When did you begin dressing up as lady GAGA and Why?
FACTBOX
Waratchaya "Ohm" Pukrod, aka Shade of Gaga, is one of the most well-known Thai impersonators of Lady Gaga. She is also a member of a group of transgender performers called Shade of Divas, who make appearances and perform as famous female artists at various events ranging from parties to product launches. The vibrant and affable 24-year-old insists her Gaga persona isn't pointless. To learn more about Ohm, visit the Shade of Gaga or Shade of Divas Facebook pages.
WHEN DID YOU BEGIN DRESSING UP AS LADY GAGA AND WHY?
I became a fan about four years ago but I wasn't initially into her as much as I am now. After I learned many things about her besides her music and fashion - such as her personal life, opinion and standpoints on things - it made me want to follow in her footsteps. I first dressed as her to a party just for fun and a friend told me if I liked being her so much I should try to make something out of it. I noticed it didn't trouble anyone, so here I am today. I have been seriously impersonating her for about two years now. After my reputation went beyond the party circle, I've been hired to make appearances as her at many events as a kind of gimmick and, perhaps, to generate screams of fear. [laughs]
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT HER?
Wooh! How much time do we have? It would take forever to fully explain. Let me give you one thing that people don't usually know about her - her love for her family. You wouldn't think she would care for her family so much from her public persona, would you? She wrote a song ["The Edge of Glory"] for her dead grandfather. Isn't she so cute to do that? This is just one of the many reasons why I love her.
LADY GAGA HAS THE HAUS OF GAGA TEAM. DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN ENTOURAGE AS WELL?
I do! I have Haus of Shade of Gaga. It's impossible to pull it off alone. I have friends who share ideas and help me in many ways, including make-up, hairstyling, costume and choreography. They're Lady Gaga fans too and we come together for the lady we love. It's a labour of love.
HOW MUCH MONEY HAVE YOU SPENT IMPERSONATING LADY GAGA?
Can I not talk about money? I might faint thinking of how much I have spent. Let's say I have repeatedly maxed out my credit card many times over.
HOW HAS THE FEEDBACK BEEN?
Mostly, it has been positive. Especially now that Gaga is coming to Thailand [on May 25 at Rajamangala National Stadium]. So more and more people know me from my media appearances. I love it when they say I look like her so much or that I'm so beautiful. [laughs] I honestly don't pay much attention to the haters. When I'm down, I think about how I help raise awareness about equality for all kinds of people, especially those who are "different" in some way like I am. I also think about my fans. I want them to know that I stand by them and I want Thailand to know that, although we're different, it doesn't mean we're abnormal.
WHAT'S THE MOST REWARDING PART OF BEING SHADE OF GAGA?
The whole thing may have begun as a tribute to Lady Gaga who inspires me but now I feel I inspire people too. I feel like I've been given an opportunity to represent many younger people who don't want to conform to social norms, be it regarding fashion, lifestyle, beliefs and so on. I'm their representative.
