Miss Tess Tickle: From Small-Town Survival to Drag, Visibility & Changing Minds

In this episode of Queer Talker, Ben Cicchetti sits down with drag artist, educator, and community force Miss Tess Tickle. Growing up queer in a small mining village in County Durham, Tess shares what it was like to survive bullying, Section 28, and a total lack of representation. From hiding parts of herself to finding joy, confidence, and purpose through drag, this is a powerful story about staying when it would have been easier to leave. Tess opens up about coming out to her parents, the moment that changed everything, and why visibility in small towns matters just as much as visibility on television. She also talks candidly about drag beyond Drag Race, working in tough straight venues, and using comedy, education, and compassion to change minds. We also explore Tess’s incredible community work through The Angel Trust, how drag became a tool for education and safeguarding, and why she believes we should not have to come out at all. This is a conversation about resilience, representation, chosen family, and being the person you needed when you were younger. Chapters 00:00 Queer Panic 04:30 Growing Up LGBTQ+: Challenges and Realizations 07:25 The Impact of Representation in Media 10:23 Coming Out: Personal Stories and Family Reactions 13:24 Finding Acceptance and Love 16:28 The Journey into Drag: A New Identity 19:16 Visibility and Community Engagement 26:05 The Journey into Drag 27:18 Life as a Drag Queen in the UK 31:59 Education Through Performance 37:08 Inspiration from Icons 43:03 Fighting for Acceptance in the Community 51:10 Empowering the Next Generation Learn more about the Angle Trust Website - https://www.angeltrust.co.uk Connect with Ben Cicchetti: Website - https://www.queertalker.com Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bencicchetti/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BenCicchetti TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@bencicchetti