Eight months ago I’m standing on the set of “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” I’m behind the mirrors that allow the show’s camera crew to capture the contestants in the show’s infamous werq room where they compete in mini-challenges and prepare themselves for the main challenges that determine whether a queen moves on in the competition or “sashays away.” The invitation for this set visit didn’t note which episode that was in production as VH1 was still four months away from officially revealing the 14-member cast. To say I was surprised to see just four queens in the room was an understatement.
For almost a year I’ve kept quiet on the four queens in my midst. At the time I immediately recognized Eureka O’Hara, who had been ceremoniously eliminated after tearing an ACL the previous season with an open invitation to return. There was Aquaria, already a New York City club mainstay at the tender age of 21, sitting Indian style on one of the work tables. Legendary pageant queen Asia O’Hara, a former Miss Gay America, was the third contestant in the temporary set. The fourth queen? That slim, but musclebound contestant was a complete mystery. Some quick research later that evening deduced that it was Kameron Michaels from Nashville, TN, a local queen who would be a surprise player to many veteran watchers of the Emmy-winning program. Yes, RuPaul Charles and his “Drag Race” producers know how to pull off a surprise or two, especially in casting.
It turned out the four queens were waiting for sometimes guest judge and choreographer Todrick Hall to meet them on the show’s mainstage set where they would record vocals for a new version of RuPaul’s single “American.” In the meantime, two cameras captured their conversation. It was heard to hear much through the glass, but Eureka gave a dismissive, “You would say that” to Aquaria who cocked her head seemingly surprised by the shade from the infamous “Elephant Queen.” Judging from the first 10 minutes of this episode released online this portion of the day wasn’t included only reiterating how little two days of taping (up to 24 hours over two days for an episode) makes it into the final cut.
Little did I know what had occurred in the nine episodes previously. That an early exit from Tampa’s Vanessa Vanjie Mateo would turn “Miss Vanjie” into a global meme. That Chicago contestant The Vixen would call out Aquaria for a reaction that would make her appear to be the stereotypical “angry black woman.” That Eureka would lip sync for her life twice and Kameron would have just lip synced for her life three episodes in a row to still be in the competition. That Aquaria would win Snatch Game as Melania Trump and fan favorite Miz Cracker would only make it to the top five.
Actually, I did know that. There was a monitor set up showing the feed of each camera recording in the building and I saw a fifth queen recording her exit interview. I immediately recognized it as Cracker.
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It’s May and I’m speaking with none other than RuPaul from my rented apartment at Cannes. How glamorous is that?* The two-time Emmy winner was unavailable to speak during my original set visit so this is a chance to catch up and reflect on the ten seasons of the show.
*Don’t overthink it. Everyone rents apartments in Cannes. Hotels are insanely expensive.
“You know the show is based on really all of the things I’ve done in my career. 36 years I’ve been doing this stuff,” Charles says. “They’ve all been based on, things that, in some form or fashion I’ve had to do. Making up an outfit or trying to emcee or be funny, all that stuff? I love it because of course I imagine myself in those challenges and what I do in that situation. And you know experience is really the best teacher. That’s why some of the queens who’ve been around for a long time have done so well in the competition. And some of the younger ones always surprise me. Recently, you know Aquaria surprised with her Snatch Game [Melania Trump] performance. Nobody saw that coming.”
A number of fan favorites didn’t make it to the top four, the final episode before the live finale, including the aforementioned Miz Cracker, New York City’s Monet X Change, Kansas City’s Monique Heart and Los Angeles’ Mayhem Miller. Charles says he’s always surprised by who make it this far in the competition.
