freelance photographer
CRISTINA BETZ
Mystik
From a young age, Briana Bell always believed she had an interconnection to a higher source. Although Bell grew up in a strong Christian family, she felt a deeper connection with spiritual beliefs and magic.
At age 21, Bell gave birth to her daughter, Aurora Rose, on January 21, 2015. Bell has so many passions and dreams it can be difficult trying to find the perfect balance of being a mom and striving to accomplish all her goals. “If I could describe her [Aurora] in one word, I would say radiance,” Bell said. Aurora loves to sing, dance, create art, hike and swim. “She [Aurora] also loves to be the center of attention,” Bell said.
Raising Aurora
Born and raised in Bowling Green, Kentucky, 28-year-old Briana Bell is a server at Chuy's, a yoga instructor at Taboo Dance & Fitness and Pachamama Yoga Shala, a vendor at local events, and a performer with the Prima Donnas. Bell is also a single mother raising and homeschooling her 7-year-old daughter, Aurora Rose.
"She is just as much of a diva as I am. She is literally a mini me."
- Briana Bell
Aurora Rose takes a break from dancing to give her mom, Briana Bell, a hug. “She is full of joy, spunk, vitality, energy, vibrance, and color,” Bell said. Aurora also loves to engage with adults and Bell said she has not met many kids like her.
Bell originally had enrolled Aurora in virtual schooling when she was in kindergarten. Bell said that Aurora had a great experience because she was able to interact with her teachers and other students. The homework would be sent in packets and Bell said Aurora had no issues completing the worksheets in a timely manner. The next year, Bell began homeschooling Aurora and discovered that it was a much harder task. “We had to be the teachers and take charge of the worksheets and everything and it’s hard,” Bell said. Bell also co-parents with Aurora’s father which adds additional challenges. “It was difficult trying to be a teacher and also trying to be a parent and also trying to navigate our own lives,” Bell said.
Since Bell’s iPad broke, she has been printing out worksheets and handwriting math problems for Aurora instead of the online learning websites she typically uses. Bell develops a new lesson plan each time, incorporating math, writing, reading, science, and usually a creative activity. Aurora is very creative and absolutely loves to draw. “My favorite thing to draw is probably dresses,” Aurora said. “I have a big drawing book.”
While Bell was pregnant, she became interested in learning to cook. “There’s so much creativity in cooking and it means a lot to me because I am a creative person,” Bell said. Bell also wanted to start eating healthier meals because she believes the energy that is put into the food is what will transfer into the body.
Bell cooks curry for Aurora and her boyfriend, Jonathon Lee Mckee. “I can’t cook at all,” Mckee said. “She [Briana] does all the cooking for us.” Bell said her favorite food to make is soup. “Any type of soup, like Thai ginger, carrots, white chicken chili, pho, just all of it, soups,” Bell said.
Finding Peace with Yoga
Bell discovered yoga at the age of 16 after recovering from an eating disorder. “I was hurting. I was seeking very deep inner healing and recovery, so I started practicing yoga,” Bell said. Over time, Bell was able to redevelop an intimate love for her body and gain a sense of who she truly was. Her deep passion for yoga prompted her to start exploring various spiritual concepts and different religions to help strengthen her relationship with the divine spirit.
Bell began teaching yoga in 2018 at Strawberry Fields Yoga in Bowling Green. She now primarily teaches at Taboo Dance & Fitness and Pachamama Yoga Shala. Bell is determined to become a master yoga teacher which requires 500 hours, and Bell is currently at 200. She wants to continue to grow in her confidence and ability to teach various styles of yoga at several different studios.
During her class at Taboo Dance & Fitness, Bell massages her student, Kendra, with one of her homemade essential oils, called Flourish which consists of lavender, rosemary and geranium. Bell begins each class with mediation before moving into a gentle warm up consisting of seated postures. She eventually guides the class into more endurance based and strength building positions. Bell includes affirmations, aromatherapy, incense, massages with essential oils and vibration sound healing.
Bell uses singing bowls which each vibrate at a different frequency and produce a rich, deep tone when played. These tones stimulate brain waves which promote relaxation, balance in the energetic system and offer powerful healing properties just through frequency alone. The candles near the bowls symbolize light within the darkness and an illumination with the soul.
