New York drag icon, The Ones' Nashom Wooden, has died, aged 50

New York drag icon, The Ones' Nashom Wooden, has died, aged 50

News

Nashom Wooden of the Ones has passed away at age 50, a victim of COVID-19.

Wooden, born in Brooklyn, first rose to notoriety in the East Village alt-drag scene of the late ’80s, performing in various downtown venues — notably the Boy Bar on Saint Marks Place — under the moniker Mona Foot. As the muscular and imposing Mona, often garbed in Wonder Woman gear, Wooden quickly became one of the scene’s integral players, and was a regular highlight of the annual Wigstock dragfest. Wooden had largely retired from drag in recent years, save for a star turn in a 2018 Wigstock reunion, and since 1997 had been working at East Village gay bar The Cock.

But Wooden’s greatest claim to fame is through the Ones, the late-’90s/early-’00s trio (with Paul Alexander and JoJo Americo) responsible for the Gary’s Gang–sampling ‘Flawless’. The title is apropos: The song is as perfect a disco track as one could imagine — full of both propulsion and attitude, it’s a celebration of self which is hugely effective yet oddly poignant. The track was a major club hit, hitting No 1 on the UK club charts; later hits releases followed, notably 2002’s ‘Superstar’.

 Wooden was a beloved figure in NYCs downtown world — our condolences go out to family and friends.

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