Visage became prominent in the New York drag ball scene and learned voguing from various people including Willi Ninja. In New York she was active in the club scene and her mother, Arlene, even gave her a fake ID so she could make connections to help further her career. After finishing her studies she stayed in New York City to pursue a career as an actress. Growing up, Visage looked up to Madonna, Belinda Carlisle, Pat Benatar, Stevie Nicks, Cyndi Lauper and Dale Bozzio. She then moved to New York and attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Manhattan for two years. When Visage was 16, she won a Madonna lookalike competition. She attended South Plainfield High School in South Plainfield, New Jersey, graduating in 1986. She was adopted and was aware of this from an early age.
