With the wave of a checkered flag RuPaul’s Drag Race just burnt rubber from the starting line speeding off into season five. The popular Logo Channel show spotlights fourteen drag contestants competing for $100,000 while being crowned America’s Next Drag Superstar plus prizes along the way. Challenges can be anything from an underwater photo shoot to making a dress out of a trash from a dumpster as the first episode showed. The two in last place then lip synch before a judging panel of celebrities and series regulars (Project Runway’s Santino Rice and singer Michelle Visage along with Ru herself) to find out who will sashay away.
The queens this season run the gamut from last season’s winner Sharon Needles’ boyfriend Alaska to a narcoleptic Jinkx Monsoon to three Puerto Ricans including Monica. Although not technically billed as being from Chicago, Monica Beverly Hillz has been performing in the Windy City for years. We went behind the makeup to talk to our local superstar.
Jerry Nunn: Hey, Monica. I told you at Berlin Nightclub that we would do an official interview at some point so here we go!
Monica Beverly Hillz: Yes!
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One television show on Logo TV has come in first place outrunning the competition in a fierce way. It’s the popular hit RuPaul’s Drag Race now entering into the fifth season this month. There have been two spin-offs with RuPaul’s Drag U and most recently an All-Star version where favorites battled it out for the ultimate crown.
One of the queens, Shannel from the very first season, made it to the top three of the All-Stars teaming with Chad Michaels creating the mash-up of Shad.
Shannel is a makeup artist and showgirl who now performs around the world. Not only was the artist formerly known as Bryan Watkins a drag professor on Drag U but one of the few to be on all three seasons of the show.
We caught up with the showgirl backstage while on the All-Stars Absolute Vodka tour at local haunt Roscoe’s Tavern.
JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hellooo, Shannel. How long have you been in the biz?
Shannel: Eighteen years and I’m only 21 so go fuckin’ figure!
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RuPaul’s Drag Race leaves the starting gate on the Logo Channel for the fifth time last week. The big P from last season has been tearing up the runway and hosting at Spin Nightclub. Nunn on the Run climbed into this queen’s tower to find out why royalty should win this time out.
Hey there, Princess. Where did your drag name come from?
That is a funny story or at least to me it is. When I was 17 I was a prissy little prim and proper gay boy. All of my friends called me Princess. They called me that even before I put on my first wig and heels. About a year or so later when I started dressing in drag and it was time for my first show. It was literally up until they were about to announce me and I needed to have a name. Since I was already called “Princess” I decided to keep that.
A couple of years into performing I noticed at drag shows how the announcers always put Miss in front of the name of the performer. For instance welcome to the stage Miss Phi Phi O’Hara. Miss Princess didn’t have the right ring to it. It sounded silly so I put “The” in front of it. I thought it sounded better so that is how it came about.
How long have you been doing drag?
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RuPaul’s Drag Race speeds down the runway every Monday on the Logo Channel. Sitting on the judge’s panel is the one and only Michelle Visage joining the show on season two replacing Merle Ginsberg.
Originally from a girl group named Seduction, Michelle broke into the club scene with a few hits then continued hosting radio shows.
She joined RuPaul in the early days on his VH1 show The RuPaul Show and now teams with Ru again on the Race.
Find out more about the vivacious Visage in this exclusive interview.
Jerry Nunn: Hi, Michelle. From where are you calling?
Michelle Visage: I live in LA. I just moved here a month ago from South Florida. I did a radio show in West Palm for the past five years. I am from New Jersey. If you watch the show at all it is painfully obvious. I wear New Jersey on my sleeve! (laughs)
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Jujubee is running the race again on RuPaul’s All Star Drag Race on October 22 competing against the crème of the crop from past drag seasons.
This Thai talker talked to Nunn on the Run about the upcoming show on Logo and appearance at Spin Nightclub.
Jerry Nunn: Hi, Juju. What is the story behind your drag name?
Juju: Ten years ago my drag mother gave me the name Jujubee and it’s been that ever since.
JN: I ran into you at a bar in boston one time. Is that your home base?
Juju: Yes, Boston is my home! It such a wonderful place and everyone needs to visit! Check out Estate if you are ever back in Boston!
JN: Where has been your favorite place to travel and perform in?
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Pandora Boxx was a fan favorite on the second season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. He drove down the runway for Drag U for two seasons and now returns with a third. His impersonations of Carol Channing and Kathy Griffin have endeared him to many Logo watchers.
This New York host, comedian, and drag queen heads back to Chicago for a return performance at Spin Nightclub.
Jerry Nunn: Hi, Pandora. The last time I saw you perform was in Boston. I was writing a travel story and you popped up at a bar there.
Pandora Boxx: Was it Club Café?
JN: Yes, it was.
PB: That was fun. Everyone was really drunk!
JN: Including myself, yeah! (both laugh)
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DiDa Ritz is putting on the hits lip-syncing for her life these days for bigger crowds each week. Being cast on RuPaul’s Drag Race for season four is about to change her life even more in 2012. We talked before the big debut as Ritz is about to run the world.
JN: (Jerry Nunn) Hey, DiDa. I wanted to say Happy Birthday to you recently.
DR: (DiDa Ritz) Thank you. The 20th of December is my birthday but I celebrate the entire month!
JN: I went to the party at Hydrate Nightclub for that.
DR: It was so exciting. You only have one birthday out of the entire year so I make sure and celebrate very well.
JN: I have known you for a long time since the About Face Theatre days. How did you get involved with them?
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