Zinzanni, zeal, and zensational: BenDeLaCreme frank and fabulous

BenDeLaCreme is one of the most innovative drag queens to come from the RuPaul's Drag Race scene. More than just a glamorous performer, she’s a storyteller, artist, and visionary who challenges the boundaries of drag and art.

Chicago Star Media sat down with BenDeLaCreme to learn more about his journey as a drag queen. 

DeLa stars in Teatro ZinZanni’s Chicago residency through July 19, bringing her sharp humor and theatrical flair to the venue’s immersive variety show. In an exclusive interview, she shared insight into her artistic journey, her perspective on drag, and its impact on her life and society at large.

DeLa’s passion for art began long before she became a household name in the drag world. Benjamin Putnam, the person underneath the persona, came to Chicago to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC). He initially focused on painting and sculpture, but it wasn’t long before he discovered the world of performance art and video that would shape his future. Despite only completing three and a half years at SAIC, Ben feels that the institution’s creative environment was pivotal to his artistic growth. “The education I got there was invaluable,” he said, adding that it sparked his interest in incorporating drag into his artwork.

Bridging the worlds of fine art and drag wasn’t easy. In art circles, his work was seen as too lowbrow. In clubs, it was too intellectual. “I had to forge my own path in between,” he said. This constant balancing act led him to realize that the key to success in both art and drag lies in passion, direction, and authenticity.

Ben’s entry into the world of drag began in high school, when he saw the documentary "Wigstock." The film introduced him to the transformative power of drag performance. "There’s a container for who I already am," Ben recalled, reflecting on how drag provided an outlet for his creative expression. But his drag persona, BenDeLaCreme, didn’t appear until later. Initially, he performed as Tina Angst, a character embodying an angry, riot girl punk vibe. Tina was born out of Ben’s frustration as a chubby, effeminate, queer kid who felt alienated from both straight and queer communities. This rebellious persona gradually evolved as he began to see how drag queens like Miss Foozie, a seasoned queen who embodied kindness and maternal energy, could disarm the harshness of the scene with love and acceptance.

As BenDeLaCreme, he embraced drag not just as performance but as truth-telling through artifice. “Artifice isn’t lies, it’s a way to express truth through heightened form,” he said. DeLa allows Ben to distill his best qualities, free from the full weight of being a person in the world.

Drag, for him, is both art and identity. “It lives between identity and artistic practice,” he explained. He values shows like Drag Race for their visibility, but is wary of the way competition has reshaped drag’s more profound message. “It should be about rising above norms, not battling each other.”

Looking ahead, DeLa wants to use her platform to spotlight the queens who came before, those in their 50s and 60s, still working and inspiring. “Those are the stories I want to tell.”

BenDeLaCreme’s journey isn’t just about sequins and laughter; it’s about using drag to convey truth. Her legacy lies in her ability to fuse art, activism, and authenticity, connecting with audiences on a deeply human level.