Teifi Rowlands had a tough childhood. At the age of six, they were diagnosed with a tumour behind the eye that led to them spending a year as an inpatient in hospital, enduring rounds of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After years of gruelling treatment for cancer, Teifi struggled with self-consciousness and felt uncomfortable in their own skin. But all that changed for them after discovering Anniben, their drag alter ego.
“It’s really been a saviour for me,” said Teifi. Performing as Anniben, which means messy in Welsh, has been a way of processing trauma and finding empowerment. Anniben was a character Teifi began drawing when studying art at college, and now they perform as their androgynous character, which they describe as “gender fluid weirdness with a splash of camp, a splash of horror maybe and then just a lot of high energy and storytelling.” They feel that they are “privileged” to be part of a small scene of Welsh-speaking drag acts in Cardiff.
Teifi said that with the make-up and the drag they can control how their face looks, which enables them to turn their “imperfections” into a “badge of honour.” Performing as Anniben has also been a way for Teifi to explore their own gender identity. Today, they identify as “queer” and prefer the pronouns they/them. As a result of their illness, some of their teeth did not grow properly, and they are hoping to get reconstructive dental surgery.
Teifi no longer has to see an oncologist but still lives with the legacy of cancer. The months since being discharged have been emotional for them, and “realizing how close I was to not being here and how severe it was makes me immensely grateful that it was caught when it was and I’m still here today prancing around being a weirdo,” they laughed. Despite the challenges, performing as Anniben has given them a creative outlet and a new perspective on life
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