Welcome to Pretty Bitch University: Come As You Are
Welcome to Pretty Bitch University: Come As You Are
Welcome to Pretty Bitch University: Come As You Are
Welcome to Pretty Bitch University: Come As You Are
BY DEZZ JUST DEZZ
BY DEZZ JUST DEZZ
BY DEZZ JUST DEZZ
BY DEZZ JUST DEZZ
December 23, 2024
December 23, 2024
December 23, 2024
December 23, 2024
Submitting my application for Pretty Bitch University, I found that the key to a good career was never about presenting perfection, but personality. Sat with the headmistress, Warren Munroe (they/he/she, “whatever you call me, as long as you call me with respect“, we indulged ourselves in the journey of self discovery.
Pretty Bitch University, as an album, was years in the making, and its summer 2024 release has been more influential now than ever. “PBU has been a journey of growth, self love, self respect…becoming more comfortable in my skin and who I am, and just wanting to give that back to others with the music. I want people to feel that energy and that confidence.” Though it wasn’t always easy for them to harness that, Warren shares a timeline of heartbreak, debt, breakdowns, and a lot of convincing.
She had moved around a lot as a child, her father having been in the military, and chasing the pressure of her mother classically training them in opera. Specifically, Warren heavily credits his mom’s place of origin, New York for their gift. “She was setting me up for greatness, but at the same time, stripping me of my childhood. When I think of New York, I think of everything that I learned.” Once reaching adulthood, Warren moved to New Jersey, and found herself “trying to live like everyone else in society” in spite of a life long expectation to hit the charts.
However, Warren found that the difficulty in taking care of themselves at that age had ultimately been beneficial in the long term when maintaining integrity as an artist. “I can always bring myself back down.” But how is anyone able to be brought up when the pain is seemingly constant?
After moving back to Pittsburgh in 2021, Warren had to approach music and drag in a city where she was unknown. And although the scene has drastically changed overtime, we were both able to cite this lingering fear and persistent feeling of being excluded. It stemmed from being different, in terms of alternative style and of course, our transness. While still managing to jumpstart a successful career, Warren became locked into a romantic relationship that pushed them into transfeminity; it was a push, not for comfortability, but for acceptance and conformity.
The binary is not meant for everyone, yet after a year or so of hormones and being known as a trans woman, named “Charlie,” they were able to return to Warren, and just Warren, a path that I have been all too familiar with. By this point, there had been multiple name changes, whether that be in identity or persona, but ultimately she had only wanted to be herself. “I’ve been able to take all the lessons I’ve learned as…whoever I was and just be like, ‘All these people are me.’ All these people are me in every aspect, and now it is all under the Warren umbrella.”
We both agreed that the most important message of not only this discussion, but in navigating the drag scene, is to hold yourself to your own authenticity. Discussing the anxieties within publicity, the only way for it to be soothed is to know yourself. Warren shared with me a period of time in which themselves and another entertainer were shut out of the community for the actions of text messages with a Haus of multiple others. Despite the two of them having taken total accountability, as the only two black entertainers in the discussion, they still seemed to be guilty by association. With the allegation of the time being centered around black transphobia, Warren shares, “I will not let you put on me things that I did not do…How am I going to be against my own people?”
No matter the weight or level of group participation, why does gossip feel like a form of currency, and not a community effort for real world change? Even throughout the uncertainty and the harassment, Warren was able to find a better form of sisterhood following the events. “We kept persisting… we don’t want you to think we would accept this.” There seems to be a pattern of compliance until one person is strong enough to speak. A spark is lit amongst someone else’s poor actions, and it leads to a forest fire. The concept of the “mean girl,” or even the “TV personality,” is a breeding ground for this kind of behavior. In drag, it’s become an assumption that someone must be characterized at all times, but as Warren has experienced in their own life, and as I am sure many of us have at the very least witnessed, being a “diva” has made the concept of networking almost “extinct” in Pittsburgh. There is no room to stand around and wait anymore, especially in the country’s climate as a whole.
