Childhood:
Born on December 23, 1994, in the village of Ain Anoub, Lebanon, I, Hady Saad, entered the world as part of a Druze family. Growing up, I was a shy kid with a deep love for nature, animals, and art. At 3 years old, I drew my first conceptual drawings that caught the eyes of my uncle. He played a key role in nurturing and developing my artistic skills by providing all needed art supplies and insightful guidance.
At the age of six, Christina Aguilera became my obsession, sparking dance sessions and lip-sync performances at home. This fascination with pop culture was a transformative moment at the age of 10 when I seized the stage at the school's talent show, embodying the persona of Dominique Hourani, a Lebanese pop star.
First time in drag at the School's Annual talent show.
Teenage years:
At 11, my awareness began to unfold. As I dug deeper into pop culture during my exploration of sexuality, it deeply influenced my fashion choices and how I expressed myself.
This self-discovery journey led me to make a significant decision at a young age, coming out to my school friends. Faced with the pressures of hiding my true self, this step created a haven within my small circle. However, the journey wasn't easy; getting bullied for my femininity as a teenager.
By 15, a playful nickname: “Hoedy”, resonated among friends and seamlessly became my artistic identity.
I was introduced to the world of Ballroom and Voguing after watching the documentary "Paris is Burning". This created a deep sense of belonging within a community that shared my passions. drag artists like Leigh Bowery and Pepper Labeija became sources of inspiration.
Young Adulthood:
Around 19, I took voguing to the club scene by dancing at parties and sharing online videos, which led to giving the first voguing class in Beirut and becoming the first publicly Vogue dancer in the Middle East. Forming a group of dancers from my classes, secured us bookings at different festivals and parties.
In 2017, driven by a desire to showcase queer talents, I organized Beirut's first ball at Bardo Beirut in November. The success prompted another ball two months later. With growing crowds, the ball needed a bigger production which led to the creation of the grand Beirut Grand Ball, co-organized with my partner Sandra Melhem in May 2017.
Simultaneously, I realized that drag provided a way for me to showcase my artistic ideas. My drag style is more aligned with the club kid aesthetic. This choice not only allowed me to showcase my creative ideas but also grabbed attention for its unique, artistic, and well-polished qualities.
The complexity of my makeup and costumes, featuring mechanisms such as a spider costume with eight moving hands, added an extra layer of eccentricity. These bold appearances played a significant role in establishing my public identity as a drag artist, broadening my audience, and connecting with a diverse crowd.
As skills in choreography, makeup artistry, and outfit design expanded, opportunities arose nationally and internationally, including roles in music videos, campaigns, and performances abroad.
Apart from the art scene, I am a full time Veterinarian specialized in small pets and exotic animals, graduated from the Lebanese University in 2019.
