The defining word of Cara Melle’s RuPaul’s Drag Race UK journey can simply be, “one of a kind”. From being part of a cast that include her flat mate (Tomara Thomas) to being the first African-American trans queen to join the UK franchise, to being originally from Atlanta, GA, Melle’s perspective was definitely unique. We caught up after Melle departed the competition to dish about her Drag Race UK experience, some of her favorite moments as part of Drag Race UK, and her plan post-Drag Race, including a feature film with some familiar Drag Race faces.
MC: It is so surreal to talk to an Atlanta drag performer coming off a stunning turn on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK!
Cara Melle: I know, it’s kind of like a myth (laughs)! The fact that a little Atlanta Southern belle made it all the way across the pond…
MC: What are the biggest differences you see with drag in the United States and drag in the UK?
CM: UK drag I think is a lot more experimental in their art form. It goes in different places that you would not expect in the US. In the US, there is a lot more kind of a form and fitting to what makes a good drag queen, and that is because there is a big pageant culture all through the US. That really sets in stone what is considered good drag. We don’t really have that as much here, I actually haven’t been to a pageant in the UK; that kind of culture doesn’t really exist. As an art form, London loves good art and experimentation.
The London girls have recently been taking a lot from the US. When I came here, all the girls were singers full stop. All of a sudden me and Tayce took over and it was lip sync divas with human hair wigs; it’s our fault im sorry (laughs)!
MC: Your Drag Race UK experience was most definitely a journey unlike no other. Not only are you the first African American transgender queen to hit the Drag Race UK runway, but you went through the competition with your flat mate, Tomara Thomas. That must have been an experience itself!
CM: The competition started real early for us (laughs)! It was tough, I was also very new to my trans-ness at the time, I had only started hormones three months before we started filming so I was super hormonal. My mind was all over the place but I was trying to focus on the race and the competition. At times, the competition gets you sometimes. Getting in your own head and going there with expectations and then when you don’t fulfill the expectations, all of a sudden you may flounder a little bit. I just tried to make sure to go through with confidence, always with confidence.
MC: Your relationships with the girls seemed to mirror your run in the competition, some high highs and low lows. You and Michael Marouli got along famously, while you seemed to have a pricklier relationship with Banksie.
CM: It wasn’t really what I wanted to happen, going on Drag Race, I didn’t want to argue with my housemate on tv and have all of that unfold, I wish that didn’t happen. It was the reality of the situation and we were already at bickering odds, already living with each other, which is fine because not everybody is meant to live with their friends. That was a learning lesson really. With Banksie, we had just met at Drag Race and I think our personalities just clash a bit. I don’t have an issue with Banksie at all. I can disagree with someone and be friends with them and be cordial with them.
MC: What do you think the rose and thorn of your Drag Race UK journey are?
CM: I think my rose would definitely be my entrance. Obviously i would say my other rose would be winning the episode 3 girl group challenge and being the sole winner, the first ever sole winner of a girl group challenge. I think my entrance was my rose. That really kind of set in stone who I am and immediately it was like “icon”; you know what I mean?
MC: The trans experience is truly being celebrated on Drag Race. How do you find the trans experience layering into your own Drag Race journey?
CM: When it comes to my experience, I always think of how people receive me. Well usually, people still don’t understand the existence of trans women to be honest and some people still classify me as a “man”. It’s bothersome but it’s the reality of what I have to deal with every day. I think that once I came out as trans, my confidence raised so much as a person and I I think I was respected so much more, especially among the queer community.That’s all that really matters.
MC: Looking back at your Drag Race challenge, you got to do some of the amazing challenges that Drag Race is known for. From Snatch Game to the Girl Group Challenge, you definitely had some amazing “firsts”.
CM: Yes! Well the girl group challenge, it felt correct. It felt nothing but correct that was the sole winner because I put the most work into what we did, even deciding where everyone’s verses would go in the song, we all put in a lot of work though. For me, it’s rewarding but at the same time it makes me want to do more. I never am thinking I want to be the first to do this or that, I just want to be successful.
MC: Any word from the iconic Dionne Warwick after your stunning turn as her in Snatch Game?
CM: (laughs) I wish! I tweeted about it and I know she’s real hot on Twitter, but no not yet. Mostly people that say “you look like Nene Leakes bitch”!
MC: What do you think you want to do know with your Drag Race platform? Is there possibly a return to the ATL?
CM; She wont be coming back to the ATL unfortunately, I go back for the holidays. You will be seeing me on the movie screens soon, I recently filmed a movie with Crystal Methyd, Heidi N Closet and Trinity the Tuck called Slay by Jem Garrard. We are a foursome group of drag queens that came into a random dive bar in the middle of nowhere filled with a bunch of homophobic homosapeisns. All of a sudden when we were performing and doing our thing, the bar is overrun by vampires and then we have to fight for our lives! I told people that was going to be an action she-ro and I meant it!
MC: While your experience was unique, so many people were having their own unique experience watching you while not in front of a camera. What do you tell those people watching you looking for inspiration or a little bit of hope?
CM: That you’re not alone in the struggles that you dealing with in terms of your trans-ness, your queerness, or whatever it is that you’re dealing with. We all get down, we all get depressed, it happens. You have to just learn how to roll with the punches and keep going and thriving. Not just dwelling in the past, but staying in the present. Live in the present and then you will have an amazing future!
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