Varla Jean Merman is a character originated and portrayed by Jeffery Roberson, an American actor, singer and drag performer. Varla's fictitious pedigree boasts that Ernest Borgnine is her father and Ethel Merman is her mother.

Varla is perhaps best known for her role in the 2003 independent film Girls Will Be Girls. She also had a co-starring role in the 1997 film Franchesca Page. Varla was also one of the performers featured in the HBO original documentary Dragtime. She has appeared in a number of short films and live cabaret acts since she and her male alter-ego attended the School of Music at Louisiana State University.

Varla's shows are a staple of summer entertainment in Provincetown, Massachusetts. She also performs fairly often in New Orleans, New York City, San Francisco, London and has also enjoyed billing at the Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia.

The gay-themed television network Logo commissioned Varla to write and star in an animated educational short about the Stonewall riots of 1969.

Roberson has almost always been credited as either "Varla Merman" or "Varla Jean Merman" rather than his birth name.

http://www.varlaonline.com