Lushious Massacr doesn’t just walk into a place; she “dragvestigates” it. The Emmy-winning drag artist, born Martin De Luna Jr. and raised in Brownsville, Texas, has built a devoted following through her wildly entertaining Dragvestigations series, where full glam meets fluorescent lighting in local supermarkets, big box stores, and anywhere else she feels called to roam. It’s chaotic, distinct, and entirely her own.
A proud self-proclaimed “brick” — a reclaimed drag term she’s redefined to celebrate imperfection — Lushious uses her platform to spotlight queer joy, body positivity, and lived experience without sanding down the edges. Offscreen, her résumé includes national touring and Emmy-winning work on HBO’s We’re Here. Onscreen, she’s equal parts comedian and cultural commentator, and, unofficially, the internet’s most committed Jessica Simpson handbag ambassador.
Whether she’s shouting “creature!” across an aisle or stepping into her power on stage, Lushious Massacr is carving out a lane that feels both deeply personal and widely resonant. In the latest edition of our Out and About series, she takes us from Brownsville to Brick Center and beyond.
Brownsville, Texas, where Lushious Massacr grew up, is known for its resacas, palm-lined trails, and vibrant local culture
Courtesy Visit Brownsville Texas
You've really put Brownsville on the map for a lot of people — myself included. If someone only had a weekend there, what should they do, see, and where should they eat?
Go to the Lin’s Buffet after 4pm ‘cause that’s when they put out the coconut shrimp, which are my favorite, and then go see my drag mother Divina Garza’s Drag Bingo on Sundays at Bar B in downtown Brownsville. It’s very Mexican, and there’s a high probability that if you play bingo, you’re gonna win some money. One time I won, like, $150 – I was shook! Support local Brownsville drag if you visit Brownsville, Texas, please!
"Shamerica," "little girl," "dragvestigations," "brick," are only a handful of your catchphrases. What do fans quote back to you the most in person, and what do you see being used the most online?
They definitely scream “Brick!” straight into my face and “Creature!” too. At first, I thought they were reading me down and being shady, but then I realized, oh no, it’s all love. They watch my show and love the sound effects, so I love it now too, but at first, I was shook because my catchphrases are so shady.
You're on the road right now — what's your current tour schedule looking like, and what's been the standout city so far?
I wasn’t born a natural performer on stage. I had to challenge myself and teach myself to be an onstage entertainer, but this last show I did in Brooklyn at my Brick Center party… I felt like I finally came into my power. It finally all clicked, and I realized I am good enough and talented enough to shine on stage. A star was born inside of me that night. It was the best show I’ve ever had, and now that I fully believe in myself as a performer, I can’t wait to hit the stage for the rest of my Brick Center shows because now my fears and doubts are gone. I believe in myself. I earned it, and now I know my purpose and my message, and I’m going on tour to share it with the world. One stage at a time.
Lushious Massacr poses in a pink rhinestone drag ensemble with a towering black beehive hairstyle.
Courtesy Emily Eizen
Sounds exciting, but touring can be chaotic — what's one thing you always pack that keeps you grounded no matter where you are?
My medications. I take my fiber pills (shoutout to the bottoms out there), my blood pressure pills (shout out to the big girls out there dealing with obesity), and my PrEP (shout out to the girls that are in control of their sexual health). If I have my health care essentials, I know I’ll be fine because I’m taking care of myself.
What's your go-to pre-show ritual when you're in a new city?
I remind myself that even if no one shows up, I showed up… I showed up for me, and I want to have fun, be present, and be grateful.
An Air Tahiti airplane sits on a runway beside bright turquoise water
Courtesy Tahiti Tourisme
You find yourself stuck in the middle seat on a Los Angeles to Tahiti flight — which two Drag Race alumni do you want sitting on either side of you, and why?
None, I’d rather have my two best friends and favorite drag queens from back home, Kianna Alexanders and again my drag mother Divina Garza.
As someone who's worked behind the scenes and on stage, what do you notice first about a city's drag scene when you arrive?
I notice the bricks… the creatures... they are my favorite. They are the realness, and they are the future.
What's the most iconic or chaotic place you've ever "investigated" on Dragvestigations?
The Soriana in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, for me is the most iconic. I loved being able to go across the border to Mexico; it was so fun, and I want to go back to Mexico to dragvestigate more in the future. Remind me in case I forget.
If you could take your followers anywhere in the world for a Dragvestigation, where would you go, and what would you investigate?
I would take them with me to Matamoros. My parents' hometown. My roots begin there. I’d love to show it more love if I can. I rarely see queer people from Matamoros represented, so I’d love to be able to go back and shine a light on the queer people of Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico. If my parents hadn’t immigrated to the U.S. before I was born, I’d probably still live there… who knows what my life would’ve been like? I’d love to dragvestigate and explore that. There’s a strong culture of mentorship and giving back within the LGBTQ+ community.
Cast image from Queer as Folk
Courtesy Showtime
As a fellow millennial, we’re clearly in a full nostalgia cycle right now — The Devil Wears Prada sequel, Laguna Beach turning 20, Hannah Montana and Hilary Duff having their pop-star resurgence, even early 2000s beauty and fashion coming full circle. Is there anything from your younger years you’d love to see revived or reimagined?
Queer as Folk, but I’d like it to be a lot more queer. I would want the lead to be a drag queen of color. What is her love life like? What’s her sex life like? By day, he’s a gay man, but by night she does drag. What are her hopes and dreams? Who are her friends? Can we cast some bricks too, some big girls and boys, FTM and MTF trans people as well? We celebrate masculine men a lot in queer culture, and I’d love to explore and celebrate femininity. Can we push the boundaries more? Oh, and I’d love to play a part! Cast me in it too!
Final question — window or aisle, and are you judging the person next to you immediately, or giving them a chance?Window because I get anxiety when I fly, and I want to make sure when turbulence hits that the plane isn’t going down, and I judge…. I will always judge, but I’ll give them a chance too.
