Honoring the rhinestone jewelers whose artistry helped make the drag world shine.
So many incredible artists have helped the drag world grow. We often forget that it is not just the queens and kings who make our community what it is, but the makers behind those forces of glamour—the makers who spend years honing their craft and giving of themselves so that others can sparkle and shine.
This page is dedicated to the incredible rhinestone jewelers who have made the world more brilliant and more memorable, so the memory of their contributions is not lost and their art is remembered.
We are including artists John knew and some he never had the pleasure of meeting. All of them made their mark, and all deserve to be celebrated.
Stevie Stevens
Planet Glamour by Stevie Stevens · Atlanta, Georgia
Stevie was a gentle force of nature with exquisite, witty banter and an exceptional eye for detail. His brand, Planet Glamour by Stevie Stevens, was seen on every national pageant stage and featured every night at the legendary Charlie Brown’s Cabaret.
His signature framework pieces used smaller stones to create open designs that were intricate and elegant. One of his masterworks was a bracelet set created for the Grand Madam Chelsea Pearl: two matching Chinese dragons that wrapped up the arm from the wrist. He used a mixture of glass, crystal, acrylic, and wire in his pieces and always had an eye for drama.
Stevie left his workbench at peace in 2012. His existing pieces, treasured by many queens of his generation, will forever showcase his talent and give the wearer the glamour he imbued in all his art.
Bruce Ragsdale Horton
The Dragon Lady · Dallas, Texas
What can be said about Bruce that could encapsulate all of his amazing talent, mirth, humor, and absolute zest for life without still falling short? Bruce was, in short, a true original, and his work showcased the absolute best of what costume jewelry could be. His creations were seen not only on queens and kings, but on many celebrities. His Christmas wreath brooches were fought over during the holidays by the social elite of Texas.
Getting a piece of Bruce’s work was not just acquiring jewelry—it was an experience, like visiting a sorcerer in his tower to see what wonders were being created. Bruce will be remembered for his incredible jewelry, his philanthropy with the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and his out-of-this-world humor, as funny as it was cutting.
For those who hold a piece of The Dragon Lady’s jewelry today, it is like having a piece of that dragon’s hoard: rare, precious, and beautiful. Bruce created work meant to be seen, worn, and used to make a statement. He left his workbench for the last time in 2022 and began his journey making jewelry of the stars forevermore.
Scott Krauss
Roxxy Dame Designs · The Carolinas
Scott was a legendary figure in the Carolinas, known for his incredible designs and concepts. His multidimensional work was unique to the drag world and the entertainment industry. His use of wire and lattice supports gave his work a multilayered quality that set it apart from other jewelry makers.
Some of his most notable pieces are owned and displayed on stages across the South by the immaculate Miss Dana St. James. Scott’s work truly stood apart because of his eye for sculptural detail. To him, a chandelier earring was exactly that: a chandelier. No project was too big and no concept too far outside the box.
Scott turned the lights out on his workroom in 2023. Entertainers who still hold a piece of his work cherish it as a one-of-a-kind relic of a truly singular artist.
Michael Perez
MJM Designs · New York and New Jersey
Michael was a staple of the New York and New Jersey drag and performance community. A jewelry maker, beader, costume maker, and even a hairstylist, his many talents were displayed across the wide spectrum of drag and stage communities in the Northeast.
He built jewelry meant to be worked in, thrown around, and worked in some more. His pieces were strong and bold and always carried his signature style. MJM Designs was seen on almost every major pageant stage for more than a decade. Those who still have his pieces cherish them and—as Michael would have wanted—wear them again and again.
Michael set down his jewelry torch in 2023.
Tina Marie Vitek
DKoi Designs · Florida
Tina was a spark of genius, a fabulous lesbian, a cool mom, and an extraordinary artist. Constantly trying to expand herself and do something new, she knew what she did best and tried never to settle for only that. A beautiful spirit with a bubbly personality, Tina was as brilliant as her rhinestones.
Her gigantic floral-style rings set her apart from other rhinestone jewelry makers. Tina closed the door on her workroom for the last time in 2021. Her legacy of joy and over-the-top sparkle lives in the pieces owned and enjoyed by entertainers throughout Florida and across the nation.
Memorials written by John Griffin-Lane, Designer/Owner of Fierce Jewels and Fierce Drag Jewels.