Our favorite guilty pleasure is back! Season 8 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” is celebrating its 100th episode with a premiere extravaganza on March 7. Past Drag Queen champions, BeBe Zahara Benet, Tyra Sanchez, Raja, Sharon Needles, Jinkx Monsoon, Bianca Del Rio and Violet Chachki, will be joining the new court of cutthroat Queens in their very first challenge of the season.
Competing to snatch the crown and strut away with a $100,00 cash prize as well as the coveted tittle of “America’s Next Drag Superstar” are, Derrick Barry, Bob The Drag Queen, Thorgy Thor, Kim Chi, Chi Chi DeVayne, Dax Exclamationpoint, Laila McQueen, Naomi Smalls, Robbie Turner, Acid Betty and fiery Latinas, Naysha Lopez and Cynthia Lee Fontaine.
Latin Times had the chance to talk to Naysha and Cynthia during the show’s premiere party in New York City last week, and we found out that there is so much more to Drag than what meets the eye.
“Drag to me is an art. So, it’s very subjective. You know, there’s so many different drag aesthetics but there’s no right or wrong,” Naysha told Latin Times as she described her type of Drag. “And, my kind of drag is what makes me feel good, like, the whole feminine part of it and the artistic part. You know, where I get to go up on stage an express myself through femininity, and beauty, and passion.”
Her Puerto Rican sister, Cynthia, who she knew before from the “Miss Continental” Pageant, chooses to label herself as a Comedy Queen. “My other sisters are gorgeous and beautiful, and I believe that my personality combined with my beautiful total overall increases my self-confidence to show something different,” said Lee Fontaine. “And in my case, I’m a very positive person. You know, we need to laugh; we need to smile.”
Even though they couldn’t disclose details about the competition itself, like what character they picked for the “Snatch Game” episode, both Queens agreed that playing to your strengths is probably the best policy, “Whether we want to have a character or not, or stuff like that, I think, like I said, it’s up to what kind of drag aesthetic you have,” Lopez said about her impersonation skills. “Sometimes in drag, it does call for it. I’ve been booked before where they’re like ‘Hey, do you do any character? Can you do something like that?’ So, I’ve done people who are a little bit more my kind of style. Like, I do a lot of Jenifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, stuff that I can kind of get away with because, you know, I’m Latina.”
Lee Fontaine, who kept showing her comedic strength during our interview, revealed she is also a trained opera singer, “I have Opera coaching and Pop too. I love Opera! But I sing Jenni Rivera too!” – Which she actually did for us and it was A-mazing! We are hoping she gets to show that side of her throughout the competition.
Finally, we asked both to share a piece of advice for those who are currently struggling with acceptance and this is what they said:
Naysha: “You know, for me, I was lucky enough to have a supportive family but what I would say to someone who is struggling with acceptance is to look around you and see who does accept you, and look at them first for comfort and know that everything will get better and sometimes even if it’s not within your own family, sometimes you have to choose your family and it can really help you, and encourage you to be who you wanna be. And, just know that it does get better.”
Cynthia: “In my case, to be very honest…Like, the show broke that stereotype with my family. They finally respect what I do. However, they don’t support what I do. They respect how I utilize my character on my community service and outreach for others. And on the show they expect me to be a role model for all, Hispanics, gay men, everyone in the LGBT community. And as a member of this community, just do what you like to do the most. Be yourself. Don’t be afraid to be yourself. I made that mistake back in the day and it brought me a lot of, you know, tribulations. Even with my relationship with my mom, because I was hiding who I really was. So, I just want to show everybody my testimony and move on. Now we can get married! YES! And actually, like, we have a lot of great and amazing opportunities in the land of the free and especially in our community that it’s out and outspoken, and free, and happy. So, let’s do that. And I want to see myself in a position where I can encourage others like, ‘hey, I made this mistake. Continue. You have the opportunity to open up, let’s do it and be free, and be happy.’”
Click on the videos below to hear Naysha and Cynthia’s special messages for our readers and don’t forget to tune in on Logo on Monday, March 7 at 9PM. And remember, “If you can’t love yourself, how in the hell are you going to love somebody else?”
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