Creative Director + Photos / Lauren Nakao Winn
Video Director + Editor / Jon Bewley
Stylist / William Noguchi
HMUA / Monique Rinard
Story / Bri Ng Schwartz
Shot at DWNTWN Studio.
Frankie Grande is the multi-hyphenate star of our dreams. From reality TV stints, musical theater, to his debut album Hotel Rock Bottom, he shows us the power of a long-lasting career without boxes or limitations. His album, released at the end of Pride month, is a celebratory queer dreamscape of neon, glitter and heart – also how I would describe the infectious energy that Frankie brought to our shoot.
Frankie shared some invaluable beauty tips, a look into the inner workings of creating Hotel Rock Bottom, and the state of queer spaces for himself, and the community at large in 2025.
How do you stay fabulous in this 90 degree heat? What are your tips?
Setting spray. I have a lot of drag queen friends, obviously, because everyone needs to and should. But Kryolan setting spray is what the drag queens use, so it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me in this heat.
Thank you. That advice was for me. It’s hard out here.
My other trick these days is to just have messy glam. Looking kind of like a messy rock superhero. That’s what’s working for me. If it gets messier, it’s okay. It’s all part of the look. Which has been really fun to do at clubs.
It sets you up for success.
Like if you start messy, then there’s nowhere to go that’s bad. You know?
That’s good life advice too.
Can’t get messier, so just stay messy.
jacket: Laquan Smith, pants: Namilia, gloves: Patricia Field, chain necklace: talent’s own
This debut album is out and it’s amazing. How long has this been in the making?
It was 11 months, it’s been a hot minute, but I’m just really grateful that she’s out into the world, and I’m so happy with the reception and that everyone really thinks that it’s as good as I did.
Do you have a favorite song on the album?
It changes all the time. I really love “Cognitive Dissonance.” I have a really strong emotional connection to that song. The writing of that song is probably the first time I had a breakdown in the studio. “2U” is also really personal to me because it’s about my husband and my puppy.
Have you had any memorable fan experiences?
I came around a corner and this adorable gay man squealed at the top of his lungs and started singing “The Devil must be busy, ’cause you’re hotter than hell.” And he was like, “‘Hotter Than Hell’ is the next single. I’ve been waiting for somebody to drop the album of the summer, and you finally did it, bitch.” I lost my mind.
Making an album that is so celebratory and queer in 2025 is a radical act. What message do you have for your queer fans right now?
Be yourself. Don’t be scared. There’s a place for all of us in this world. I’m so grateful that I am capable of being a shield and the sword to plow through all the negativity and be a representative for the community. There is definitely some pushback with being this out loud, proud, queer and femme. And I live for it, to be honest. It’s important. I’m happy that I am in a mental space where I can do the work without being scared or wanting to hide and shrink inwards. I’m like, “Oh, this is pissing people off. How do I do it more?”
That’s what we need right now.
Madonna is my idol, and she was the original. “Oh, this is pissing you off. Great. Let me do it 10 times more.” So I’m like, “Great, I’m pulling a Madonna. Let’s just do more of it.”
jacket & pants: Badpink, necklace: Philipp Plein, boots: Frye
Who are your other influences?
For this album specifically, David Bowie, Prince, George Michael, Donna Summer. That’s the music that I grew up listening to. All of those people were also defiant and groundbreaking.
To me, what makes you so groundbreaking as an artist is that you’re a multi-hypenate. You’ve been everywhere. My best friend is a huge Big Brother fan. Another friend of mine was in How To Succeed in Business Without Actually Trying with you years ago. How do you think all of that informs your artistry?
Everything that I’ve done, I’ve approached through an artistic lens. Even Big Brother, I knew where my cameras were. I had hashtags and slogans going into that house. I’m a writer, producer, director, and I’ve always been. Even when I was on my YouTube days, I produced each episode of that like it was a TV show.
Doing my own project where I truly am the one driving the entire ship has been absolutely a dream come true, and so fun. It’s the time of the multi-hyphenate. I think that everyone’s got such short attention spans these days that, if you are only one thing, then you literally can only do one project every two or three years. Whereas I plan doing this album, doing a Broadway show, going to be on Traitors, drop another album, do another Broadway show, film a movie, go do Big Brother again, then drop another album. I don’t want to stop working, ever, and I’m glad that I’m at a place where I don’t have to.
Who would you be in the Traitors house?
The winner.
jacket: Dope Tavio, brief: 2eros, bodysuit: Cheng Hai Chuang, choker & harness: LEAK, gloves: Patricia Field, gauntlets: stylist’s own, boots: FRYE
You’ve been very open about your sobriety journey over the last couple of years. Queer spaces can be so nightlife focused. How do you stay grounded?
I have had the best sober, queer friends. One is Salina EsTitties who’s featured on the album, the other is Mandoh Melendez, my stylist. They have both taught me how to exist as a sober man in queer nightlife. You chug Red Bull, you dance, you have a sober support system with you, and when you are feeling triggered or bored, you leave. That’s it. Just get out.
There are also a lot of sober people in nightlife, and when you are sober and you identify, people will flock to you. There’s a lot more support in nightlife than I think people would believe.
It’s become a little more normalized these days.
I think young kids are seeing how the internet is working against them when they’re drunk, and a lot of them are making a lot smarter choices than when I was young. I am so fortunate that I was just at the cusp of when people started capturing everything that you do, because none of my stupidity was captured on the internet and broadcast for the world. Double-edged sword of the internet, you know? It’s forcing people to look at their own behavior at a much earlier age than I did.
sweatshirt: Free Maison, dress: Private Policy, boots: Azalea Wang
What does social media look like to you with this album release, and also in general?
It’s been a really lovely way to connect with my fans. I think that’s what social media has become to me. It’s become a way to, for me, to share my story with the world and then listen and see how it’s resonating with other people.
I was very scared because I had a really scary time after Big Brother. My relationship with the internet was really quite terrifying. I don’t like to spend much time in the comments. If there’s a moment where I feel unsafe, I just get out. Same way as I do with the club.
What else can we expect from you on this album cycle?
Hopefully tour. I’m dancing my pussy off, so I want to be able to do that for more audiences.
Hotel Rock Bottom is a leather-clad middle finger to those in power who try to silence an undeniable pride from gay leaders like Frankie. In many ways, he is the adult that I and so many of us needed when we were younger: unapologetically themselves, loud in their beliefs, and a pillar for the queer community at large. This album is just the beginning for his music endeavors, and we can’t wait for all of the surprises he has under his sleeve in his creative future.
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