The amazingly talented Qya Cristál joins us this week on The Art Colony podcast! Qya describes early musical roots singing Whitney Houston at age three, performing in an adult church choir, growing up in Missouri with a musician father, and being inspired by her polished, powerful grandmother. She discusses a strict Southern Baptist upbringing, coming out, evolving identity exploration, and rebuilding family ties. Qya explains starting drag while working at Hershey Park, creating the name Qya, and launching in Boston through a live-singing performance of “I’m Every Woman.” She details mentorship and drag family with Sapphira Cristál and Lakeia Mondale, sobriety, Provincetown’s housing challenges, and her career there, including the live-singing trio show DIVA, solo gigs, and seasonal work in Puerto Vallarta.