We have loved RuPaul’s Drag Race since it first hit the air! We have had the privilege of interviewing contestants such as Ongina and Drag Race Season 2 winner Tyra Sanchez! And each season just gets better and better. This season the prize package is even dreamier with a $75,000 cash prize, lifetime supply of Kryolan makeup and the headlining role in the LOGO/Absolut sponsored Drag Race Tour. So in preparing to dig our heels deep into another season, we thought it would be fun to contact our friends over at LOGO TV and ask the girls from this season a few questions! We also asked Jason, the gorgeous Pit Crew boy a few questions too! Now that the season is well under way and we all know these queens a little bit better, let’s find out exactly what they think is HOT!!!
OUR QUESTIONS
1. Paris Hilton coin the phrase “that’s hot” and Christian Soriano coin the phrase “that’s fierce,” when you get famous, what would your phrase be and what would it mean?
2. If you were up to lip-sync for your life, what is something you would do that no other contestant has done before?
3. What is your #1 beauty tip that you would give to a real women to improve their look?
SHANGELA
1. 2011 is the Year of the ‘Loo – Halleloo, that is! I’ve been saying this for years and it makes me super happy to see how it’s been embraced by everyone from fans of the show from Johnny Weir to even Kimora Lee Simmons! HALLELOO is an accent word that gives that extra “oomph” to a moment similar to “werq” and “okay.” It just makes me feel good to say it. “The Los Angeles Times” included it in its Top 10 Most Memorable Words from Reality TV … smack dab between “Prostitution Whore” and “GTL”!
2. I’ve been on the lip sync chopping block in the first episode of seasons 2 and 3, so some may think they’ve seen every trick that Shangela has to give, but when the stage lights dim and there’s no one but you, Ru and the judges, some of the most creative moments on stage can happen completely unplanned. So if I’m ever in the bottom two again, get ready for an unforgettable experience, baby because in that moment, you really do feel like it’s live or die.
3. I love real women. They tell me that I came out of one (shout out, Mama Deb). I think women are beautiful, naturally. So, if you can believe this coming from a drag queen, my message is less is more. My mom is a military veteran. She never wore much makeup, if any at all, and I think she’s one of the most beautiful people in the whole world. Beauty comes from inside and is measured by how much you love yourself, and how much you share that love with others.
CARMEN CARRERA
1. I am definitely a product of my surroundings and my way of speaking and some of the things I say have often been influenced by the club circuit that I belong to. One of the phrases that really stuck was “Pay It”. It’s basically an abbreviation of “Pay it no mind”. For example, “I have a hangover from going out last night and I start work in 30 min. Oh pay it, I’m gonna call out.” You can also use it like this: “She walked right passed me and didn’t even say hi, she paid it.”
2. If I had to lip sync, I’d probably get on top of the judges table and crawl on similar to how JLo did in the “I’m Glad” video which had a “Flashdance” theme. So hot!
3. For most women, I think, it’s extremely important to really learn how to do the best eye make up for their eye shape. I’ve worked in retail cosmetics and a lot of women don’t know how to bring out their eyes. That or they only know one technique, which a lot of the times, isn’t even the right one for them. Take the time to learn about your eye shape and which technique will give you that mesmerizing gaze. You’d be surprised at how you can captivate someone by just looking into their eyes! Very powerful.
STACY LAYNE MATTHEWS
1. My phrase would be “BE A LADY” because no matter what situation we are thrown in or what struggle we are faced with, we must always remember to have class and appreciate who we are as entertainers as well as human beings.
2. I would grab a micro phone as sing the song myself. Show them what true talent is.
3. I would have to say to them to make sure that their face is BLENDED and everything is the right color for the skin tone. BLEND BLEND BLEND!
RAJA
1. God, there are so many! I’m not really into any one specifically. I
could have an entire glossary of “isms”! guess you’re just going to
have to keep watching to find a favorite rajaism!
2. If I had to lip synch for my life I’d probably be the first queen to distract the other queen by using my bionic legs and do a full helicopter move above her head and land in the splits! yup! That’s what I would do for sure!
3. I think women can always use a pair of false lashes! Anything that frames the eyes can have an alluring effect including sexy birkhas.
YARA SOFIA
1. “ECHA’ PA’ LANTE” WHICH MEANS KEEP ON MOVING AND DON’T LOOK BACK!
2. NO SHADE, BUT I HATE LIP-SYNC FOR YOUR LIFE MOMENTS. IT’S LIKE BEGGING.
3. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND THE MOST IMPORTANT – BE UNIQUE. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT!
