CREATING THE FEMININE ILLUSION

Watching Brad Fennel get ready for work is a bit surreal.

Sure, he pulls on his pantyhose one leg at a time. But then he applies several layers of foundation, piles on enough eye shadow for three women and nearly empties a can of hair spray on a red wig.

The whole process takes about two hours.

Hey, nobody said being a drag queen was easy.

Fennel left the 8-to-5, clock-punching world about a year ago. It was right after he realized his uncanny resemblance to a certain country-western performer.

"I'm absolutely in love with Reba McEntire," Fennel said.

If it's true that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then McEntire can consider herself very flattered indeed. Fennel coaxes her image out of his 20-year-old, angular physique for four performances each week.

After bagging groceries and working in a jewelry store, he discovered the money was better in the female impersonation business -- $200 a night isn't rare. Fennel has regular gigs at gay nightclubs in Cape Girardeau, Poplar Bluff, Carbondale, Ill., and Paducah, Ky.

He has played other venues, too, including Nashville, Memphis and Springfield.

Fennel began dressing like women years ago for a Halloween party at a friend's house. He went one year as Dolly Parton, the next as Tina Turner, the next as Dame Edna Everage, a well-known British drag queen and TV personality.

Then, on Oct. 31, 1995, he became Reba.

"It was easy," Fennel said. "I have videos and photos of her. I studied how she smiles, how she moves her head, the way she connects with her fans."

He talked with the star three times before taking on her image. The first time was in 1993 after a concert at the Show Me Center. The second was after a 1994 concert in Carbondale. And the third time was the same year when she signed copies of her autobiography in Nashville.

McEntire is touring the western United States this month and wasn't available to comment on Fennel's impersonation of her. Darlene Bieber is a publicist with McEntire's promoters, Starstruck Entertainment in Nashville. She said McEntire has met several of her impersonators.

"She's usually very complimentary of them," Bieber said.

Fennel said he needed a little more help from another professional drag queen in Cape Girardeau to perfect the McEntire look. His instruction included makeup application and countless other skills needed to make a career of dressing up like a woman.

There also was some lingo to learn. When Fennel walks down the street as himself, he is a he. When he walks down the street as Reba, he is a she.

Confusing? A little unsettling? Try watching the Fennel-to-McEntire transformation.

BECOMING REBA

During a recent makeover, Fennel's beauty routine started with a really close shave -- face, upper chest and armpits. He sat in front of his lighted mirror surrounded by theatrical makeup. A nearby tackle box held more makeup, jewelry, scissors and beauty implements.

After several layers of foundation, he added some stark white powder to his nose and forehead to shape both. A generous amount of eye shadow, blush, dark brown lip liner and lipstick followed.

"Neither of us has any upper lip to speak of," Fennel said.

At this point, Reba was already evident. Fennel's hair is dyed brassy red, but he keeps it clipped short to hide most of it under a long wig. The bangs are his.

Then came the interesting part.

Fennel pulled on three pairs of tights and two pairs of pantyhose to hide his leg hair. The hosiery also worked to shape several pieces of foam into hips.

More foam was stuffed into a bra to make a bustline. Fennel chose a fetching green pantsuit with black suede heels for his performance at Moby's, a gay bar in Paducah.

Even more amazing is the transformation in personality. Fennel tends to be quiet and maybe even a little nervous around strangers. As Reba, he gets bossy. It could be the intense heat from all the hair, makeup and padding, but Fennel thinks the change in attitude simply comes with being Reba.

When the work was done, he could have fooled Reba's own mother except for his height. He's about 6 feet tall in high heels.

SPEAKING OF PARENTS

Plenty of parents cringe when their children discuss possible career choices. But imagine the surprise when your son says he wants to be a professional drag queen.

"My parents are divorced," Fennel said. "My dad's side just thinks I want to be a woman. My mom's side understands why I want to entertain. They went to see my show at Moby's and were in tears at the crowd's response.

"I relate more to women. At family gatherings, I'd rather be with the women. The men are like, `Goin' huntin'?' The women are more open and fun."

Not all female impersonators are gay, but Fennel is. His mother accepts his lifestyle. His father hates the lifestyle but respects his son's ability to make money dressing up like women.

Other than that, Fennel hasn't faced prejudice in Paducah or in Cape Girardeau, where he moved to be with his companion.

"A lot of straight people come to the gay clubs," he said. "They just can't get over that I'm a man and look like Reba McEntire."

After Fennel lip-syncs "Fancy," "You Keep Me Hanging On," "You Lie" and other Reba McEntire favorites, the crowd provides standing ovations and whips out tips.

Later, folks want conversation. Fennel is working on Reba's voice inflections.

"People come up to me and act like I am Reba," he said. "They want to tell me all their problems -- my sister's in the hospital, my boyfriend left me, all that kind of stuff. They don't really see me as a male."

STRUT INTO THE FUTURE

Fennel doesn't impersonate just Reba. His drag name is Rachel Michaels, a whole separate character with different hair, makeup, clothing and characteristics.

Rachel is the one who competes in drag pageants. Accumulating titles like "Miss Gay Missouri" -- the next pageant he plans to do -- is one way to attract attention. The more attention a female impersonator attracts, the more clubs she gets to play.

At the clubs, performers usually get a flat fee plus all the tips. For months, Fennel has paid his bills through performing, many times as the headliner.

Having played gay clubs in four states, Fennel is ready to move on. He said he wants to play more straight clubs and branch out into larger cities.

Maybe it isn't realistic. Can a small-town boy get famous dressing up like a girl?

Ever heard of RuPaul?