Now that “Drag Race” has firmly ensconced itself in American pop culture, Mama Ru (RuPaul Charles to general audiences) has been busy expanding the reality competition series around the world. Over the past decade, there have been 15 international spinoffs of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” with 11 currently airing or about to begin filming new seasons — roughly two for superfans to watch at any given time, year-round. Many of these spinoffs have been massive hits, turning contestants into international stars and producing such stellar programming that it has sometimes outpaced the mothership. That also means there will be more than enough alumni queens to fill the South Hall at the Los Angeles Convention Center for the eighth annual RuPaul’s DragCon LA when it kicks off Friday.
Ahead of the event, we sat down with six of the franchise’s hosts (from Thailand, Canada, Spain, Italy, France and Mexico) to talk about their countries’ drag brands, the politics of “Drag Race” and more.
Brooke Lynn Hytes, host of “Canada's Drag Race.”
(World of Wonders)
Getting the job
Brooke Lynn Hytes (“Canada’s Drag Race”): I couldn't tell you who asked me, or how they asked me, or when. For some reason, it's like everything is a blur. I think I just went blank.
Priscilla (“Drag Race Italia”): I was thinking that I was one of the contestants because they told me: “We want you on 'Drag Race Italia'”. The first day we had a meeting with the production, I met [Season 1 judges] Chiara Francini and Tommaso Zorzi in a huge room. I went there with my backpack, like a student, with all the people who worked on the show. They gave me the script. After an hour, I said to them: “Let me ask you something, what do I have to do on ‘Drag Race Italia’?” And they said: “You’re going to be one of the judges and you’re going to host the show.” I was crying and laughing like crazy. I think that was the happiest moment of my life.
Nicky Doll (“Drag Race France”): I was actually the first Russian girl [former contestant] to do it in another language. So it was a big weight on my shoulders, but I knew I was complaining for so long after [U.S.] Season 12. If I could have done Season 12 in French, I would have swept them all off their feet and won over the audience, blah, blah, blah. Now it was my time to prove what I was saying, that I could do the job in French.
Priscilla, presenter of “Drag Race Italia”.
(World of Wonders)
On making the film 'Drag Race' his own
Supreme Delaware Luxury (“Drag Race Spain”): The production team and I wanted to respect the format but not be a copy of RuPaul. RuPaul is an icon. You can't repeat it. You can't step in his shoes. What I wanted to do was respect the format but take it to a very personal place, a very Spanish place.
Most queens in Spain are not just comedy queens or fashion queens, but there is always a mix of comedy and dance or fashion and comedy. The audience does not come just to see a nice dress or a nice wig. For example, Bianca Del Rio would be very popular in Spain because people would not only come to see her in an extravagant outfit, but she is a comedy queen. She has a concept, she interacts with the audience, she does monologues and she does comedy. And, on top of that, she is beautiful.
Lolita Banana (“Drag Race Mmy“xico”): I had the best teacher, who was Nicky Doll. She was very kind to us. She was very empathetic to us because [had competed on the show]She knows what it's like to be on our heels. And of course, I've inherited a lot of her style too. In France, “Lip sync for your life!” is “Lip sync for your life.” Legendary!” So I actually stole it from him, the famous phrase [I use for] Mexico, “Lip sync” iconicOf course, when I watch RuPaul, you analyze the way she carries herself as a host. She’s very upfront all the time. She’s very minimalist with her moments. The girl knows how to do it and I’m sure she does it in one take every time. She knows what she’s doing. She makes a lot of jokes, but she knows how to use her light and her cameras. So that’s one of the things I try to learn for my job, is to be as graceful as she is.
Pangina Heals (“Thai Drag Race”): I think because Thai queens come from a long line of trans women and cabaret culture, we are known for being very good playback killers. Most of us are, but not all of us. … In Thailand, cabaret culture is mainly developed on stage, mainly by trans women. You see, cabaret culture in France is mainly made up of biological women. And it's something very specific to us and that's something we're very proud of. And I would say that if you compare queens in Thailand, a lot of people would say that we're wild and quite unhinged, because if you see what they do in the show, I'm like, “Oh my God, these bitches are crazy.”