The last year, for Warren Munroe, has been proof of what loving yourself and loving your community can do for you, and for the years following, shared with me a dedication to creating space for those who have been othered. Being a “pretty bitch” is not to be hateful, but a state of overcoming what has hurt you and channeling that into the beauty that has always been there; the beauty that is yourself. Warren Munroe welcomes all to “Come as you are.”
Submitting my application for Pretty Bitch University, I found that the key to a good career was never about presenting perfection, but personality. Sat with the headmistress, Warren Munroe (they/he/she, “whatever you call me, as long as you call me with respect“, we indulged ourselves in the journey of self discovery.
Pretty Bitch University, as an album, was years in the making, and its summer 2024 release has been more influential now than ever. “PBU has been a journey of growth, self love, self respect…becoming more comfortable in my skin and who I am, and just wanting to give that back to others with the music. I want people to feel that energy and that confidence.” Though it wasn’t always easy for them to harness that, Warren shares a timeline of heartbreak, debt, breakdowns, and a lot of convincing.
She had moved around a lot as a child, her father having been in the military, and chasing the pressure of her mother classically training them in opera. Specifically, Warren heavily credits his mom’s place of origin, New York for their gift. “She was setting me up for greatness, but at the same time, stripping me of my childhood. When I think of New York, I think of everything that I learned.” Once reaching adulthood, Warren moved to New Jersey, and found herself “trying to live like everyone else in society” in spite of a life long expectation to hit the charts.
However, Warren found that the difficulty in taking care of themselves at that age had ultimately been beneficial in the long term when maintaining integrity as an artist. “I can always bring myself back down.” But how is anyone able to be brought up when the pain is seemingly constant?
After moving back to Pittsburgh in 2021, Warren had to approach music and drag in a city where she was unknown. And although the scene has drastically changed overtime, we were both able to cite this lingering fear and persistent feeling of being excluded. It stemmed from being different, in terms of alternative style and of course, our transness. While still managing to jumpstart a successful career, Warren became locked into a romantic relationship that pushed them into transfeminity; it was a push, not for comfortability, but for acceptance and conformity.
The binary is not meant for everyone, yet after a year or so of hormones and being known as a trans woman, named “Charlie,” they were able to return to Warren, and just Warren, a path that I have been all too familiar with. By this point, there had been multiple name changes, whether that be in identity or persona, but ultimately she had only wanted to be herself. “I’ve been able to take all the lessons I’ve learned as…whoever I was and just be like, ‘All these people are me.’ All these people are me in every aspect, and now it is all under the Warren umbrella.”
We both agreed that the most important message of not only this discussion, but in navigating the drag scene, is to hold yourself to your own authenticity. Discussing the anxieties within publicity, the only way for it to be soothed is to know yourself. Warren shared with me a period of time in which themselves and another entertainer were shut out of the community for the actions of text messages with a Haus of multiple others. Despite the two of them having taken total accountability, as the only two black entertainers in the discussion, they still seemed to be guilty by association. With the allegation of the time being centered around black transphobia, Warren shares, “I will not let you put on me things that I did not do…How am I going to be against my own people?”
No matter the weight or level of group participation, why does gossip feel like a form of currency, and not a community effort for real world change? Even throughout the uncertainty and the harassment, Warren was able to find a better form of sisterhood following the events. “We kept persisting… we don’t want you to think we would accept this.” There seems to be a pattern of compliance until one person is strong enough to speak. A spark is lit amongst someone else’s poor actions, and it leads to a forest fire. The concept of the “mean girl,” or even the “TV personality,” is a breeding ground for this kind of behavior. In drag, it’s become an assumption that someone must be characterized at all times, but as Warren has experienced in their own life, and as I am sure many of us have at the very least witnessed, being a “diva” has made the concept of networking almost “extinct” in Pittsburgh. There is no room to stand around and wait anymore, especially in the country’s climate as a whole.
