7 January 2022, 12:08 | Up to date: 7 January 2022, 12:11
We sat down with Michelle Visage to speak all issues Drag Race season 14, why “all drag issues”, and the inaugural season of Drag Race UK vs. The World.
Truthfully, what was the world like earlier than RuPaul’s Drag Race? The present has blessed us with numerous seasons, quite a few spin-offs and introduced the artwork of drag to the mainstream.
Drag Race returns for its fourteenth season on Friday (or Saturday 8 January on WOW Presents Plus should you’re watching from the UK) and it is set to be a wild experience. This season consists of the first cisgender heterosexual male contestant, Maddy Morphosis, in Drag Race herstory, in addition to two transgender contestants: Kerri Colby and Kornbread “The Snack” Jeté.
So, it is solely proper that we caught up with our favorite Drag Race choose Michelle Visage to debate all issues season 14 together with all the enduring visitor judges, controversial castings, and the upcoming debut season of Drag Race UK vs. The World, which is able to see queens from numerous franchises worldwide compete in opposition to one another for the primary time.
READ MORE: RuPaul’s Drag Race’s first cishet queen responds to backlash over her casting
Image:
BBC, World of Surprise
PopBuzz: Drag Race season 14 goes to start out right now. What had been your first impressions concerning the queens on season 14? And did anybody stand out instantly?
Michelle: There’s all the time a couple of that stand out initially. And also you suppose who they’re, after which twists and turns occur and it is all the time like, oh, okay there’s sort of a chink within the armour and you’ll sort of see issues. They begin out robust and might’t reside as much as it. That is why I all the time say to a few of them: “That is a excessive bar you set for your self.” And also you need to reside as much as it. A number of the time they do and generally they do not. So there’s all the time some standouts, however I like seeing the twists and turns. And I like seeing the underdogs pull up on the finish. That is like my favorite factor when it begins sort of tightening and the belt begins tightening, tightening, and so they sort of step on the fuel on the proper time. And that is simply so so sensible. So it is an unbelievable group, each collection, they only get stronger and stronger, as a result of my concept is that they’ve principally grown up watching RuPaul’s Drag Race that is all they’ve ever needed out of life. And so they seize the second.
PopBuzz: The present’s been happening for a very long time, it is modified quite a bit, and other people have been saying that the lineup is getting extra inclusive. We now have two trans opponents this yr – what are your ideas on that? And why is it necessary to have extra trans queens on the present?
Michelle: What’s necessary is to have all queens. I really feel prefer it’s all the time, , been a factor the place in case your audition is sweet, then you definitely’ll get on the present, all people is welcome, which is I believe, , that is what it is sort of all about.
So that you requested me why it is necessary. It is necessary as a result of all drag is legitimate. All drag issues. So should you’re adequate, then you definitely’ll get on. I do not suppose it issues [if] you are heteronormative, cisgender, trans – regardless of the factor is – are you a great drag queen? In case you are then good luck, could the very best drag queen win.
READ MORE: Drag Race UK’s Anubis voted Miss Congeniality by the season 3 queens
Image:
World of Surprise
PopBuzz: And that leads into Maddy Morphosis. There’s been plenty of discuss her being included as a cishet man. What would you say to folks that say that Maddy should not be included on the present?
Michelle: However that goes in opposition to the whole lot we’re speaking about? We’re speaking about being absolutely inclusive. And on the finish of the day, are they a great drag queen? And that is actually what it is about, .
For me after I after I first entered the LGBTQIA+ neighborhood and within the Harlem ballroom scene, no one seemed like me. I used to be in a home with individuals of color and so they welcomed me in. I had blond hair. I’ve white pores and skin. I’ve inexperienced eyes. They by no means mentioned, ‘You are not certainly one of us. You may’t sit with us’. It is about inclusivity, it is 2022. Everyone has to have the ability to sit with us. Inclusivity means all people, you may’t simply say, ‘Oh, effectively now we embody this however not this’, proper? Everyone needs to be welcome and we have now to rejoice drag. The top.
PopBuzz: So, let’s speak visitor judges for season 14. There’s some iconic celebs and returning favourites like Lizzo and TS Madison…
Michelle: Nicely, I like me some Madison TS Madison. That is my sister proper there. Oh God, how may you not love her? She is probably the most and the most important coronary heart the most important boobs and… the most important coronary heart.
Lizzo’s simply Lizzo. I imply, the very best factor about having Lizzo again is once we had her the primary time, Ru had all the time been a large Lizzo fan. I obtained to know Lizzo by Ru. However actually the world was not on the Lizzo ship but. So that they had been like, ‘Who’s Lizzo?’ And I am not being impolite. I imply, we knew who Lizzo was, however the world wasn’t prepared. Now she’s again, a celebrity Lizzo, and it is fantastic.
She’s all the time been an awesome visitor choose. However the benefit of visitor judges on Drag Race is that each single one is a large superfan. They are not identical to, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve seen the present’. Everyone that comes on is a large fan of the present. So it is so rewarding for them to sit down down and go, ‘Okay, , I’ve received an Oscar. I’ve received an Olivier – no matter – however that is the very best second of my life’. That is so fantastic to listen to.
PopBuzz: Do you get to speak to them a lot in between taking pictures?
Michelle: It was a lot simpler with out COVID restrictions and the perspex in between us. It was quite a bit simpler. However belief me, my favorite factor to do is speak to those celebrities as a result of it’s a lengthy day of filming. So we like to interrupt it up and we prefer to snicker, and some of them I’ve gotten on [the show] as a result of they had been my mates. And after I say gotten on, after I requested them, they had been like, ‘Are you kidding? I used to be ready for you [to ask]…took you lengthy sufficient to ask!’ So for me, in fact, I speak to them. I completely must, , crack jokes and have enjoyable and eat lunch and break bread and do no matter we are able to do with all with plastic between us.
READ MORE: RuPaul’s Drag Race season 14 will not air on Netflix in the UK
PopBuzz: And Loni Love can also be again as a visitor choose, and a few followers have mentioned they wish to see her as a everlasting choose. Would you help that?
Michelle: Loni?! Yeah. Nicely, we love Loni. Hear, Loni is welcome. Anytime. And I do not know. I do not do the hiring on the present. However I like Loni. Loni can love anytime she needs up on me.
PopBuzz: And my ultimate query, may you inform us if Drag Race UK vs. The World goes to exchange All Stars? And the way does it differ from All Stars?
Michelle: Oh, it’s very totally different. I can not say a lot. However I can let you know that it’s so good. It’s so good. It is a format that could be very totally different to common Drag Race, and even All Stars. I can not wait to movie different ones. That is how good it’s. It is so thrilling to have the ability to choose queens from around the globe. However…it is so onerous. It is actually onerous with these queens as a result of they’re actually good. It is…you are gonna freak out.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Sequence 14 premiere’s solely within the UK through the streamer of all issues drag, WOW Presents Plus from 4AM GMT on Saturday eighth January 2022. Subscribe now through https://uk.wowpresentsplus.com/
