A fan favorite since Canada’s Drag Race Season 1, Tynomi Banks walked into Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs The World Season 2 with a fresh perspective & plenty of experience under her belt. While her elimination may have been earlier than some may have anticipated, Banks has her eyes squarely on the future already. I sat down with Tynomi to dish about the past season of Canada vs. The World, her new single “Die For Love” and her friendship with a certain pop superstar!
Michael Cook: The fans and your fellow competitors alike loved seeing you as part of the cast of Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs The World 2. Who were you most surprised to see when the cast was assembled?
Tynomi Banks: Eureka..it was definitely Eureka; it shook me! I had met her a couple times a few years ago and when I met her, I didn’t even know she knew me. Right away she was like “Tynomi Banks”; she was so warm. So to be on a show with her, I was very honored. I love all the other girls, but Eureka, she’s just really good! She’s great drag, I love her drag, she is so funny, and I like her transition into her new self. I just really love her; she is the kindest and most supportive person.
MC: Your experience this season was a different one in many ways, from the dynamic cast to the Golden Beaver being factored in. Did all these changes tend to make some moments or the experience as a whole more overwhelming?
TB: It was not overwhelming, but I think I was more annoyed. I wish the Golden Beaver had not been in play, I wish it had been a lip sync for the win. It would’ve been more interesting if we had had the lipstick (elimination) situation also. Honestly going through it, it was like they chose the best of the best and me personally, I had a glow up and with my confidence, I was really ready to go at the girls. I had my Canadians’ backs but I was really ready to go for these girls. It was nice because it was like I belonged in that room and I felt like I belonged with these people.
MC: You mentioned your glow up and from the moment you appeared on-screen, it was very evident that you have had such a glorious glow up. What do you attribute that to?
TB: I think the glow up happened a few years ago. Right when I got kicked off the show, I was in the depths of depression, it was also during COVID. Then I got an ad, it was a direct booking for the Super Bowl. It just sparked, making me see that I was wanted still and for major things. At the end of the day, placement on the show does not matter; the person matters. Ever since then, I have just been going! I have been on tour, created my own tour, brand sponsorships, and collaborations.
For me and Priyanka for example, Priyanka is the winner of Canada’s Drag Race Season 1; I get submitted for the same stuff that she gets submitted for. I was third or fourth out, so it’s like “Okay-the show is not the be all end all”. It is definitely helpful and I love being on it and it’s great to be on tv. It keeps moving you on up to get considered for things that the winners do. I am placed on the bill with all of these winners, sometimes top three or top four, and here I am killing it. All I know and that I want people to know is that hard work shows and that is what matters.
MC: One consistent through line about your career is that you consistently put your Jamacian heritage front and center in your career. What is it like to be able to consistently do that?
TB: Love it. My heritage flows through me. I always go back to it because it’s what’s comfortable, that is what makes people laugh and it bonds me with other people. They love when I switch in and out of it and now that I’m older, I’m giving Jamaican aunt (laughs)!
MC: When you look back at your original Canada’s Drag Race experience, it was during COVID which was a surreal time for every single one of us. What do you remember the most about that first Drag Race experience?
TB: I remember from my original time being almost a deer in the headlights. Exactly what Brooke Lynn (Hytes) said, she called me that and I got offended but looking back, it’s like “Okay, you are right”. It all happens in real time, so I think I was just taking too long to take it all in. I should have just taken it in, said “I’m here, let’s do this”. I was too busy trying to feel comfortable and find footing and it’s not a show like that.
It’s almost like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. You’re walking into this temple and booby traps have been set up, big boulders are running behind you; this is what Drag Race is. I got hit by the boulder the first time, but this time is different. you have the best of the best being on this show, so anyone could have been in the bottom. I don’t feel bad, I’m not sad at all, that is just how the cookie crumbles. I would have loved to have stayed until the end, but it’s just not like that. You can tell from the critiques, they’re just nitpicking I didn’t look bad, I didn’t look as bad as…other people (laughs). That’s not delusional, we were all stressed about that last challenge.
MC: You bring up a good point, whereas with seasons like Canada vs The World 2, the judges are going to be even more focused on the small details, which can be work to your advantage or not, depending on who is next to you.
TB: Yes exactly. I am just happy because this time around I got to sit down and I knew what I was getting into. I knew that I wanted to showcase my drag in this way, I wanted to be camp, I wanted to give glamour and I was able to confidently be happy with my looks and excited to walk that runway every single week.
MC: What does Tynomi Banks have planned for the next phase of your career?
TB: Honestly, I am really excited for the rest of this year. I got featured on Nelly Furtado’s new album that is coming out in September, so I don’t know even know what that is going to look like. She is so for the gays, she loves her gays, so much! It’s so weird, being with her one on one now, we now have a a real friendship and we talk about real things. She wants to give back to the community in so many different ways, we talk about things she wants to do. Her coming back to music now, she wants it to mean much more than the music; she wants to really reach out. Being on this project, I am overjoyed. I just didn’t see this for myself.
As for me, I got signed to a label under Universal called Wax Records and thats a big thing for me as well. I’m singing, an actual song (titled “Die For Love”) on the radio. I get tagged all the time asking if it’s me on the radio! Am I going to tour?-Yes. I have to make the album first, but I am so excited for all of these things in my future.
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