The last year, for Warren Munroe, has been proof of what loving yourself and loving your community can do for you, and for the years following, shared with me a dedication to creating space for those who have been othered. Being a “pretty bitch” is not to be hateful, but a state of overcoming what has hurt you and channeling that into the beauty that has always been there; the beauty that is yourself. Warren Munroe welcomes all to “Come as you are.”
Submitting my application for Pretty Bitch University, I found that the key to a good career was never about presenting perfection, but personality. Sat with the headmistress, Warren Munroe (they/he/she, “whatever you call me, as long as you call me with respect“, we indulged ourselves in the journey of self discovery.
Pretty Bitch University, as an album, was years in the making, and its summer 2024 release has been more influential now than ever. “PBU has been a journey of growth, self love, self respect…becoming more comfortable in my skin and who I am, and just wanting to give that back to others with the music. I want people to feel that energy and that confidence.” Though it wasn’t always easy for them to harness that, Warren shares a timeline of heartbreak, debt, breakdowns, and a lot of convincing.
She had moved around a lot as a child, her father having been in the military, and chasing the pressure of her mother classically training them in opera. Specifically, Warren heavily credits his mom’s place of origin, New York for their gift. “She was setting me up for greatness, but at the same time, stripping me of my childhood. When I think of New York, I think of everything that I learned.” Once reaching adulthood, Warren moved to New Jersey, and found herself “trying to live like everyone else in society” in spite of a life long expectation to hit the charts.
However, Warren found that the difficulty in taking care of themselves at that age had ultimately been beneficial in the long term when maintaining integrity as an artist. “I can always bring myself back down.” But how is anyone able to be brought up when the pain is seemingly constant?
After moving back to Pittsburgh in 2021, Warren had to approach music and drag in a city where she was unknown. And although the scene has drastically changed overtime, we were both able to cite this lingering fear and persistent feeling of being excluded. It stemmed from being different, in terms of alternative style and of course, our transness. While still managing to jumpstart a successful career, Warren became locked into a romantic relationship that pushed them into transfeminity; it was a push, not for comfortability, but for acceptance and conformity.
The binary is not meant for everyone, yet after a year or so of hormones and being known as a trans woman, named “Charlie,” they were able to return to Warren, and just Warren, a path that I have been all too familiar with. By this point, there had been multiple name changes, whether that be in identity or persona, but ultimately she had only wanted to be herself. “I’ve been able to take all the lessons I’ve learned as…whoever I was and just be like, ‘All these people are me.’ All these people are me in every aspect, and now it is all under the Warren umbrella.”
We both agreed that the most important message of not only this discussion, but in navigating the drag scene, is to hold yourself to your own authenticity. Discussing the anxieties within publicity, the only way for it to be soothed is to know yourself. Warren shared with me a period of time in which themselves and another entertainer were shut out of the community for the actions of text messages with a Haus of multiple others. Despite the two of them having taken total accountability, as the only two black entertainers in the discussion, they still seemed to be guilty by association. With the allegation of the time being centered around black transphobia, Warren shares, “I will not let you put on me things that I did not do…How am I going to be against my own people?”
No matter the weight or level of group participation, why does gossip feel like a form of currency, and not a community effort for real world change? Even throughout the uncertainty and the harassment, Warren was able to find a better form of sisterhood following the events. “We kept persisting… we don’t want you to think we would accept this.” There seems to be a pattern of compliance until one person is strong enough to speak. A spark is lit amongst someone else’s poor actions, and it leads to a forest fire. The concept of the “mean girl,” or even the “TV personality,” is a breeding ground for this kind of behavior. In drag, it’s become an assumption that someone must be characterized at all times, but as Warren has experienced in their own life, and as I am sure many of us have at the very least witnessed, being a “diva” has made the concept of networking almost “extinct” in Pittsburgh. There is no room to stand around and wait anymore, especially in the country’s climate as a whole.
The last year, for Warren Munroe, has been proof of what loving yourself and loving your community can do for you, and for the years following, shared with me a dedication to creating space for those who have been othered. Being a “pretty bitch” is not to be hateful, but a state of overcoming what has hurt you and channeling that into the beauty that has always been there; the beauty that is yourself. Warren Munroe welcomes all to “Come as you are.”
