It’s been nearly 26 years since the famous drag queen RuPaul achieved pop culture success with his debut album, "Supermodel of the World." Since then he’s hosted his own talk show, appeared in movies and was just recently photographed in Vogue magazine by none other than Annie Leibovitz.
With the success of his competition reality show, "RuPaul’s Drag Race," drag queens have been celebrated in mainstream pop culture.
Fans gathered this weekend for RuPaul’s DragCon, the fifth annual convention in Los Angeles where you can meet many of your favorite queens and celebrities.
“Five years in, RuPaul’s DragCon has become the most inclusive party on earth - a safe place to laugh, dance and celebrate every color of the rainbow,” RuPaul said at the event.
The convention included over 70 panels and performances with attendees from 44 countries. Highlights included RuPaul entertaining the crowd with his very own DJ set for the first time at the convention. "Drag Race" superfan and former star of ABC’s "The Bachelorette" Becca Kufrin moderated a panel with other drag queens where they dished about dating. "Drag Race" judge and original "Queer Eye’" star Carson Kressley was made over into a drag queen.
If you use a Sharpie, your eyebrows won't come off and you won’t keep reapplying all night.
"Drag Race" favorites from this season and seasons past spoke to "Good Morning America" about their favorite makeup tips and what being on the show has meant to them.
(MORE: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' winner Bianca Del Rio: 'Nothing is that serious')
What has being on RuPaul’s Drag Race meant to you?
This is overwhelming because I’ve worked on this goal to stand in this booth, to meet these incredible people for over a decade and to talk about the things that matter to me and matter to a large portion of our queer community and to represent us on a level that’s missing and needed and forgotten about. I’m proud to represent old school drag and celebrate camp and celebrate performance but more so celebrate my community who’ve lifted me up for 18 years that I’ve done this.
Tell me about your evolution of drag. Have you always been camp?
You know when first started doing drag I thought I had to be feminine and be a woman. I thought that’s what drag meant. And then I got my quick drag education and I was like, 'Oh, you can be funny.' I was introduced to a queen in Columbus named Mary Ann Brandt and Varla Jean Merman and Hedda Lettuce and Lady Bunny and I was like, 'Oh right, I can make people laugh and that’s just as valuable.'
What’s your favorite makeup tip?
Drink a lot of water and stay hydrated. It’s really good for your skin.
Put lotion on at night.
Beauty is also how you feel not just what you look like.
Have some self-confidence.
Shower yourself with love, which is part of beauty as well.
What’s your favorite look from your season?
It would be my facekini or I love my Halloween look when I ripped off my face.
What’s your favorite makeup tip?
My current obsession is a light yellow color on top of my cheek above my blush. I think it adds so much more color to the face because sometimes I don’t get out enough. Even though I can throw a little extra color on my face with foundation shades, sometimes it looks like I haven’t seen the light of day in a while. So a little extra yellow gives a little more vibrance and lift.
How long does it take for you to get into your drag makeup?
It usually takes me an hour to an hour and a half.
What’s your favorite club to perform at?
I love to perform at Play Louisville or Play Nashville. They’re always so warm and welcoming. I love Parliament House in Orlando. It’s like just seedy and sketchy enough and the queens there are so lovely. And all over the U.K. there are so many fabulous queens that make me feel like I’m at home.
How has your life changed since ‘Drag Race’?
I’m really really rich! I feel like I’m rich in happiness. 2019 has been so lovely emotionally and getting myself together. I feel like I have brain room to breathe. 'Drag Race' has given me the platform to live my dreams.
How did the ‘Vanjie’ happen on the show and eventually catch on with the fans?
You could tell on my face I think that’s why everyone gravitated towards that. I was just devastated and I just started saying my name cause I didn’t know what else to say. Everything happens for a reason and I said my name for a reason and RuPaul loves it and I’m thankful.
Do you feel like this season was redemption after getting kicked off first the season prior?
It wasn’t about redemption. It was more like making everyone proud cause I knew there was a lot of support and love and everyone wanted to see more of me. So I got the opportunity and I wanted to make sure I didn’t take that and do a bad job.
What’s your favorite makeup tip?
Go to YouTube and watch all the tutorials. That’s the one tip I got!
What’s your favorite part about doing drag?
Meeting everyone and seeing the little kids. I love DragCon because usually you know we do nightclubs that’s 18 and up. And here we get to see the little ones dressed up. It’s the cutest thing. And seeing the families.
What was your favorite look this season?
My form to runway. It’s something I made there and it’s going toward the aesthetic that I’m kind of going towards now. I’ve been so pageantry and worn gowns for so long and now I want to wear fun and cute little outfits.
Which Drag Queen are you closest to from your season?
Vanjie and A’Keria. In drag we don’t have sisterhood anymore. There’s a lot of backstabbing and bitterness and ‘why not me?’ And with those two girls I can honestly say either one of us could have won and we would’ve been happy for one another and I think that’s the beautiful thing about it.
What’s favorite drag tip?
I do my eye brows with a sharpie. That’s an old school drag queen move. I’m a girl that sweats a lot. That’s a trick we use for girls that sweat a lot. So if you use a Sharpie your eyebrows won't come off and you won’t keep reapplying all night.
What’s been the best thing that’s happened to you since the show has aired?
I wanted to create a better life for me and my family. The reality is once you get on 'Drag Race' you get a pay increase as Jasmine Masters would say. My grandmother who's 81 years old has never left the country and I was able to take her to London last week. People forget with Drag Race is that we are human and we have goals.
What's one of your favorite makeup tips?
I know I wear a lot of makeup but in real life on real people nothing beats clean skin clean, brows and clean lashes. It's classic and it never goes out of style. Honestly, you do need less makeup than you think. But you should absolutely put on as much as you want!
How long does it take for you to get ready?
Interesting you ask because usually it takes two hours and today I was supposed to be here at 9:30 and I woke up at 9:15. I don’t have makeup from the bangs up.
How has your drag evolved over the years?
I used to do Malibu Barbie like swimsuits and sandals. I think now I do more like Mod Barbie, more 60’s stuff. I like boots and knee socks and bell sleeves.
What’s your favorite part of doing your drag makeup?
I know that it sounds stupid, but I love putting my lips on. It always makes it feel like, 'OK, now we’re in drag.' The whole rest of it is lines and aerospace technology and compasses and mathematics and then that part's fun.
What projects have you been working on?
Last week we launched "Yellow Cloud," my new music video that represents my new sound. My first two albums were a little more country and this one is like a little more post-Beatles invasion, radio 60s. It’s more fun! I’m not as depressed as much cause I’m rich and famous.
If you missed RuPaul’s DragConLA, you can catch the convention when it heads to New York City Sept. 6 – 8, 2019. "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 11 finale airs Thursday on VH1.
