Biography

Poison Waters is not just a personality. Poison is an experience!! Whether dressed as Poison Waters or her alter ego Kevin Cook, they are both captivating and one of a kind!

For over three decades Poison has been having tons of FUN entertaining from countless stages throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond, coordinating, participating in and hosting an endless docket of benefits, revues and shows for various local, regional and national charities. She has been recognized and rewarded for her community service, raising awareness, and providing entertainment to such charities as Cascade AIDS Project, Dress for Success Oregon, Dove Lewis, Make a Wish Foundation, and the Oregon Humane Society. Poison has received The Assistance League of Greater Portland’s National Operation School Bell Award, a Jose Honor as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Court System, the 2023 Mama Bernice Humanitarian Award from the Imperial Sovereign Rose Court of Oregon, the Fred E. Tree Spirit of Stonewall Award for outstanding activism and leadership, the 2022 Klonsky Award for Civic Engagement, Hero of HIV Award and the Red Ribbon Award from the Coalition for AIDS Awareness just to name a few. Career highlights have been appearances with Pink Martini, repeat segments on AM Northwest, opening for Storm Large at her Holiday Ordeal, Drag Queen Story Time at Multnomah County Libraries, and being named Grand Marshal of the Portland Rose Festival’s 2023 CareOregon Starlight Parade and Pride Northwest’s Portland Pride Parade. In 2024 will celebrate her 15^th anniversary recurring role in Oregon Ballet Theater’s The Nutcracker and is in her 4^th year teaching an online course on Portland’s Drag History with Portland Community College. When she is not enjoying her time hosting events and fundraisers or traveling the globe, she is the co-hostess at the legendary Darcelle XV Showplace where she has been wildly popular for 34 years. In July 2023, Poison was a co producer of Drag-a-Thon, the Guinness World Record breaking longest running drag show at 48 hours, 11 minutes and 30 seconds, raising over $300,000.00 for The Trevor Project! Featured in the best selling book, Legends of Drag, Poison was also listed in the Oregonian newspapers as one of the 25 most inspiring people of 2023.

2025 marks the 25th year volunteering with summer camps for children whose lives have been affected by HIV. Poison, as Kevin is the Camp Director for Cascade AIDS Projects’ Camp KC (Kids Connection). During the Covid 19 global pandemic, Poison went virtual, bringing her Drag Queen Bingo, Drag Queen Storytime and event hosting to thousands of new fans all over the world. Most recently Poison along with Gigantic Brewing Co. debuted “Poison Waters Beermosa”, a fruity blend canned beer benefitting Weird Portland United!

Following the passing of Rose Empress XV, Darcelle, Poison was elevated to the position of Queen Mother II of all of Oregon by the International Court System and Queen Mother I of the Americas I, Empress Nicole the Great, and was awarded Silver (2^nd) in the Best of Gay Cities global online poll in the category of Best Local Drag Queen. Also in 2025 Poison was honored to have been invited to act as the Grand Marshal for the Portland Mardi Gras Parade by the Mysti Krewe of Nimbus, Knighted by the Portland Rose Festival’s Royal Rosarians and received an Honorary Doctorate degree from Portland State University!

Whatever the title, event, cause or venue, one thing remains the same: the important bond between Poison Waters and her audience. She remains, “the smile on the face of Portland.” www.poisonwaters.com