Anania Williams: Space Drag Edition

Written by Talia Smith Photographed and Directed by Talia Smith Styled by Zoey Schorsch Assisted by Julia Smith Modeled by Anania Williams

When 21 year-old TikTok star Anania Williams isn’t working on school at Emerson College he can be found popping off on Twitter, singing or creating out-of-this-world drag looks. The Musical Theater major and Social justice minor is always finding a way to tie his love for movies, music, and comedy into everything he does. With taurus sun, libra moon and scorpio rising placements making up his birth chart, he’s just one fire sign short of holding all the elements in his larger-than-life personality — and it shows. Affection had the chance to chat with him about all things drag, space, and career aspirations.

When was your first time trying drag and how happy were you with the results? Ha! It was in January of 2021. And it was so bad. It was so, so, so, so bad. I was learning how to glue down my eyebrows, and it was just so bad. But, you know, we all have to... die to run? What’s that saying? Crawl to walk?

How long does a typical drag look take you, and how do you make the time for it? Well, right now I’m in hour two of doing this look. But I’m usually done in about three hours. And sometimes, it’s really hard to do it, because I need to just devote that decent amount of time to myself. And I just need to let myself focus on me for a second, which is usually not fun for me. But it is with drag, because the transformation is worth it. That, and it’s kind of relaxing. It’s a moment to check in with myself.

Let’s set the scene. You’re being sent into space in five minutes and you can bring five products with you to do a full makeup look. What do you bring? So definitely my bottom lashes. Then blush— orange blush, at that. And maybe a green eyeshadow. Last two would be black lip liner, and then a red lip. I would look like a cheapass space prostitute, but that’s okay.

Do you think you need high-end makeup to create a successful drag look? Absolutely not. You know, with all the promos and stuff, I definitely get some makeup from there. But mostly it’s just a matter of personal preference. I truly think you can get a full, beautiful face done with anything from a drug store.

If you had the lead role in a musical, but it was performed in space, what musical would you want it to be?

Oh my God, it has to be absolutely insane because we’re in space. To be completely honest with you, definitely “Shrek.” Ha! That would be so crazy. “Shrek” in Space— Oh my God! It even sounds crazy, “Shrek” in Space. Really rolls off the tongue.

You get to choreograph a drag performance in space. What planet are you choosing for the venue, who are you inviting, and what’s your solo performance song? Definitely Saturn. Saturn is the most beautiful planet. And my first drag song will be “Only Girl In The World” by Rihanna. It would also definitely be a comedy show. So I’d invite my favorite comedy Queens: Monét X Change, maybe Bob the Drag Queen, definitely Trixie and Katya.

So space is zero-gravity, which means you can do a lot. What’s the first thing you’d try if you were on the moon?

I want to say something but I don’t know… Can I say it? Okay, honestly, definitely masturbate. Like, I gotta jack off. Just to see what happens. If I had to give a PG-13 answer, it would probably be, like, to wave or sing.

Leading off the zero-gravity aspect… first sex position you’d try in space? Oh, God. You can really do so many things. Like a spread-eagle moment. Wait, who am I having sex with in space? Anyone? Okay, yeah. Definitely spread-eagle, and with Jack Mulhern from The Society. Bring that show back! That shit was so good!

Let’s talk about aliens. Do you think they’re real? My stance on aliens is the same stance I have with ghosts and stuff like that. I don’t really think that they’re real, but if they were, I wouldn’t be surprised. I guess I would need some concrete evidence, like I’d have to see something to believe it. I’m not gonna just believe someone who’s like, “Oh my God, I just saw an alien right now.” Ever secretly wish you’d get abducted? Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, oh my God. Like, ple-e-e-ase think I’m special enough. But honestly, it would be a waste of their time. Like, time management wise. They don’t need me up there.

Are you into astrology, or not so much? My thing with astrology is that I hate when people are like, “Ah, Sagittariuses are so toxic.” And then they say that about every other sign, too. Like, no one is not toxic. They’ll also be like, “Ohhhh, if you’re a Leo, you were born with an umbilical cord.” Like, um?

Favorite drag queens lately? I love Bob the Drag Queen. I love Trixie and Katya, duh. I’ve been pretty into Plastique Tiara recently, too— she’s everything. Stunalina. Really good on TikTok, too.

Least favorite drag queens, if you have any? I don’t like Asia O’Hara, because she said this really fatphobic thing to one of my mutuals online. And I was like, c’mon, girl. But I think that’s about it, honestly. I don’t hate a lot of people in drag.

Any favorite space-themed movies, songs, or albums you can think of? “Planet Her” by Doja Cat. My favorite song from that album changes a lot. Right now, it’s “I Don’t Do Drugs,” featuring Ariana Grande. But being into space-themed stuff wasn’t my truth growing up. I wasn’t one of those boys.

Last but not least, what do you hold Affection for?

Okay. Sixteenth and eighteenth-century dirty talk. When people send me music that they think I’d like. I like food. I love a good riff and run. I hold affection for music, of course. Oh, also, the impulse buy sections at stores. And a good oversized striped shirt. That shit will get me through my day.