Nicole Onoscopi | |
|---|---|
| Born | Albany, Oregon, United States |
| Other names | Cole Cozart |
| Occupation | Drag queen |
Nicole Onoscopi is the stage name of Cole Cozart, [1] an American drag performer based in Portland, Oregon. Nicole Onoscopi was first runner-up and the first Miss'd Popularity in the annual drag pageant Miss'd America in 2019, and was named Miss Gay Oregon in 2021 and Miss Portland Gay Pride in 2024. She has performed throughout Oregon, including at pride events in her native Albany as well as McMinnville, Portland, and Salem.
Nicole Onoscopi is a drag performer. In 2019, she was first runner-up at Miss'd America, an annual drag pageant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Nicole Onoscopi was also named the first Miss'd Popularity at the same pageant, based on audience vote. [2] [3] She was named Miss Gay Oregon in 2021 and Miss Portland Gay Pride in 2024. [4] [5] [6]
In Portland, Nicole Onoscopi has hosted Drag Brunch PDX, described as a traveling drag brunch at various venues such as Moxy Portland Downtown and Stag PDX. [7] In 2021, she was part of Shine Distillery and Grill's Drag Thru series with Bolivia Carmichaels and Lulu Luscious. [8] She also performed at the restaurant's 'Sparkle and Shine Drag Brunch', as of 2023. [9] For the Drag-a-thon, which was held at Darcelle XV Showplace in 2023 and set a Guinness World Record for the longest drag stage show, Nicole Onoscopi performed "Flowers" (2023) by Miley Cyrus, "Shake It Off" (2014) by Taylor Swift, "Cotton-Eyed Joe", "Baby Got Back" (1992) by Sir Mix-a-Lot, and "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" (1989) by Celine Dion. [10] She was also a featured performer in 'Sea Sickening Boat pRide', a pride event on the Portland Spirit organized by the local chapter of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, with Mariah Paris Balenciaga. [11]
In 2024, Nicole Onoscopi was among approximately 100 volunteers who participated in a pride-themed clean-up effort in downtown organized by SOLVE, and she was part of KOIN's photo booth at the Waterfront Blues Festival. [12] She was a Pride Northwest pageant winner in 2024, earning her an invitation to represent the LGBTQ community in Portland's annual pride parade. [13] She has also performed at pride-related events outside of Portland. In 2022, she was part of Dragstravaganza, a benefit brunch and drag show hosted by an inn and winery in McMinnville, in conjunction with Pride Month. [4] In Salem, she has performed at Capital Pride and hosted drag brunch at Infinity Room. [7] [14] [15] She performed "Don't Stop Believin'" (1981) by Journey during a drag show she hosted at Albany Pride in 2024. [1] [6] [16]
After performing at Albany Civic Theater for years, Nicole Onoscopi co-hosted the venue's first drag show in 2023. [17]
Originally from Albany, Cozart is based in Portland, as of 2024. [18] [19] Previously, he lived in New York City in 2019. [3]
Cozart is married to Josh Cozart, a meteorologist for KOIN, [20] and uses the pronouns she/her when in drag. [17]
Pride Northwest, Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, United States founded in 1994 which organizes the annual Portland Pride Festival.
CC Slaughters is a gay bar and nightclub located in Portland, Oregon, and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Portland bar is located in the Old Town Chinatown neighborhood, and the Puerto Vallarta bar is located in Zona Romántica.
LGBTQ culture in Portland, Oregon is an important part of Pacific Northwest culture.
Stag PDX, or simply Stag, is a gay-owned nightclub and strip club in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District, in the United States. The club opened in May 2015 as the second all-nude gay strip club on the West Coast.
Starky's Restaurant and Bar, or simply Starky's, was a gay bar and restaurant in Portland, Oregon's Kerns neighborhood, in the United States. Established in 1984, the venue became a fixture in Portland's gay community before closing in 2015. It hosted LGBT events and served as a gathering space for leather enthusiasts and the Oregon Bears, among other groups. Starky's received a generally positive reception and was most known for its Bloody Marys, brunch, and outdoor seating.
Badlands Portland, or simply Badlands, is a gay bar in Portland, Oregon. Established in 2024, the bar operates in the space that previously occupied Embers Avenue (1969–2017), in Old Town Chinatown.
Stonewall 50 – WorldPride NYC 2019 was a series of LGBTQ events and celebrations in June 2019, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots. It was also the first time WorldPride was held in the United States. Held primarily in the metropolitan New York City area, the theme for the celebrations and educational events was "Millions of moments of Pride." The celebration was the largest LGBTQ event in history, with an official estimate of 5 million attending Pride weekend in Manhattan alone, with an estimated 4 million in attendance at the NYC Pride March. The twelve-hour parade included 150,000 pre-registered participants among 695 groups.
