"I feel the most badass when I am performing. It is my superpower," says the Selma, Alabama, native, who touched hearts when she appeared on the HBO reality series We're Here.

“Selma is home, but it’s not safe for women like me,” Akeelah says about her upbringing. “I’ve had gay brothers killed when those on the DL were afraid of being outed. Doing this show has made me stronger because I was able to get out of the ashes of victimhood and show my strength.”

AkeeLah speaks with Bob the Drag Queen about her experience on HBO’s “We’re Here” and how being featured on the series changed her life.

Bob, Eureka, and Shangela bring drag to Selma, AL, where the queer community remains hidden despite the city’s historical significance to the civil rights movement. There, they help recently transitioned Akeelah find the confidence to live life beyond closed doors.