Submitting my application for Pretty Bitch University, I found that the key to a good career was never about presenting perfection, but personality. Sat with the headmistress, Warren Munroe (they/he/she, “whatever you call me, as long as you call me with respect“, we indulged ourselves in the journey of self discovery.
Pretty Bitch University, as an album, was years in the making, and its summer 2024 release has been more influential now than ever. “PBU has been a journey of growth, self love, self respect…becoming more comfortable in my skin and who I am, and just wanting to give that back to others with the music. I want people to feel that energy and that confidence.” Though it wasn’t always easy for them to harness that, Warren shares a timeline of heartbreak, debt, breakdowns, and a lot of convincing.
She had moved around a lot as a child, her father having been in the military, and chasing the pressure of her mother classically training them in opera. Specifically, Warren heavily credits his mom’s place of origin, New York for their gift. “She was setting me up for greatness, but at the same time, stripping me of my childhood. When I think of New York, I think of everything that I learned.” Once reaching adulthood, Warren moved to New Jersey, and found herself “trying to live like everyone else in society” in spite of a life long expectation to hit the charts.
However, Warren found that the difficulty in taking care of themselves at that age had ultimately been beneficial in the long term when maintaining integrity as an artist. “I can always bring myself back down.” But how is anyone able to be brought up when the pain is seemingly constant?
After moving back to Pittsburgh in 2021, Warren had to approach music and drag in a city where she was unknown. And although the scene has drastically changed overtime, we were both able to cite this lingering fear and persistent feeling of being excluded. It stemmed from being different, in terms of alternative style and of course, our transness. While still managing to jumpstart a successful career, Warren became locked into a romantic relationship that pushed them into transfeminity; it was a push, not for comfortability, but for acceptance and conformity.
The binary is not meant for everyone, yet after a year or so of hormones and being known as a trans woman, named “Charlie,” they were able to return to Warren, and just Warren, a path that I have been all too familiar with. By this point, there had been multiple name changes, whether that be in identity or persona, but ultimately she had only wanted to be herself. “I’ve been able to take all the lessons I’ve learned as…whoever I was and just be like, ‘All these people are me.’ All these people are me in every aspect, and now it is all under the Warren umbrella.”
We both agreed that the most important message of not only this discussion, but in navigating the drag scene, is to hold yourself to your own authenticity. Discussing the anxieties within publicity, the only way for it to be soothed is to know yourself. Warren shared with me a period of time in which themselves and another entertainer were shut out of the community for the actions of text messages with a Haus of multiple others. Despite the two of them having taken total accountability, as the only two black entertainers in the discussion, they still seemed to be guilty by association. With the allegation of the time being centered around black transphobia, Warren shares, “I will not let you put on me things that I did not do…How am I going to be against my own people?”
No matter the weight or level of group participation, why does gossip feel like a form of currency, and not a community effort for real world change? Even throughout the uncertainty and the harassment, Warren was able to find a better form of sisterhood following the events. “We kept persisting… we don’t want you to think we would accept this.” There seems to be a pattern of compliance until one person is strong enough to speak. A spark is lit amongst someone else’s poor actions, and it leads to a forest fire. The concept of the “mean girl,” or even the “TV personality,” is a breeding ground for this kind of behavior. In drag, it’s become an assumption that someone must be characterized at all times, but as Warren has experienced in their own life, and as I am sure many of us have at the very least witnessed, being a “diva” has made the concept of networking almost “extinct” in Pittsburgh. There is no room to stand around and wait anymore, especially in the country’s climate as a whole.
The last year, for Warren Munroe, has been proof of what loving yourself and loving your community can do for you, and for the years following, shared with me a dedication to creating space for those who have been othered. Being a “pretty bitch” is not to be hateful, but a state of overcoming what has hurt you and channeling that into the beauty that has always been there; the beauty that is yourself. Warren Munroe welcomes all to “Come as you are.”