DELTA WORK
1. MODED! The perfect response to a situation, person, place or thing that is completely the opposite of what you planned or expected especially when everyone, but you notices first.
2. WHETHER IN COMPETITION OR FOR A LIVE AUDIENCE, EVERY LIP SYNC IS A “LIP SYNC FOR YOUR LIFE.” I ALWAYS STRIVE TO KNOW THE LYRICS, THE BREATHS AND THE NUANCE: THE GOAL IS TO TREAT IT LIKE AN ART FORM.
3. SKINCARE IS THE BASIS OF ANY BEAUTY REGIMEN. FOR REAL WOMEN, DAILY COSMETIC USE SHOULD BE USED TO SHOWCASE THE FEATURES NOT OUTSHINE THEM.
INDIA FERRAH
1. “Stinky Dinky Poo.” It would mean what you are wearing (hair,outfit,perfume,makeup,etc) is not cute at all and honestly, it’s really stinky dinky poo!!!! Why’s everything got to be hot or fierce? Why can’t we say it stinks like dinky poo!
2. I would TURN THE PARTY and perform my heart out! I would never attack another queen. That is TACKY and unprofessional! I am confident in myself and don’t need to try and destroy the other girl’s chance of staying by attacking them!
3. I would say start out with an amazing base foundation. It’s just like a house. You have to have a good base to build on and if you get a really good base foundation, it can change your look completely!
MANILA LUZON
1. What do you mean when I get famous? I am already famous! I’m a contestant on the international hit reality television show, “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” I’m at Gaga fame status. Ha! My phrase would be “Gag!,” but you got to first give a fierce snap before you say it! Try it! {snap} GAG! Didn’t that feel good?
2. I’m going to have to one-up Mimi Imfurst’s picking up India. So in my lip-sync for my life, I’m going to cook a seven-course meal on stage for the judges while lip-syncing to the song “Eat It” by Weird Al Yankovic!
3. Asian genes! Don’t got none? Well, give your children a chance and reproduce with a hot Asian dude!
ALEXIS MATEO
1. It would be “the jig is up.” I always use this when I discover something or when something is revealed to me. It is so much fun to say it and I got all my friends saying it too!
2. If I lip-sync for my life, I will actually Lip-sync. I will not do a crazy stuff like a circus person or fight or try to get the attention from a judge. I will actually lip-sync.
3. Take care of your SMILE. A beautiful smile belongs with a beautiful person. You can tell a lot form a person just looking at the smile.
MARIAH
1. “GET YOUR LIFE!” Means go for it, bitch!
2. I would get the judges to form a chorus line with me!
3 SMILE!
OUR PIT CREW QUESTIONS:
1. How did they get picked for the pit crew?
2. What are the 2 things that set apart a drag superstar from any other drag queen?
JASON
1. My “Pit Crew” story is quite a lengthy one, but I was teaching a hip hop dance class in Hollywood and one of the students in the class was a friend of a talent producer on the show. She found me on Facebook and asked if I would be interested in auditioning for the show. I was a little puzzled when I got the call because I was familiar with the show, but I had never seen or heard of the Pit Crew before, but nonetheless, I was thrilled that she took the time to seek me out so I agreed. She put me in contact with the talent producer and I went in for the audition. The funny thing is that we had to reschedule the audition several times due to other obligations and on the last day I finally made it in. I had no idea what to expect. The audition consisted of me dancing full out in my skivvies for the camera which I had no problem doing. It was just so different from any other audition I had ever gone on. Weeks passed and I totally forgot I had even auditioned then BAM! I get a random call from the producers saying I was booked! True Story. The rest is history.
2. The difference between someone who is a drag queen and someone who is a drag superstar is an obvious one. Anyone can learn the tricks of the trade and acquire the tools to become a drag queen. But what I’ve learned from watching these talented ladies is that it takes passion , heart, sheer genius, talent and HUGE roll of duct tape to be a Drag Superstar! But seriously, a drag superstar is flawless in her reality. From the way she carries herself, to the presence she commands on stage a drag superstar is anything but average. The beauty they emanate and the jaw dropping star power they ooze effortlessly cannot be taught or learned. They just have “IT” . For a drag superstar it’s not about just playing “dress up ” it’s about living the persona and committing 200% . That’s the true difference.
Well…there you have it! Next up is our interview with world renown photographer and often special guest judge on Rupaul’s Drag Race, Mike Ruiz!
Til then, Eyes Open…We’re Watching!