Rileasa Slaves wan an instant fan favorite on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 6, and that is in no short order due to her infectious personality and take no prisoners delivery. With equal amounts talent to back up her larger than life personality, Slaves rose to the Top Four on this critically acclaimed season. While she did not snag the crown this season, Rileasa had plenty of moments that were memorable, and we discussed all of them and more when we sat down for a chat. Whether she was turning her roast into a “pan fried” learning lesson or literally replacing garments she brought with her with her all important fragrances, Rileasa Slaves is ready to take on the world!
MC: Condragulations on being a finalist on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK! What was your whole journey like?
Rileasa Slaves; Honey, it has been a journey. It feels like such an achievement to have been on a season with such incredible queens. And also, to be able to watch the journey as an audience member and to say “Damn, you did that honey”. Because there were twists and turns, let’s not negate that fact (laughs)! It’s such an achievement to be able to relive that and the process getting to the final.
MC: What would you have done with the $25,000 if you had won?
RS: Probably a little holiday to the Caribbean to see the folks and all of that. I would also have gone into the perfume hall at Harrods and spent at least $3,000! I have perfumes I want and those perfumes are like $300.00 plus honey!
MC: You know, Kyran Thrax also mentioned that you brought a different perfume for every runway look on RuPaul’s Drag Race!
RS: I lost every outfits for the sake of having my perfume!
MC: What do you think your rose and thorn are of your Drag Race UK journey?
RS: My high would definitely be anything music related, but I think in the Rusical, I was even shocked when I watched the Rusical back; like “Damn, I got a deep ass voice” (laughs)! I don’t hear it, that is the style of my voice that I have never played with. The girl group was more familiar to me, but that was a high getting to discover a bit of talent I didn’t know about.
A low, this was more like a low/high; I could not believe that I was bombing in front of loads of people, anything to do with comedy. I already knew going into the competition, that would be one of my Achilles heels. Even to get past those challenges and to the other side, I thought, I mighta flopped, but I did that! Did she roast? No she didn’t, she pan fried; you see that she’s funny (laughs)!
MC: What is one thing that each of you have learned from your fellow finalists Marmalade and Kyran Thrax?
R: For me, Kyran represents the ability to taking oneself seriously while not taking it seriously. Doing goofy, but actually committing to it. Saying “I’m the bin queen and I’m actually gonna own that”. It’s not about being like how I think about American drag and how so much of it is pageant based, whereas Kyran is like “Wheres the bin juice at”? It’s taking the Hunchback of Notre Dame and putting it in Paris Fashion Week. It’s the juxtaposition of things that don’t really make sense, but it makes sense, and that for me is a talent unto it self. What I love is also seeing the vulnerability; I think people see the exterior and that they are confident, when there has actually been a journey to that confidence and I think that is really important for people to really understand.
Marmalade and I did one gig together in Cardiff and it’s interesting about Marmalade, she has a different version of confidence. There is a “shortness” of what she is doing and for me; I am constantly amazed. I came into the competition and I wasn’t comparing myself, I was just sitting back and getting inspired. Marmalade, I want to dive in her mind when It comes to reference execution. What people don’t understand is in the challenge where we had families come, I am panicking because I am making outfits and don’t even sew. Marmalade is just showing how you put a zipper on like “Brrrr”! She has a level of kindness…she is confident and has all of these talents, but will happily sit back and let someone else take a badge for it (laughs)!
Follow Rileasa Slaves on Instagram
