Becoming the Brand: Drag, Identity, and Self-Expression with Citrine Cash
A conversation about creativity, confidence, and choosing how you show up in the world.
What’s on brand for me this week?
Booking a drag queen and then spiraling for three days about what I was going to wear… only to default to black.
Growth.
This week on GRAFIK CONTENT, I sat down with Citrine Cash — New York–based drag queen, fashion designer, creative strategist, and someone who very casually treats life like a full-scale production.
And I mean that in the best way.
Because what became very clear, very quickly, is that Citrine isn’t just “doing drag.”
She’s building a world.
Before the Voice, There Was Style
Citrine’s relationship with creativity started early.
Growing up as a queer kid, she learned to navigate the world by going inward — writing, creating, and using fashion to express herself without having to take up space verbally.
Because when you’re not always safe to be loud…
You find other ways to be seen.
For her, that became style.
And not just “this looks cute” style — we’re talking intentional, constructed, this-is-how-I-want-you-to-experience-me style.
Which, honestly, is branding.
Fashion as a Form of Power
One of my favourite parts of this conversation was how Citrine talks about presentation.
Because for her, it’s not superficial.
It’s strategic.
She describes style as something that immediately commands attention and respect — a way to shape how people perceive you before you even speak.
And over time, that external expression became internal alignment.
What started as “this is how I want to be seen” evolved into:
“This is who I actually am.”
Which, if you think about it, is kind of the whole game.
Drag, But Make It Existential
We also got into her journey into drag — something I’ve personally had a front-row seat to watching over the years.
And what’s been really interesting is seeing how it’s evolved.
Because drag, for Citrine, isn’t just performance.
It’s exploration.
It’s identity.
It’s asking:
Who do I want to be?
What parts of myself do I want to expand?
What does it look like to fully embody that?
And sometimes… that means being a little extra.
Okay, very extra.
But that’s kind of the point.
The Internet, Visibility, and Being “Too Much”
At one point, we got into the reality of creating and existing online right now.
Which is… weird.
Everything is oversaturated.
Everyone is visible.
Everyone is “someone.”
And in that kind of landscape, there’s this pressure to be:
Digestible.
Palatable.
Accessible.
But what happens when you’re not?
Citrine spoke about how drag — and self-expression in general — can sometimes feel like “too much” for certain audiences.
And while that might limit reach…
It deepens connection.
Because the people who get it?
Really get it.
And those are the people who stick.
Self-Discovery Isn’t Always Pretty
Another thread throughout this conversation was growth.
Not the Instagram version.
The real version.
The one where you’re constantly checking in with yourself, figuring out what works, what doesn’t, and taking responsibility for how you show up.
Citrine talked about the idea of having a “high version” and a “low version” of yourself — and learning how to recognize both without judgment.
Which, let’s be honest, is something most of us are actively working through.
The Most On-Brand Thing? Glamour.
At the end of every episode, I ask:
What’s the most on-brand thing about you?
Citrine’s answer?
Glamour.
But not in the way you think.
Not money.
Not status.
Glamour as a mindset.
Glamour as choosing to create moments of beauty, intention, and luxury in your everyday life — whatever that looks like for you.
And honestly?
I love that.
Why This Episode Matters
This episode is about more than drag or fashion.
It’s about:
• self-expression as identity
• creativity as communication
• visibility as both power and pressure
• and the ongoing process of becoming who you actually want to be
It’s about realizing that you don’t have to wait for permission to take up space.
You can decide that for yourself.
Key Takeaways
• Style can be a powerful tool for self-expression and confidence
• Authenticity often comes at the cost of accessibility — and that’s okay
• Creativity is deeply tied to identity and self-discovery
• The right audience will connect with you more deeply than a broad one ever could
You can listen to this episode of GRAFIK CONTENT featuring Citrine Cash on:
👉 YouTube
👉 Spotify
👉 Apple Pods
Connect with Citrine
