Twelve years ago today the world lost a beautiful and talented individual. I was driving past Dixon High School just outside of Jacksonville, N.C. when the radio DJ announced that Aaliyah's plane had gone down. I had to pull off the road to endure the shock and sadness. I had been dressing in drag for a few months already and going by the name Eve Campbell. It was at that moment that I decided to change my name to Aaliyna Dejah Campbell. Aaliyna in memory of Aaliyah and Selena. Dejah is a beautiful friend of mine that I admired then and still do today. Shortly after the passing of
Aaliyah I took my character from the streets to the stage and dropped the last name Campbell. Years later I simplified the spelling of the first name to "Alena." RIP Aaliyah Dana Haughton.
addiction.
"You're an addiction ... a favored vice for many" was said to me this morning by a friend. The feeling that overcame me was loneliness but immediately shifted to pride. I would rather be someone's addiction than someone easily forgotten.
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