Mystikzyme
Bell usually finds inspiration from YouTube when experimenting with new makeup looks. While she does research different styles and forms of makeup, Bell primarily develops her own look. “Mostly I create just like improv,” Bell said. “I don’t typically have a plan.”
Sometimes the show will have an overall theme that Bell will try to incorporate in her costume or makeup. Bell said other times, she will choose an outfit based on the specific song she is performing. “And then other times, I wait till the day of and I’m like well this and this and this looks good, this will work,” Bell said.
In 2019, Bell attended her first drag show at the A-Frame to support a coworker who was a member of the Prima Donnas. While she was there, the cast members encouraged her to perform her flow arts, which is a movement based artform that integrates dance and creative exploration of an object. “You use this expression to achieve a state of present moment awareness,” Bell said. “It is kind of like a movement meditation.” She was first introduced to the hula hoop, and then began exploring other props, such as the levitation wand, silk fans, dragon staffs and then eventually fire.
Bell, known as Mystikzyme on stage, performs her fire stick routine as a member of the Prima Donnas at Donna's Bar in downtown Bowling Green on Feb. 12. “It’s just a juggling act like with the prop use, the lip syncing, and wanting to interact with the crowd and handling money,” Bell said. “And then once I get the money it’s like well where do I put it and so I end up putting it in my body suit.”
The Prima Donnas enjoyed her performance so much, they invited Bell to be a member of the cast. Bell said they even encouraged her to start lip syncing while she performed her flow arts on stage. “It was nerve racking the first time,” Bell said. “I was like I don't know if I can do this, but now it’s like clockwork.”
Upon joining the Prima Donnas, Bell chose “Mystikzyme” as her stage name. “I wanted to find a name that portrayed magic and the inner mystic within, and I thought of enzymes in the body,” Bell said. She wanted a name to also symbolize there is magic within everyone in their own way. “When life can make you feel so heavy and a little hopeless or broken down, I really find that being up on stage helps me recharge and rejuvenate and reconnect back with who I am,” Bell said.
Bell loves the freedom she feels while performing and the ability to share her love of magic and creativity with others. “It just feels good,” Bell said. “I just feel myself when I’m up there.”
Bell said it can be difficult accepting tips while performing with props, and she is thankful they have begun placing a tip box at the front of the stage for the audience members. “Other queens will walk around, and they grab it [the money], but I do have my props on stage, and I have to give a show with them,” Bell said. “Especially with the fire, it’s hard.”
Bell said she does not typically see people filming her while she is on stage because she is just caught up in the moment. WKU student, Gabe Hughes, regularly attends Donna’s Drag Shows. “I enjoy going to drag shows because the queens are fabulous and Donna’s provides a safe place for all LGBTQ+ to have fun while creating a close sense of community,” Hughes said.
Bell performs her fire stick routine at Donna’s Bar on April 9. While on stage, Bell said her mind is constantly racing, and she can be self-conscious with how she looks and how the crowd is interacting with her. However, when the show is over and the crowd starts cheering, she always feels amazing. “I feel powerful and proud especially if I get some volume,” Bell said. “It’s just validation for me that everyone is receiving my craft the way that I hope that they do.”
“Drag has enabled me to show up in all the different facets of my personality, as wild, as untamed, as sexy or sensual as I want to be. I really love the feeling of the energy released on stage and the confidence that I feel.”
- Briana Bell
After her first performance of the night, Bell goes backstage to change into her next outfit. Bell’s boyfriend, Jonathon Lee Mckee, plays a huge role helping her with zippers, shoes, wigs, and all her props for performing. “He’s like my little assistant,” Bell said. “He does it wholeheartedly, and I am thankful for him.” Bell met Mckee through a friend, and she said they both instantly felt a deep connection. They have been together for almost three years, and Bell said this is the healthiest relationship she has ever been in.
“If I can share my magic with anyone and touch hearts, that’s such a big accomplishment to me and I’m honored.”
- Briana Bell
Bell makes sure her new wig is on properly and her makeup still looks good before performing her second act of the night. Bell says as the night goes on, she becomes more confident and content living in the present moment. “I really encourage everyone to find that type of freedom of expression in their own way because that’s what we’re here for and that’s what life is about,” Bell said.