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The lights start to dim while the music start’s blaring all across the room as Sanjina DaBish Queen takes over the floor with her graceful movements. Her hips while her heart races to the sounds of the Dhol drums in one of her favorite songs. Dance is a form of escape for her. She lets herself feel every emotion in every song and dances all her worries away. Whenever you see Sanjina DaBish Queen, I assure you that a smile will creep on your face whenever you see her take the dance floor by storm.
Sanjina was born and brought up in Vancouver, BC where she felt out of place, and although she was nurtured in her love for dance and grew as a dancer overall she knew that something was missing. One of the missing ingredients was her location so she decided two years ago that she would make the move from Vancouver to Toronto, ON.
She always used dance as an escape but she knew that something was missing until she came across the Queen of the North, Priyanka, and her love for Drag began.
Going into the world of Drag is not an easy thing at all! In fact, every aspiring Drag Queen needs a “Drag Mother” who mentors and nurtures the Drag Queen and helps introduce them into the growing world of Drag. Luckily, Sanjina found a Drag Mother in The Virgo Queen who helped Sanjina get into the world of Drag. She made sure that Sanjina didn’t feel alone throughout the process. Furthermore, Sanjina had the fire, the drive, and the talent to become an amazing Drag Queen!
On July 2, 2019, Sanjina DaBish Queen was born and has been taking the Drag and dancing world by storm!
The one unique thing that Sanjina brought to the table that made her different from other Drag Queen’s was her connection to her culture. In a lot of her routines, Sanjina has performed major action-packed Bollywood numbers to get the crowd riled up and has helped her stay connected to her roots. Watch out duniya (world) DaBish is ready to take over!
Q&A
1. What fascinates you about Drag? What do you want our readers to know about you and your story?
The power of expressing yourself, Drag is every and anything. I want to inspire and be an icon to the POC community
2. What inspires you about Drag?
I dancing and performing and I’m absolutely obsessed with it. Dance has always inspired me and the fire that is inside of me hasn’t been unleashed yet! Before the pandemic happened it took a lot for me to get Sanjina out there. I wasn’t really respected as a new POC queen in the village and finally, when I had attention on me, Sanjina was on a small roll.
When COVID took over I had to pause my work. I learned a lot from this pandemic by working on myself and understanding that fire in me that’s been on hold for years and let it manifest more. In Toronto, the pandemic has caused Toronto to go on a full lockdown. When the time comes, the world is going to see the phoenix, the Bollywood Remix queen rise from the ashes.
3. Who inspires you?
Miss Vanjie, Virgo Queen ( Drag Mother ) Cardi B, Beyonce, Rihanna, Shakira, Jlo, Sridevi, Karishma Kapoor, Katrina Kaif, Nora Fateh, Sunny Leone, BollyHeels TO, Selena Quintanilla, Pablo Vitar, Anitta, Sean Paul, Major Lazor, Natti Natasha, Becky G.
4.How was growing up and figuring out your identity and what piqued your interest in Drag?
I had a very very tough and dark childhood growing up. I’m currently working on a project with BollyHeel TO! So the world will hear and see it soon but running away from my past and dance led me to Sanjina cause she was the missing ingredient.
5.What’s a mantra that motivates you?
Rise up and be fearless, like a Massai Warrior. Stake your claim in this lifetime. Remember who you really are. Unleash the dragon and let- these bitches-have- it!
-Mama Ru
6.Favorite Hype Song or one of your favorite songs that get you on the dance floor instantly? types of dance do you like and do? types of dances you would like to learn in the future?
Ah, that’s not fair! Honestly, I have so many like anything with a good beat that will make me hit the dance floor but it would be Pon De Reply and Munni Badnaam Hui. I love to dance to these styles: Bollywood/Hip Hop/Reggaeton/ Salsa/dancehall/soca & chutney/Afro Beats/Bellydancing and a unique style I call Bollyonce. I also would like to learn Meke, Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Bhangra, Ballet, contemporary,
7. Future goals and aspirations?
I want to tour the world, putting on shows, have a dance studio/ program running under the Haus of DaBish. I want to create a platform to make it easy for our new generations of queens, drag babies, the POC community for everyone! The next step for Sanjina would be making it to the Drag Olympics one day. I just want the word to dance with me.
8. Any advice you’d like to share?
When you’re sad, just dance, and when your mad just dance, when your happy just dance. Dance is the cure to every emotion. Like Mama Ru says “we are all born naked and the rest is drag”. Just be you and believe in your drag.
Lastly, Sanjina‘s advice to UrbanAsian readers is to keep on dancing. Dance is Sanjina‘s best friend and has been there for her all her life. For Sanjina, dancing is the bandage to all my wounds and bruises. It makes her feel powerful, safe, and makes her love herself, and puts a smile on my face. That’s why she dances it’s her way of expressing herself. Sanjina is revolutionizing the Drag Queen world and I can’t wait to see what’s next on her DaBish adventures.
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