A Journey of Joy, Identity, and Unapologetic Expression

In the heart of Montreal’s pulsating nightlife, where the city’s eclectic spirit thrives, one name sparkles brighter than the rest: Océane Aqua-Black. A French Canadian drag performer hailing from Quebec City, Océane has become a beacon of pride, creativity, and unapologetic self-expression. Her journey, marked by serendipity, resilience, and a playful embrace of goofiness, is not just a personal triumph but a celebration of love, identity, and the transformative power of drag. From her unexpected start in a local bar to gracing the stage of Canada’s Drag Race and Montreal’s Pride festivals, Océane’s story is a testament to the magic of embracing one’s authentic self.

The Spark of a Star

Océane Aqua-Black, the drag persona of Thierry Simard, didn’t always dream of dazzling audiences in heels and sequins. Her entry into drag began, as she describes, “kind of as a joke.” It was a night out with friends in Quebec City, where her vibrant energy on the dance floor caught the eye of a local bar’s artistic director. “You should try drag,” he suggested, week after week, until one fateful August evening, Thierry gave in. “I said, I’m going to do it,” she recalls in an interview with Spill the Tea. The crowd’s response was electric, and what started as a playful experiment became a lifelong passion. That was 18 years ago, and Océane has never looked back.

The name “Océane Aqua-Black” is a nod to her roots and identity. “Océane” pays homage to a beloved bar in La Malbaie, a place of wild nights and cherished memories. “Aqua” reflects her affinity for water, her favorite element, and “Black” celebrates her skin tone, a proud declaration of her Haitian heritage. Born in Haiti and abandoned in a forest as a baby, Thierry was adopted by a Quebecois family, a story she shared on Canada’s Drag Race with raw vulnerability. This personal history infuses her performances with depth, blending humor, heart, and a fierce commitment to authenticity.

The Art of Drag: A Canvas for Self-Expression

Océane’s drag is as multifaceted as the performer herself. “Sometimes I’m comedic, sometimes I’m edgy,” she says, laughing off attempts to pin her style down. “I’m an insane queen!” Her performances are a whirlwind of creativity, from a goat-themed number complete with oversized prop heads to musical theater roles like Pumba in The Lion King. Her versatility shines through in her ability to lip-sync in English, French, Spanish, German, and Korean, earning her the title of Quebec City’s Best Lip-Syncer of the Year.

Drag, for Océane, is more than costumes and makeup—it’s a medium for storytelling. “Drag is really a way for me to express my art,” she told Le Charlevoisien. “It’s not that I wanted to dress as a woman. I wanted to create.” Her performances blend humor, spectacle, and social commentary, challenging norms of gender and identity while inviting audiences to revel in the joy of the unexpected. Whether she’s serving a poutine headdress in a mini-challenge or a black-and-white circus tent gown on the Canada’s Drag Race runway, Océane’s aesthetic is bold, unpredictable, and unmistakably her own.

Her journey reflects the broader evolution of drag culture, which has roots in Shakespearean theater—where men played female roles due to societal bans on women performing—and vaudeville acts, later popularized by shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race. Océane’s generation, however, learned through trial and error, relying on community support rather than the YouTube tutorials available to today’s performers. “We helped each other,” she says, reflecting on the camaraderie that shaped her early years.

Montreal’s Pride: A Stage for Transformation

Montreal, a city known for its vibrant arts scene and inclusive spirit, has been the perfect backdrop for Océane’s rise. As a regular at events like Drag Superstars at Fierté Montréal, she’s become a local icon, sharing stages with international drag legends like Rita Baga and Aquaria. Drag Superstars, a highlight of Montreal’s Pride festival, is a celebration of drag’s grandeur, featuring extravagant performances that embody the city’s commitment to diversity and creativity. Océane’s presence at these events, with her infectious energy and larger-than-life persona, has cemented her as a rising star.Her performances at Pride are more than entertainment—they’re a declaration of visibility and resilience. Drag, as a performance art, has long been a space for queer communities to challenge heteronormativity and explore identity.