A Chat With Mariam T
Balancing It All
You are one of the hardest-working entertainers in town — from charity work and bingo to
sing-alongs and live performances. How do you balance it all, and what keeps you motivated to
continue the hustle?
Thank you so much for the compliment! I worked really hard for a long time with no work-life balance. I was so focused on getting my career established and making all of the right connections. Now that I have a steady foundation, I take the time to travel as much as I can, and lean into my hobbies. I try to spend a lot of time outside getting fresh air, and letting my brain have a moment to reset and clear space. I work in a fast, loud and wild environment, so taking small bits of time to decompress is really important to me to prevent burnout. I try to go to the zoo or Japanese Friendship Garden once a week, spend a lot of time decorating my home, and planning date nights with my partner. I am addicted to work, but it can become unhealthy, so I have to remember to do all of the other things that I love, too. It’s not hard for me to stay motivated to do more work. I’ve always been a work-a-holic. I had two jobs in high school and three in college. I LOVE what I do, and I’m doing what I always wanted to do- play dress up and make people laugh. Some days are harder than others to go to work, but at the end of the day I’m living my own little dream, and that keeps me motivated to keep going.
Finding the Pride Spirit
June is Pride Month, and you’ll be part of Sycuan’s Pride Weekend celebration. What helps you
get into the Pride spirit each year, and what does this season mean to you personally?
I’m so excited to be back at Sycuan producing the event for the fourth consecutive year. This event requires so much work, love and most of all, PRIDE. You really get to see the spirit of inclusivity, and community when working on events like this. So many people come together and work hard to make the vision happen and bring so many people so much joy. That’s what pride season means to me, expressing our joy and coming together.
Inside Sycuan Pride Weekend
Tell us what guests can look forward to during the three-day Pride Weekend celebration at
Sycuan Casino Resort.
Sycuan pride is the ULTIMATE stay-cation and perfect way to kick off SD pride season. We positioned the date to wrap up the official pride month, but segway us into San Diego pride, which happens a bit later than most pride events. With amazing dining, LOTS of live music and entertainment, fantastic drag shows, so many amazing restaurants, a spa, two pools, hot tubs and a lazy river it’s really an amazing weekend.
Mariam T’s 5 tips to be prepare for Pride
Give us your 5 tips to be ready for the weekend
Stay hydrated, stay alert, be NICE, bring CASH, keep your phone in your front pocket!
Celebrating at Sycuan
How meaningful is it to have a welcoming and inclusive destination like Sycuan Casino Resort
celebrating Pride and creating a space where the LGBTQ+ community can come together?
It means so much to be able to bring the spirit and energy of Hillcrest all the way out to El Cajon. The entire staff and all of the guests have always been so kind and welcoming to us, and I feel right at home at Sycuan. They know how to treat a queen!
Staying Connected
How can readers keep up with your latest projects, appearances, and adventures? Please share
your social media handles and website.
The best way to keep up with me is on instagram at TheMariamT
The WORD Is ___________.
The WORD that represents pride to me is COMMUNITY. The thing I love about Hillcrest, that I think separates us from other gay communities is our immense sense of community. Someone gets sick? BAM! Fundraiser show. We have so many protests, marches, community events, sports teams, art events, community showcases, the list goes on and one. Hillcrest is truly unique when it comes to a sense of community and I think that’s what makes us so special, and helps us keep the feeling of Pride all year long!