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The queens of Drag Race season 12 answer our burning questions ahead of the finale - The A.V. Club
May 29, 2020 8 mins, 9 secs
For many reasons, this has been an unprecedented season of RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Of course, drag queens are quite resourceful and, as last week’s charming sleepover-themed reunion proved, so is RuPaul’s Drag Race.

Queens across the world have turned to social media and streaming platforms to show off their jaw-dropping talent and creativity like never before, and Drag Race has responded in kind.

In the video above, the queens answer some of our most burning questions, like, “What was really going through Jackie Cox’s head during Jeff Goldblum’s runway critique?” and, “How did they ever convince Dahlia Sin to stick around in that broccoli costume?’ Below, we reflect on the wild season with the entire cast, and find out how watching along from home has changed the way the queens see themselves, Drag Race, and the drag art form in general.

But it would also mean so much because I think that I’ve been able to prove the audience and the judges wrong on so many different fronts, and I think the fact that I’ve been able to do that several times throughout the season is just very telling of what I’m able to do as a drag queen.

And with that being said, I think I really encompass every aspect of every single winner that has come through the circuit, but at the same time, I am nothing like any of them.

Crystal Methyd: You know, I feel like there’s always like a kooky queen that does drag a little bit differently on the show, but I feel like there truly hasn’t been anyone that takes the same approach to doing drag the way that I do.

And I think that it would really be a push to encourage more crazy things to happen on the show.

Jaida Essence Hall: I think that a win for me would be a win for so many people, and—not trying to be political—but I see so many people who inbox me or they message me and then they just say that they go through so many similar things that I’ve been through in my life.

I think that for me, coming from a horrible ghetto area, not finishing high school, so many things in my life that told me I would not be successful, that told me… “you will be working a regular job, you will never be able to make dreams happen for you to come true.” And I’ve done it and I just want to let people know no matter who you are, no matter where you’re from, no matter what circumstances you have in life, you can be successful and you can be your own success, but you don’t have to be a textbook version of what that is.

Crystal: You know, I feel like in the beginning of the competition, I was really intimidated by all the other girls, especially when you look at their racks of clothes and all the amazing garments that they brought.

And I definitely got in my head and I think that was something where once I finally just relaxed and just started enjoying it again, that’s when things started going good.

And I’m going to be in the top from now on,” and that’s what happened.

As soon as I felt that challenge win that I really honestly did not think I had, I was like, “Okay, I’ve had a taste.

How did watching from home change the way your perception of your time on Drag Race.

Which isn’t ideal necessarily, because you don’t go on Drag Race to continue doing the same damn thing.

Widow Von’Du: For me, I definitely feel like my body is not as limber as it used to be, since I ain’t been bending, and stretching and moving, just sitting on the couch, watching TV.

But you know, watching the season back and seeing my powerful messages, then getting all the response back from fans who were like, “You helped me realize, this, this, and this and that.” It’s been amazing?

Why are you still in this competition?” So you miss that real world mentality of the other 80% of people who are like, “Oh, it’s a great show.” I think you’re missing a little bit of the nuance.

And especially the international folks, like people in countries where we may not go for maybe a long time, if ever are able to watch either us on social media live or on other platforms doing shows live, which they’re able to connect with us right away as they see us on TV.

Jaida: I feel like we have such a personal touch with the people who support us and I think that is because of what’s going on in the world right now.

I’m all about it because I’ve always been the type of queen where I’ve liked to make personal connections with people, so I’m glad that I get to actually do that.

Like, I remember looking back on the first episode or two, and I just see how insecure and how nervous I was going into it and how much I’ve grown and changed since then has, is incredible.

I didn’t realize how severe everything was going to be, and that it would be like this.

When you’re on Drag Race, we have the hopes that hopefully we’ll tour around, we’ll be able to make coin to pay back our debts.

I spent more on Drag Race than I did it on seven years of college.

I’m also realizing that you don’t need all the glitz and the glam in order to be a drag queen.

Sometimes, when you’re out at a club doing an event, a lot of the girls go home in these big public settings, and there’s so many people there to rally around you and really just make you feel good.

I feel like everybody says that they wish they would have had the opportunity, if they did go home, to get eliminated in a bar or something.

But, for me it was the most—not embarrassing—but kind of awkward moment because you’re just sitting there and you’re like, “I already know I’m going home.” And then everybody’s in here, rooting for you.

Because, when you’re at that bar, everybody’s rooting for you, obviously, because you’re there and you may be their favorite queen or not, but it’s just kind of awkward when you’re just sitting there like, “Whoa, I wonder if I’m going home.”.

But at the end of the day, it was still kind of good because I also had people there that were like, “Oh girl, you still did good,” and had my back.

Nicky Doll: I think that, as much as it was very frustrating to not be able to tour around the world or to just have our names screamed at the club when you get kicked out, instead of crying yourself to bed alone at home, on the brighter side, I think that we have so much time to really connect with the fan base, so much time to share meaningful and important message, that I think that the fans are really connecting with us on a whole other level.

Crystal: You know, I felt like getting ready for the show, I was packing my bags up to the last second to try and get to the airport on time.

I know that I’m that bitch and I have everything that it takes to win this competition, but I just wanted their validation so much that I feel like it got in my way of knowing what my worth is.

So I think if I ever go back to an all-star season or if I ever get the chance to come back, I would just go in there and be like, “I know I’m good enough.

I know I’m a strong competitor.” Let me just believe that 10% more for myself and 10% less for the judges panel.

My mom has always, always told me growing up that kindness is the very first thing, and there were some times where I think I might’ve lost that, but I definitely think I wish I would have brought a little bit more of myself out of drag to that.

Nicky: I think I should have probably listened to a self confidence audio book or something like that to really believe that I’m that bitch.

Because I watch it now on TV and I’m like, “You could have gone so much further if you would have been your number one fan.” So I think that this is something that I’m working on and, without being too cocky, you don’t want to go too overboard.

I’m like, she’s a witch, like everything she said, I wanted to just absorb all of it and remember it forever.

And just know that positivity is a cyclical thing, and that if you’re giving positive energy out, you’re going to get it back when you need it most.

I think that the less you’re going to cry about what you could have had or what spotlight you deserve to have after going through such an intense experience

As soon as you jump back on your feet and just to go forward with new ways of entertaining, this is how you’re going to overcome this crisis

I’m really proud of us

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