2048
(2 votes, average 4.50 out of 5)
Written by Gregg Shapiro, Staff writer
Dec 16, 2010
Miss Lucy Foozie
The city of Chicago has spawned its share of drag entertainers and female impersonators – from Chili Pepper to Wanda Lust, from Charlene Unger to Memory Lane, from Honey West to Paula Sinclaire. But there’s no one quite like the character known as Miss Lucy Foozie. Donning her pile of platinum locks and vivid frocks, Miss Foozie is regularly seen, pineapple in tow, on the Halsted strip in Boystown and at various LGBT events across the region. On New Year’s Eve, she will be at Fierté, 5722 Third Ave., Kenosha, to ring in 2011.
Gregg Shapiro: How did you develop the Miss Foozie persona?
Miss Foozie: On my birthday on April 6, 1997, I was having a birthday party and I invited quite a few people. …We made up fliers to invite people to the birthday party, which said, “Bring your friends. If you like ’em, I like ’em.”
The party was at Circuit and there were between 20 and 30 people there. I walked in and one of the guys helping me with the party dragged me in back and showed me a table with a wig and a dress. The plan was to dress me up that night, but I said I didn’t do that. But then I thought, “It’s my birthday, what the heck!”
About an hour went by and I was getting made up and then I heard all this noise. One of the guys burst in the door and he said, “The place is packed! There must be 400 people here. You need to come out. Hurry up, foozie.” He meant to say, “floozie,” but it came out “foozie.”
I thought, “I love it! I’ll call myself, Miss Foozie.” Then I went on the stage and welcomed the guests. It was a good time. And the club owner came up and asked me if I would like to start doing a show there every Sunday called “Miss Foozie and Her Floozies.” That’s how it started.
GS: Is Miss Foozie a married or single lady?
MF: Single and looking. Looking for somebody that has a job and is happy. Miss Foozie makes good money, but Miss Foozie is not going to be a sugar mama.
GS: If Miss Foozie was a ride at Six Flags Great America, what ride would she be?
MF: (Big laugh) You are funny! I used to work at Marriott’s Great America. I was there 17 years. If they still have it, I would be (the roller coaster) Willard’s Whizzer. I loved how you went around and around and those corners were real tight. I loved it (laughs).
GS: When you go out, not in Miss Foozie drag, have you ever overheard people talking about Miss Foozie, unaware that it’s you?
MF: Yes! The best thing is when I go out (not as Miss Foozie), I like the privacy. A lot of people just want to be with Miss Foozie. I want to meet someone who wants to go out with me as me, as a person and as a friend. I don’t want them to be all gaga about who I am.
… I’ve been places and I’ll hear someone say, “I saw Miss Foozie the other night” and I’ll walk up to them and ask them if they like Miss Foozie. And they’ll look at me and then I open my mouth (does the Miss Foozie signature smile, jaws agape).
GS: In addition to your smile, Miss Foozie also has a distinctive look.
MF: I have a lot of signature things about Miss Foozie. The outfits are designed just for me, with an “F” on it for “Foozie.” The hair is two pieces which go up in the air and was created for me by a Foozie fan. Everything about Miss Foozie has been suggested to me by my fans. From the letter “F” to the hair to the glittery lips. I listen to what the fans want. Miss Foozie is very caring, very loving, very personable. She’s emotional. She gets into your feelings. She wants to have a good time. Wherever I’m working, you’re entering my home. I’m representing whatever’s happening and I respect what I’m doing.
I love people! I’m into giving people hugs. I do it because I want to, not because I have to. … You’ll never hear Miss Foozie swear. You’ll never hear Miss Foozie put people down.
GS: If there was going to be a Miss Foozie biopic made, who would you want to play you?
MF: Phyllis Diller! Or Robin Williams!
GS: Miss Foozie, you are performing at Fierte in Kenosha on New Year’s Eve. When is the last time that you had a New Year’s all to yourself?
MF: Two years ago my best friend and I spent the night watching movies. We had the best time!
GS: Does Miss Foozie itemize when she does her taxes?
MF: Always! Glitter and nylons!
GS: Finally, if Miss Foozie was a dessert, what would she be?
MF: Cheesecake. With Pineapples and lots of whipped cream (laughs)!
