The fourth season of Canada’s Drag Race was a game changer for the franchise. It included everything from stunning and dynamically talented contestants to stellar guest judges to a Golden Beaver (catch it on WOW Presents Plus). It also brought us the very first Lip Sync Slay Off for the Canadian franchise, and a winner was finally crowned; Venus has become Canada’s Next Drag Superstar for Canada’s Drag Race Season 4. While still absorbing the win (and immediately after a triumphant turn at Drag Con UK), I caught up with Venus for a chat. We got to discuss the journey to winning Canada’s Drag Race, what it was like winning the crown as a two-spirit person, and why we may see Venus on some runways across the globe very soon.
Michael Cook: How does it feel to be the winner of Canada’s Drag Race Season 4?
Venus: It still feels surreal. I think last night things were starting to hit a different way than they had in the days leading up to this conversation. I see things rolling in on that business email and I can see that the opportunities and everything is really happening. I am just so excited about everything.
MC: The emotion in your voice, even right this second, is still very palpable.
V: Yeah…It’s still very emotional. I am just trying to wrap my head around everything. It was the most emotional week. I am just being very reflective and very proud.
MC: Being the first indigenous winner of Canada’s Drag Race is a tremendous accomplishment, wouldn’t you say?
V: Absolutely. It is a long time coming. I said this last week and I will say it again, this is something that I could not have done alone. I could not have done it without my elders and those that paved the way for me, I would not be in this position. I think that is where some of that emotion comes from…thinking of all of the people that came before me to get me into this position. Regardless of being the first anything, as drag performers, we stand on the shoulders of those that came before us. Thinking of them and what this means for myself and for all of us…
MC: Is there a moment during the competition that you looked around and actually thought to yourself that you actually might be the one to take the Canada’s Drag Race crown this season?
V: I think that there were moments. I think realizing that there was a a confidence difference between myself and some of the other competitors and sometimes it felt that some people still didn’t believe that they were meant to be there. I kind of was like, “I do belong here” and I think you see that from the first episode. Regardless of whether or not people liked my g-string entrance look, that was who I am.
That is an ode to myself and I am very confident in that. Some of the girls recall that I walked into the room like ”I’m here to win” and some of the other girls had to find that while they were there. As soon as I got that first rosebud, I was like “Girl, they get it”. As long as the judges got it, I didn’t care who else got it; these are the people that I am ultimately trying to impress here right?
MC: Brooke Lynn (Hytes)comes from the RuPaul’s Drag Race galaxy and both Brad (Goreski) and Traci (Melchor) have their own experiences with drag. Is there anything that you took from the judges, be it from the main stage or backstage maybe, that you are going to take into your career going forward?
V: There are two things. I don’t know if it ever aired, but Tracy said something about my energy. That there is an energy about me that cannot be replicated. Just hearing that, that is something that carry with me; that is something that she sees from me from the get go. In this huge drag world, especially in the Drag Race universe, you can get lost in the comparisons, thinking “Am I good enough”? We’re all there for a reason. For myself, I am the winner for a reason. Not just based on my talents, but based on who I am and how I represent myself.
When it comes to Brooke Lynn in particular, what she said about “We’re not about catching flies here” and we can close the mouth and really control our moments. Even though I was never in the bottom, there are still critiques that identify things that can work on to just be better. I just did a huge show in London and I could really feel myself really honing in on that control and really wanting to be a better performer. There have been so many times where because so much is happening in my external world, I reflect it internally. Now that I am the winner and I got that behind me, baby it is what it is. I have to take my time now and I don’t feel such a need to be rushed. I am going to carry that with me.
MC: How was your experience at DragCon UK recently?
V: They aired my episode on the BBC the weekend of DragCon! Hours later, Fenton Bailey (World of Wonder co-founder) came to my booth and told me that he didn’t think that they’ve had any winner ever show up to DragCon the next day! He said “This is so tremendous for all of you to be here”! For me, regardless of the time travel and the time difference, what an epic way to come into your reign and to come into this celebratory week, than to be in this mecca of drag, meeting queens that I have admired for years.
I am walking up and people are saying “Oh God congratulations”! I am hearing all of this for the very first time and I am really trying to stay present in that moment. These things don’t happen very often, especially when you win. This is a rare moment to have up against your peers. It was perfection and I would not have wanted to have it any other way. Realizing that I am amongst this enormous group of talent, it was such a pinch me moment.
MC: Is there anyone that came up to you that was truly gag worthy?
V: To me, Miss Envy Peru (Drag Race Holland Season 1 winner) is such a class act of drag excellence. When she came up to me, it was wild that she even knew my name. Also just getting to see my sisters that I have followed on social media for so long. Like Tayce (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 2) and I followed each other before either of us were ever on Drag Race. Finally getting to meet and celebrate each other, that was just so great. Just being around these people that you’ve admired, I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it; maybe one day.
Honestly thank God RuPaul wasn’t there, that one I’m not quite ready for yet. Give me until DragCon LA and then we can hopefully have a word with Mother. I did see Michelle (Visage), I got chopped right before I was supposed to talk to her. I hadn’t slept so I didn’t know what I was going to say to her (laughs). Just getting to see her at a distance was so cool. I don’t ever want to get used to those things…its an amazing thing to be a part of and I hope to always feel “Wow this is my life”. It’s a dream come true.
MC: What do you want to do now post-Canada’s Drag Race?
V: There is a lot. Selfishly, i want to definitely dip my toes into the fashion world. I’ve seen my icons like (RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni) Gigi Goode, Symone, Violet Chachki, Aquaria, and Miss Fame, who are all sitting front row and doing the shows. For me, that is my cup of tea. We haven’t see that from a Canadian girl yet-no shade-it just hasn’t happened yet. That will be coming, I have very exciting things in that regard. For me, there are so many indigenous youth that I want to connect with. Whether it is two-spirit youth across Turtle Island, I know that there is going to be a two-spirit gathering in Houston this year that I would love to be a part of. I am working on something with a youth organization in the springtime also.
I am reading all of these amazing messages of what this win has meant to other two-spirit people across Turtle Island and I think for me, I want to keep that connection very strong. I want to be amongst my peers to learn more about not just my own experience, but their experience and our experience as a collective. I am really excited to get to meet people. I am a queen for the people and I love connecting with others.
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