“Drag Race Spain” presents Suprema de Luxe.
(World of Wonders)
On the politics of drag
Nicky doll: Apart from the US, we are the only ones [franchise] who did a live finale and we didn't know what to expect. We were like, “It's a drag show, it's an amazing show, it's got amazing reviews. Why not do a live performance with the audience?” And I mean, I could feel what Ru felt when Sasha Velour did that trick with the rose petals. That's how I was when I watched [runner-up] Sara Forever squeezing her boobs and all that ink coming down. I was like, “Oh my God, is that what Mama Ru felt?” And I mean, it gives me chills telling you because [we filmed at] Le Grand Rex. It's one of the most beautiful and historic theatres in Paris. And it was a queer show with a presenter dressed as a woman and the whole audience watching him. I'm going to try to concentrate, not cry.” [She pauses for a moment to gather herself before continuing.] But I looked out at the audience and I saw so much pride, so much happiness, and so much representation, and my country needed that. It needed it so badly. I left my country because we were missing that. And to be able to come back to this and be a spokesperson for it is an accomplishment I'm very proud of.
Priscilla: Drag is political and the day before the first episode of the first season, Parliament did not allow a law against homophobia to be passed. It was something that destroyed us because we were waiting for this law. That was the right moment to have “Drag Race Italia” on TV because we were talking openly about homophobia, transphobia and the LGBTQ+ community. I always say that “Drag Race Italia” is not just a TV show. It has a very strong impact on society and not just on the LGBTQ+ community, especially on, let’s say, straight people.
Pangina cures: We filmed the Season 1 finale in a huge room. When I looked up from the stage, there were drag queens filling the entire space. And, look, the [term] “Drag queen,” we didn’t have that in the Thai language. The word for it means “dressing up as a girl.” Because of the show itself, people now know what drag queens are. And now I see a salon where people are celebrating this art and it’s crazy. There are thousands of people who are cheering on this thing that used to be considered subversive. But now it’s coming out into the open, and all I see is a salon of love.
Lolita Banana, host of “Drag Race Mexico.”
(Walter Gómez Urrego/World of Wonders)
On his most challenging eliminations
Supreme dand Luxury: The hardest elimination I've ever had to face was the first elimination of the first season with La Macarena. And I knew what was coming. I knew it was my job and that she was ready, but I didn't expect the result. She started crying. She was embarrassed, her voice broke. It's always difficult, but the first one was very, very tense for me.
Lolita Banana: There is one cut, I'm not going to say which one obviously, but I had to ask to see the video again. I was like, “I need to see the videos, I need to see the close-ups, I need to see the details. I can't make a decision like that. I need to see what people are going to see on the screens.” So, we went to the master. [control room] And we watched the lip sync again. And it was a really hard decision to make because I'm not kidding. I know that these girls' future is in the game. I know what it feels like to be there. I really, really try to be as objective as I can.
Brooke Lynn Hytes: I didn’t think it was going to be hard. I was like, “Oh, I’m ready. This is going to be fun. I don’t have to compete.” And it was really hard. I remember crying after the first elimination. You just know what it feels like to be there and put so much effort into it and this is your big break. You don’t really get a lot of big breaks in drag except on this show. And then to see someone’s dreams crushed right from the start… And a lot of these people on that first season were my peers. I had literally grown up in Toronto with them. We had worked on shows together, we were friends.
Whats Next?
Nicky doll: I really think the first tour was when I really realized the impact it had. And that was in Season 1. I carried the Olympic torch and ran with it. Now, I'm the second queen to [achieve that]For one day – It would have been the first if they had organised their schedule better. And here's a scoop for you: I'm going to perform at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games. There's so much to do now.
Brooke Lynn Hytes: I'm still waiting for them to approach us to talk about an all-star season where everyone is a host. I'm sure at some point that will become a reality. I think it would be really, really fun. But there's no international group chat. Sometimes I talk to Pangina. Sometimes I talk to Nicky. [“Drag Race Philippines” judge] I'm very shy sometimes. But yes, I would love to meet you all and it would be fun if we could chat a bit as a group.
