by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Onyxx

Age: 28

Occupation: Tribal Queen

Bio: This freewheelin' Verdun gal arrived here from Quebec City all of six years ago. Emigrating because she had difficulty fitting into "the small little village" that is Quebec, she soon discovered that life in the slightly bigger village of Montreal can suck pretty hard as well - at least for those with an artistic bent who long to live arguably "alternative" lifestyles. Recognizing that there must be others out there just like her, not long ago Onyxx and her fiancé Gemini decided to create "an urban tribe" of Neverlanders, Neverland being Onyxx's apartment and "a home without a place, a sanctuary from the negativity that permeates everyday life offering refuge for those who wish to express something beyond the norm." She figures there are currently about 50 people in her tribe, which is officially known as Tribe Omega, "But we're trying to expand our numbers substantially."

Why one starts up their very own tribe: "Because it's often so very hard for people to be themselves and comfortable in a city. You can feel pretty alone. Like, think of somebody working in a call centre - this is a brutal environment, so rigid, cold, not artistic. People need to escape from this kind of reality, start a new one, and this is what we have at Neverland."

Where Onyxx works: At a call centre.

Something else Onyxx does for fun and dollars: Sell Mary Kay cosmetic products almost exclusively to "drag queens, weirdos and such."

Is hedonistic sexuality an important part of the Tribe Omega creed? "I'm more than ecstatic about sex and rock 'n' roll, but if someone isn't interested in sexuality, well, we're not going to force anything on anyone. And when we've done parties, we've actually rated them, letting people know whether to expect mild sexuality or rated-R sexuality or that there might be a lot of whipping going on."

When things really heat up at Neverland: The weekends. "We get people who come here Thursday night and don't leave until Sunday sometimes. We pretty much always have people stopping by. People need a break from the real world during the week too."

Where to get more info on Tribe Omega: www.personalarmageddon.com.

Someone she met recently whom she is absolutely thrilled about: Pauly Shore. "I just went up to him at the Comedy Festival and told him I was interested in doing an independent movie, would he like to be in it, and he just said, ‘Yeah, how can I contact you, send me a script, I'll look it over.' I've always had dreams, but these days I dream big - I'm more audacious."

Would having Pauly Shore in one of her films be a dream? "Oh yeah!"

Is that because she doesn't want anyone to go see it? No.

Something she's way big on: Body modification.

Where she hangs: Saphir, Café Chaos and Lucifer on Thursdays.

Her all-time musical hero: David Bowie.

Last book read: The Art of War, by Sun Tzu.

Words of wisdom: "Live, learn and understand."

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca