Getting To Know The Queens Of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 8 (Part Three)

The queens competing on season eight of RuPaul’s Drag Race are amazingly talented and they are full of personality. So start your engines because the new season is upon us! Tune in on Monday, March 7 at 9/8c on Logo for the premiere episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 8.

In this final part of our three part series, get to know the remaining four queens from our red carpet interviews. And then go back and check out part one and part two if you haven’t read them yet.

Related: Latrice Royale & Mimi Imfurst Believe There’s More To Drag Than ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’

 

1. Naomi Smalls

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It was so much fun, so much stress, but I would do it all over again. A lot of waking up at 4 AM to shave my entire body, getting in at around 8 o’clock, and then we don’t get home until 12 to 2 am. It’s a lot of fucking hours, but it was all worth it.

How do you think you’ll be characterized on the show?

Well, first, I’m not going to blame the editing – whatever I said, I said. I know that when you ask for my opinion, I give it to you immediately, so I’m sure they have a lot of fun with that. But, I’m not scared. I had so much fun, and hopefully that shows on TV.

Did you bond with any of the other queens?

Oh yeah, Kim Chi is my best friend – we just clicked right off the bat. She’s fucking amazing. She’s pushed me to do things with my drag that I never would have wanted to, and I’m so thankful for it. That’s probably been the best part of RuPaul’s Drag Race so far.

How would you describe your style of drag?

I try to have everything be 90s or 70s -inspired. I’m the high-fashion hood rat: Naomi Campbell and Biggie Smalls.

Where’s somewhere you’d love to perform?

I’d love to go to London – the drag scene there is edgy but not ugly. A lot of the places that are “edgy” are just lazy, but in London they put effort into their drag.

What’re you going to do with the $100,000?

Ooo, I’m going to get as many lip injections as I can so I never have to overdraw my lips again. I want them to like, touch my bottom lashes. I want you to not even be able to see me behind them.

What’re some of your upcoming projects?

I do have a lot of upcoming projects, but none that I can talk about as of now. I just hope to inspire young kids to do drag, and be authentic, and audition for RuPaul’s Drag Race, because it’s so much fun!

 

2. Robbie Turner

It is the beginning of the Drag Race journey – how are you feeling?

I feel great – just perfect! I’m tired of lying about it. It’s finally here and we can all just be friends now instead of being at each other’s throats.

At each other’s throats – do you have beef with some of these queens?

No, not really, but you know – in the middle of a competition it’s sink or swim, and I don’t sink. If I were Kate Winslet in Titanic, I’d be like “Get off! I’ll never let go… but get off.”

What are you wearing tonight?

This was made by Michael Cepress from Seattle, and it’s inspired by Barbra Streisand in the film On A Clear Day You Can See Forever. Her’s is white – I wanted gold!

When you win, what are you going to do with the $100,000?

Well, I already promised my best friend a steak dinner. And then I also have to make good on a steak dinner with Jinkx [Monsoon], ‘cause she took me out for a steak dinner when she won.

Funny story: Jinkx, when she first got all of the money deposited into her bank account, I was standing with her at the ATM and she was like “let’s go see how much money I have,” cause she had nothing. She went in and was like “I’ll be able to take out a twenty for lunch.” She pulled up her balance, and it was like “ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.” She was screaming and we were jumping in the little ATM alcove, and all these people were looking at us like we were nuts. And then we went out and ordered way too much food, and it was hilarious.

Did Jinkx give you any advice?

Yes! Jinkx, and Ben[delacreme] both told me “Do not look at social media during this time,” and I haven’t. And I feel great! Some of the other girls have, and of course there’s haters, and I’m like “Move along! I don’t have the time!” Who wants to live that life?

The exposure from Drag Race is going to give you so many opportunities – where’s somewhere you’d like to tour?

I really want to go to Europe. I really love history – I’d actually like to have time in places and have a day to be that tacky tourist and learn something about wherever I am.

You’re about to have a huge fan base – are you the kind of queen that has a name for her fans?

I always call them “Trashbags,” but I don’t know if that’s what’s going to carry on or not. I gave that line about being the “juiciest, ripest peach” in my interview, so suddenly people have been calling themselves “Peaches.” So, peaches or trash – I’m into it.

 

3. Derrick Barry

You’re starting your drag race experience – how does it feel?

Oh, I’m so excited to be here! I’ve been a fan of the show for so long, and so to be one of the girls now, it’s unbelievable.

Tell us about your look!

I wanted to be an avant-garde showgirl – I love the crystals, I love the glitz and the glam of Vegas, old Hollywood, new Hollywood. The costume was designed by Perry Meek, who worked with Gaga for years. The hair is by Kenneth Blake, who I work with at Divas.

You’re coming into this with such an established drag career and fan base – do you feel a lot of pressure?

Yeah, I feel a lot of pressure. It would be a lot easier for me to go in and do a whole show that was competing with other Britney [Spears] impersonators. But these girls do real, high drag, and it’s very different from what I do, so I had to challenge myself. I’m really excited to see the show and the progress I’ve made with my career, and what’s next for me.

Speaking of what’s next, do you have any new projects or tours coming up?

I’ve got my first single coming out with Chris Cox. I’ve always been a big fan of his, and I’m excited that we got in the studio together. And I’ve been touring since America’s Got Talent, so I’m going to continue traveling, doing my own stuff as well as Britney. I’m living my dream.

Where’s somewhere you haven’t toured that you’d like to go?

Well, I haven’t been to Australia, and I’m actually going in March. I haven’t been to Brazil yet, but we’re setting up those dates. I’m going to tour Great Britain, and I’m so excited about that because I haven’t done London before. I’m just pinching myself – I can’t believe I get to go to some of these places.

What’s your makeup essential?

I have to, have to, have to have a smokey eye. I’ve been wearing bottom lashes lately, and I’m loving it. I was never a fan of them, and on the show I realized it’s actually really fun to wear them. Eyes, I love eyes.

When you win, what are you going to do with the $100,000?

Oh lord! I’ve always wanted to take a show on the road, with dancers, costumes, sets, props. That would be the ultimate dream – to go on my own tour – so I’m hoping to set something like that up.

Otherwise, I’m really going to focus on film & television. I have a movie coming out this year, a TV show, and this reality show. The things that I dreamt about as a kid are happening, so I guess with the money I’ll just continue living and dreaming bigger.

Can you tell us about your upcoming movie and TV show?

The movie’s called War on Everyone with Alexander Skarsgard. I can’t believe I got to work with him – I’m a huge fan. We got to shoot in Iceland, and it comes out this year. The TV show is Graves. It’s going to be on Epix, and I star opposite Nick Nolte. Just little things – I’m starting little to go big.

Are you going to be in drag for either of those projects?

Both of them. I’ve got my featured roles, my cameos – I’m waiting for my starring role!

 

4. Acid Betty

Tell us about this outfit – did you come here with your caulk out?

Yes! I wanted it to look like I’d just come all over myself.

What’s your drag makeup essential?

Full coverage, hide-the-man foundation.

Where’s somewhere you’d like to tour?

Africa, Brazil, Europe, Japan, the North Pole. Imagine drag in the North Pole!

What would you do with the $100,000?

Pay off student loans, because I still have them. And then buy Kim Chi a burrito.

What’re some upcoming projects?

I’m releasing a single coming up. A while back I performed as the Ringleader of the Rock & Roll Circus at Lincoln Center – I’d love to do something like that again. That’s the dream.