At the height of her success, LaWanda — a seasoned drag performer hailing from Las Vegas — was told she’d never perform again. In 2014, a stroke and an aneurysm left the longtime entertainer fighting for her life, uncertain if she’d ever move or speak.
“I was told I’d never walk again,” she shared during a recent phone call. “But here I am — walking, performing, living, and making people laugh.”
More than a decade later, LaWanda commands the stage at the House of Blues Anaheim as the radiant host of Bitchiest Brunch, the long-running Palm Springs drag show that recently brought its glittering spectacle and message of resilience to Orange County.
The show, which launched its Anaheim run on Oct. 19 and continues biweekly through the end of the year, is more than a brunch filled with dance numbers, laughter, and champagne toasts. It’s a celebration of joy, and for LaWanda, proof that second chances can shine just as bright as the spotlight.
For producer Dan Gore and publicist Nicholas Lindholm, the move to Orange County felt overdue. “We noticed that there just wasn’t a lot available to the public out here,” Lindholm said. “There’s programming, sure, but there’s no drag brunch. We figured there was an underserved market — and it’s been confirmed. I’m literally out on the street, flyering and talking to people, and everybody lights right up when I say ‘drag brunch.’ It’s needed out here.”
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LaWanda’s journey began at 16 years old in Portland, Oregon. “My mother kicked me out of our home because of my sexual orientation,” she recalled. “So I lived under a bridge in Portland. I discovered a place called Darcelle 15, the longest-running show bar in Oregon. Darcelle gave me my first job at 16 as a male vocal boy performer. It was a drag bar, so I watched them and thought, ‘yes, I can do that.’”
That first spark led to decades of performing across the world. From Brazil to Japan, Aruba to Austria, she blends quick wit, music, and humor into her craft. “A guy by the name of Lenny gave me my first job as a host,” she said. “He handed me the mic and said, ‘LaWanda, turn this ball around, I know you can.’ I didn’t think of myself as a host. But that’s a gift, it’s not something you learn. It’s something you’re born with.”
Her natural charisma eventually caught the attention of Bitchiest Brunch producer Dan Gore. “I met Dan back in the day,” she said with a laugh. “We always had a connection. Fast forward all these years later, I came as a guest, and one day he called and said, ‘LaWanda, our host can’t come in. Can you fill in?’ I was only supposed to come for one week. Now it’s been two years. I call Dan a visionary.”
That full-circle moment came after her recovery. “When Dan told me to come to the brunch, I was nervous,” she said. “But when I came, it was nothing but love. Because when you see someone who’s been through what I’ve been through, and come out on the other end, not as a victim, but a victor, it’s really powerful.”
That sense of transformation is what Bitchiest Brunch thrives on. “We really are in the business of lifting people up,” Lindholm shared. “That’s why people keep coming back, they leave our show on a high. They leave euphoric.”
LaWanda carries that same message into every performance. “Every time I walk out of my apartment or onto the stage, I want people to know you’re going to have setbacks, you’re going to have obstacles,” she said. “But all those things should fuel you to be a better version of yourself. No matter what the naysayers take from you, they can’t take who you are.”
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Her presence onstage has become an unexpected source of comfort and motivation. “When they see me, I want them to be moved and inspired,” she said. “Because life can change in a second, without warning or notice. The biggest joy for me is seeing the tears of gratitude when people walk up to me and say thank you. I’ve had doctors, nurses, lawyers, and little kids come up and say I inspired them to keep going. You can’t buy that. It’s a feeling.”
At the House of Blues, Bitchiest Brunch is thriving in an inclusive environment that honors drag as both art and community. Each two-hour show blends choreography, comedy, and crowd interaction, with holiday-themed performances planned through the season.
For LaWanda and Lindholm, the production is more than a stage show, it’s a declaration of joy.
“Follow the yellow brick road,” LaWanda said with a laugh. “For me, you walk into one place, but when you follow the journey of the show, by the time you leave, you’re in awe.”