay viable in the era for social distancing and stay at home orders.
“The changes were difficult. But, it has been refreshing to see an entirely new clientele embrace us,” she adds. “The pandemic gave us the unique opportunity to connect with people on a personal level. People are seeking connection right now, so they are more vulnerable, and some of the conversations are incredibly intimate and real.” It speaks to the vital role that LGBTQ+ bars and businesses play in our community.
Photograph of Keyska Diva by Yev Z Photography
Like so many others, Keyska struggled with isolation at the onset of the pandemic. “At the beginning, I was struggling really hard,” she confessed. “I live alone, so I didn’t have anyone to quarantine with except my fur baby.” She spoke about her feelings of isolation shared by many who are distanced from their chosen families in the local LGBTQ+ community.
“I am a really social person, and then one day, without warning, nearly all of my human contact was just gone. I struggled with that,” she shared. “I was lonely. But in hindsight, it was a blessing because it allowed me to ground myself. And as a result, I have rekindled friendships and reconnected with some amazing people. For that, I am grateful.”
The former Ms. Las Vegas PRIDE 2012 reflects fondly on her reign. “I have so many great memories with Las Vegas PRIDE!” she said. “Before I was Ms. Las Vegas PRIDE, I was part of the 2011 Royalty Contingency. We were all really close. We traveled together and made all of our own costumes. It was hard work, but also a lot of fun!”
She reflected fondly on the rights of passage for the Las Vegas PRIDE contingency at the time. “We had costume-making workshops, and the joke was if you don’t burn yourself at least once with the glue gun, you are not doing it right.”
“We had costume-making workshops, and the joke was if you don’t burn yourself at least once with the glue gun, you are not doing it right.”
Photograph of Keyska Diva by Yev Z Photography
Las Vegas PRIDE Adult Royalty Titles represent countless hours of volunteering, dedication, and hard work. Titleholders interact with local government, businesses, and other institutions and engage in public-facing interaction and service. By any measure, titleholders become the face of Las Vegas PRIDE during their reign. They represent Las Vegas and the PRIDE Board at events and take thousands of photos with attendees, encouraging them to come to our annual Las Vegas PRIDE events.
Photograph of Keyska Diva by Yev Z Photography
This article was originally published in the Womxn’s Issue of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, and can be read in its original format here.