After stunning the world and being crowned the first winner of Queen of the Universe, Grag Queen has pivoted to behind the judges table on the inaugural season of Drag Race Brasil. As the host of Drag Race Brasil, Grag Queen delivers her own patented brand of Brazilian guidance , whether it’s in the werkroom or behind the judge’s table. I caught up with Grag Queen to dish about her pivot from Queen of the Universe to Drag Race Brasil, the experience of being a working drag performer in Brazil, and what surprised her the most from her Drag Race Brasil experience.
Michael Cook: Congratulations on going from Queen of the Universe to now host of Drag Race Brasil! How does it feel at this moment?
Grag Queen: It feels crazy. I thought I could never reach something bigger than Queen of the Universe, then World of Wonder called and gave me a franchise (laughs)!
MC: What do you think it is that made you stand out the most, after winning Season 1 of Queen of the Universe, that made you perfect for hosting Drag Race Brasil?
GQ: Well, I have to say that being on Queen of the Universe, I was able to show them that I could sing, I could host the show and deal with the biggest fan base in the world, those Brazilian bitches that are crazy (laughs)! The love that I have for my country and the fierceness and how hungry I am for achievements, crowns, and just making it work, and being resilient, is there. I am the first host to be a winner and I think they thought it was fair, and I understood that they trusted me and I knew that I had to deliver. Spoiler Alert: I think the bitch delivered!
MC: No spoilers, but what is one thing that surprised you the most and one thing you really expected from your Drag Race Brasil experience?
GQ: I expected to see a werkroom, a main stage, cameras, and people talking with me in different languages…. “CHALLENGES”! I accepted it, people said I deserved it, and I knew that I would be judging people. I get it and I own it, everything is mine. I’m not being corny, but I got prepared. I went to casting, understanding the communication of how to be in front of a show. It was the best way to get prepared, I thought of it almost like (I was )being part of a competition.
MC: How do you think Brazilian drag matches up with other drag all over the world?
GQ: See, Brazil is crazy. Brazil is like something very peculiar. If you meet or are “with” somebody Brazilian, you understand that we have something that you cannot see, but you fan feel it. Drag queens here in Brazil, it is so hard to be a drag queen it is not something that you just plan, its just something that happens.
Now, after Pabllo Vittar, RuPaul, Grag Queen, and Queen of the Universe, some people can feel safe to dream to be a drag queen. Being a drag queen in Brazil though…you can paint your face to be threatened on the street, it’s very dangerous be drag queen here is Brazil. I think we are drag queens here because we fucking love being drag queens. And love is the language. Love is the fuel. That is what makes us the biggest and the fiercest.
MC: There are areas all over the globe now that are not safe to do drag, and performances in those areas make it that much more powerful.…
GQ: Yes! When I worked in the United States, I just got to understood that some places are safe to be who you are and some people are going to throw some dollars. You start to believe in the world again.
MC: What area of the States that you got to work did you enjoy the most?
GQ: I think that the part of having dollars in my panties is the best (laughs)! Here, we have bottles and rocks, they throw everything else. They ask for money here, they may ask us during the performance if “we have fifty cents”!
MC: What do you want people to get the most from Drag Race Brasil?
GQ: I want you to see our outfits, our charisma, but I really want you to look to our hearts. Our emotions and our humanity that makes it different. A franchise is a franchise, a format is a format, and I think no one can do better than RuPaul did. Now it’s time to understand stories and realities; how is it being a drag queen in Brazil? Why is Grag Queen so crazy and she went on Queen of the Universe and didn’t give any opportunity for anyone else to win it? It’s because we are crazy for that. We love doing that. I really would love to say that I hope you can see it. The bitches are going to come very hard, you’re not going to have a choice but to see it (laughs)!
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‘Drag Race Brasil’ airs every Wednesday on WOW Presents Plus in the US and globally excluding Brazil, where it will air on Paramount+ and MTV.
