RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars has brought forth a number of breakout new beloved drag superstars to the mainstream, and Tessa Testicle is most definitely one of those queens. Almost arriving at Global All Stars directly from Drag Race Germany, Tessa T instantly bonded with Alyssa Edwards and showcased to her fellow competitors the instincts that made fans fall in love with her on Drag Race Germany. I caught up with Tessa T to chat about her run on Global All Stars, the possibility of joining the Haus of Edwards, and what it was like to have a fairy godmother like the legendary Dianne Brill on the judges panel two different times.
Michael Cook: You were an amazing breakout star on Drag Race Germany, but seeing you on right up until Top Five on RuPaul’s Drag Race Global All Stars was such a treat. What was your experience like?
Tessa Testicle: I think all the way around, Global All Stars was such a joyful journey for me. It was such a process of being myself and sticking to myself, believing in myself, and trusting my instinct which was so rewarding really. I had just come from Drag Race Germany which was a really intense journey for me and I felt very defeated after that. To go back into Global All Stars after that with such a hunger to prove myself again, I think it was the greatest experience of my life without question.
MC: Your season of Drag Race Germany was such a treat especially for New York City followers, because Diane Brill is truly New York City nightlife royalty and is also a Drag Race Germany judge. Seeing her join the panel for an episode of Global All Stars must have been as much a treat for you as it was for the fans.
TT: For sure! It truly felt like Dianne Brill was like my ruby red slippers and I was finally home. Dianne Brill was already such a star on Drag Race Germany and I really looked forward to seeing her every time, even though it meant that I was probably going to be in the bottom again (laughs). She was so charismatic and it was in her native language, which is just so infectious. I love that woman so much.
MC: Throughout Global All Stars, you were what can be described as “scrappy” and absolutely nothing was going to get you down. Is that a trait that has followed you throughout your career?
TT: For sure. I do have to say that Global All Stars, the biggest surprise for me was what you just articulated, my ability to almost say “water off a duck’s back”! That is a surprise to myself, you do not have to hold onto things that don’t serve you in a positive way. You can focus on the here and now and it was such a practice of presence for me, to live in the present moment. It surprised me in a way because usually I am a petty bitch (laughs)! Sometimes it’s necessary, just as a palate cleanser!
MC: Are you an official member of the Edwards family as of yet? You and Alyssa Edwards became very close and the fans have been waiting for an update on any additional members of the Haus of Edwards...
TT: You would have to ask Miss Alyssa herself. I was like “Alyssa watch out, because you aren’t ready for this piece of work”! I do think that we are on our merry way towards adoption to make me Tessa T Edwards, but you are going to have to ask Alyssa. I was on the phone with her yesterday and she said that the adoption papers are being finalized…
MC: Many performers play it cool, but when you met people like Alyssa as part of the cast, you were very direct with them that you were a fan!
TT: It’s such a bizarre experience to not only meet one of your idols, I mean Alyssa is not just my idol, she is the lip sync blueprint. To be competing against her also and to be sharing this insane experience with her…First of all, it could have gone either way. She could have met me and been like “Tessa T, I don’t get it”. But for her to respond so well to me, it was such an honor. I was so lucky to be so liked by her the way that I was.
MC: Other than taking the crown, we got to see you go through all of the legendary challenges, lip sync,and win a challenge. Is there any box that you don’t think you got to check?
TT: A good talent show (laughs)! Of course, you always think about “What if they ask me back”? If they ask me back, I think the first thing that I want to sink my teeth into and come back for is to redeem that talent show in a way. It wasn’t bad but it…wasn’t good (laughs). My runway package is something that I am so so proud of and that I can one hundred percent stand behind. I wish I could also say that for my talent show.
MC: The moment you were announced, you were one of the queens fans were extremely interested in and are definitely one of the thirst traps of the season. How does that feel?
TT: Listen, I can’t make it too easy to Gala Varo right (laughs)?! I do have to do my due diligence as a lovely first alternate as the “trade of the season”. Honestly, it is kind of crazy because purely algorithmically speaking, I posted a picture at the Zurich Film Festival and it completely blew up. From time to time, I’m like “Maybe I don’t need to do drag anymore” (laughs)!
MC: What is the best piece of advice that you’ve gotten from someone and took into Global All Stars and now am taking into the next phase of your career?
TT: I think it’s what we talked about earlier, where I reference “Water off a duck’s back”. I don’t need to take everything so personal, not everything is personal, and almost nothing is personal actually. How fun and how light is life when you live by that?….What other people say about me is none of my business.
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