Miss'd America is an annual drag pageant held in Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States. It was founded in the early 1990s as a spoof of the Miss America pageant. It ran through 2005, took a five-year hiatus, and resumed operation in 2010. Contestants compete in four categories: swimsuit, evening gown, interview and talent, with the winner receiving $5,000. Part of the proceeds from each edition of the pageant are donated to local LGBTQ charities and initiatives. The event is produced by Rich Helfant, directed by Mark Dahl, and hosted by Carson Kressley. The current reigning Miss'd America is Aria B. Cassadine, who was crowned on September 14, 2024.
Paradise is a gay nightclub in Asbury Park, New Jersey. It is known for its fundraisers and drag shows, most notable of which is the annual Miss Paradise pageant. The club is integrated with the Empress Hotel; both are owned by record producer Shep Pettibone. Paradise's 1999 opening is credited as one factor that improved Asbury Park's struggling economy and drew the LGBTQ community back to the city after a period of local unrest. The venue is a popular Jersey Shore destination in the summer, and it has received praise for its welcoming atmosphere. After several months of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Paradise reopened its outdoor pool and bar area in summer 2020.
The Roxy was a diner serving American cuisine in Portland, Oregon. Located on downtown Portland's Southwest Harvey Milk Street, the restaurant was established in 1994. The Roxy was popular as a late-night food destination and had a diverse clientele. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the diner operated 24 hours a day, except on Mondays. The Roxy has been described as "iconic" and a "landmark", and was known for being an LGBTQ-friendly establishment because of its employees' community involvement and its location within the historic hub of LGBT culture and nightlife. Following a forced six-month closure due to the pandemic, the diner opened under new public health and safety guidelines in November 2020. The diner closed in March 2022.
Kevin Cook, known by the stage name Poison Waters, is an American drag performer. Since the 1980s, Poison Waters has been an emcee, entertainer, and community activist. She is a longtime hostess at Darcelle XV Showplace and has participated in fundraisers, LGBTQ events, public service announcements, and other community activities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Cook has also taught at Portland Community College.
Never Look Away is a mural in Portland, Oregon.
Flawless Shade is the stage name of Tajh Jordan, an American drag performer and make-up artist based in Portland, Oregon. A former Miss Gay Oregon, Flawless Shade has been featured in campaigns by Adidas, GLAAD, and Top Level Design.
Daniel P. Elliott, known professionally as Bolivia Carmichaels, is an American drag performer based in Portland, Oregon. Since 1995, she has performed at LGBTQ establishments such as CC Slaughters, Darcelle XV Showplace, and the defunct Embers Avenue, and has also participated in many community events.
Drag-a-thon was a drag show held during July 10–12, 2023, at the drag venue Darcelle XV Showplace in Portland, Oregon. The event was a successful attempt at setting a Guinness World Record for the longest drag stage show. Drag-a-thon was conceived and produced by Emma Mcilroy, co-founder of Wildfang, in response to the Tennessee Adult Entertainment Act and similar anti-drag legislation across the United States. Eden Dawn, the host venue Darcelle XV Showplace, and its longtime performer Poison Waters were also credited as co-organizers. Drag-a-thon was also a fundraiser, yielding approximately $290,000 for LGBTQ support service The Trevor Project.
Back 2 Earth is an LGBTQ-friendly bar in Portland, Oregon, in the United States. Owner Dan Henderson opened the bar in northeast Portland's King neighborhood in June 2023, in the space that previously housed Local Lounge. Back 2 Earth hosts a variety of activities and events such as dance parties, drag shows, karaoke, and open mics, and has a collection of board games and tabletop role-playing games.
Lulu Luscious is the stage name of James Luu, a drag performer based in Portland, Oregon. Lulu Luscious has performed at Darcelle XV Showplace, competed in the La Femme Magnifique International Pageant, and participated in various community events. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she performed in and organized Shine Distillery and Grill's drive-through series of drag shows. Outside of drag, Luu has worked at his family's restaurant, been a property manager, and hosted events to sell sex toys.
Alexis Campbell Starr is an African-American drag queen based in Portland, Oregon. She is a resident cast member at Darcelle XV Showplace and has performed at CC Slaughters and other events and venues. She is active in the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon and has been crowned Rose Empress.
Coco Jem Holiday is an African-American drag performer based in Portland, Oregon.
Summer Lynne Seasons is the stage name of Brent Blackwell, an American drag performer based in the Portland metropolitan area, in Oregon. Summer Lynne Seasons is part of the cast of Darcelle XV Showplace.
