As part of our Decade of Drag Race week, we caught up with one queen from each season of the Emmy-award-winning series to reminisce about the show’s journey, share some never-been-told memories and throw shade where shade is due.
Below, we spill the tea with the runway slayer Detox from season 5. Read all the interviews here.
Is there something that happened behind-the-scenes or off-camera that you’re surprised didn’t make the television edit?
I don’t remember anything major happening that didn’t get enough airtime. If anything, the whole Alyssa [Edwards] and Coco [Montrese] thing got too much airtime. [laughs]
Since your season aired, what have you gotten tired of fans bringing up?
I guess the whole alleged bullying of Jinkx Monsoon is always tiring to hear about because I don’t think it, for any of us, it went down how it looks when you watch it back. I left the competition with a great relationship with Jinkx. Especially when new people watch the show. Leslie Jones has been catching up on the seasons recently and she was watching season 5 not too long ago and it was just funny to read all her commentary on what went down and rehashing it. It was awkward watching it the first time and now even more so five years later after we’ve all gotten closer. Bringing it back up again, it’s like, “Okay, we get it.”
Which one queen have you grown the closest to since your season?
I’ve always been super close with Roxxxy, but I feel like that’s kind of a cop-out answer. Jinkx and I are super close even though we don’t see each other that much. It’s always like a little reunion when we get together. “Rolaskatox” is still super close. After working so much with Ivy Winters, especially after the show, I have such a love for her because she’s just so infectious.
What’s one of the most overrated runway looks from your season?
There was one of Jinkx’s looks that they were just in love with. I think it was like the Hollywood glamour boa thing. I don’t remember what episode it was. They were always coming down on Jinkx so hard for her looks and then there was one week where she looked good, but it wasn’t as amazing as they made it seem. It was just a departure from where she had been. With the critiques and the praises, I was like, “Calm down, guys.” They finally got something and they were like, “This is life-changing!”
What’s the worst decision someone made during your season?
I think Roxxxy kind of shot herself in the foot a lot with the way she treated Jinkx, but I also can’t knock her for it because the competition is such a different thing and she comes from that kind of pageant background where people react like that when they’re in competition mode and they’re threatened. Of course, when you watch it back, it looks like a bunch of hyenas after Jinkx, but I do think there were sometimes where [Roxxxy] could have cooled it a bit.
Season 1: Ongina | Season 2: Tatianna | Season 3: Stacy Layne Matthews
Season 4: Jiggly Caliente | Season 5: Detox | Season 6: Laganja Estranja
Season 7: Ginger Minj | Season 8: Bob the Drag Queen
Season 9: Nina Bo’Nina Brown | Season 10: Aquaria?
All Stars 1: Mimi Imfurst | All Stars 2: Roxxxy Andrews | All Stars 3: Aja