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‘Drag Race’ winner Bianca del Rio: ’If you can’t laugh at yourself, how can you laugh at someone else?’

Paolo Abad

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‘Drag Race’ winner Bianca del Rio: ’If you can’t laugh at yourself, how can you laugh at someone else?’
‘So long as you have a sense of humor about yourself, it works out well to have a sense of humor about other people,’ says the drag queen known for her biting brand of insult comedy

MANILA, Philippines – “Are you just born rude or does it take work?” 

I wanted to ask Bianca del Rio, the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 6, about how she comes up with a good read – that is, to expose, insult, and effectively roast a person to smithereens. As someone with a so-called “Rolodex of Hate,” she is infamous for her insult comedy, and upon the prodding of a friend, I turned my question into a read, too.

I was expecting some form of playful retaliation. Instead, in a roundtable interview during her It’s Jester Joke tour’s Manila stop, I gleaned some insights about her no-holds-barred, offensive, acerbic, often politically incorrect, but ultimately unapologetic brand of comedy.

Photo by Paolo Abad/Rappler

 

“I’m not lip-syncing. I’m not doing death drops. I’m not doing musical numbers with back-up dancers. God knows you don’t wanna see that. I leave that to the other people, but that’s not what I’m doing,” she said, explaining how her shows go.

Yes, roasting or shading people indeed does take hard work for Bianca, the “clown in a gown” – a stand-up comedian who happens to perform in drag and does it around the world. But where does she get her material?

“Comedy is always based on truth,” the drag superstar argued, saying that she turns to herself as a source of comedy, never taking herself too seriously, so to speak.

She riffed on a RuPaul signature phrase, “I’d say, if you can’t laugh at yourself, how can you laugh at someone else?”

“I’m the biggest joke there is. I’m nothing serious to begin with. So long as you have a sense of humor about yourself, it works out well to have a sense of humor about other people.”

Before emerging as the 2014 winner of Drag Race, Bianca (whose real name is Roy Haylock) started out with costume designing and performing for musical theater. In drag, she began in the New Orleans circuit with small gigs (“bingo halls during happy hour” included) before taking off onto a career playing more mainstream venues and even appearing on TV.

 

She has now gone on several worldwide tours, released a book, a merchandise line that includes cosmetics, and a movie series, Hurricane Bianca.

In her meeting with local members of the press, Bianca del Rio answers a variety of questions and muses about a lot of topics – Drag Race and beyond, Manila (both the city and the RuPaul alum Manila Luzon), and many more:

Photo by Paolo Abad/Rappler

On touring worldwide

It’s f—ing nuts! I mean, you try not to think about it, and as far as drag was concerned, I didn’t imagine any of this. I didn’t even think the potential was even there because there is no proper format — you know. 

Everybody that’s left the [Drag Race] has done something different. A lot of them have gone into music. A lot of them do music videos… I think I’m the only one who hasn’t done a music video out of everybody. Some of them shouldn’t have.

I think everybody has a different route. There really is no formula. [The show was] 5 years ago. Now, I think it’s a little more of a pattern of what everybody likes to do, which is usually the music videos and then travel with the group tours. 

On performing for different audiences around the world

I think that with every audience you have, you often think, “Well, no one’s gonna understand what I’m saying or what I’m doing.” But that’s why you go into something with a huge amount of material. There’s so much crap in my head that if you start with something and it doesn’t seem to float, then you have this other way to go.

You just don’t know where you’re going, but that’s, for me, the exciting part. So if this doesn’t work, then you’ve got this or you’ve got that. So it’s not like, “Hello! This is my joke.” It’s more or less like, “Trigger, trigger. Where am I gonna go? What’s gonna trigger my brain to get me where I need to be?”

So I think each audience should always be different. You’ll never know. You never assume that everyone’s gonna love it ‘cause then you’re fucked. That always backfires. You always think they may not get it, so you have to work harder.

Photo by Paolo Abad/Rappler

On updating her ‘Rolodex of Hate’

The Rolodex is not modern, but yes, it definitely has [been updated] because there’s something new and weird going on in the world so that you can go ahead and put it as part of the show. 

We live in a world now where everything is so fucking crazy. There’s always something to be mad or upset about.

On random people asking her to read them all the time

I’ve been at the airport, and people can be like, “Hey! Can you read me?” And I’m like, “Bitch, can I get off the plane?” It’s weird! You have a stewardess that’s like, “I love you! Can you say something mean?” 

It doesn’t work that way always, so it is funny to see how people react. Usually in the show, I always have too much to say. 

Photo by Paolo Abad/Rappler

On taboo topics, cancel culture

I think you can talk about anything! You don’t have to like it, but I can talk about whatever I want.

[On social media], the problem is that you have these “cultural cancel” people that feel like, “You can’t say it.” I can say whatever the fuck I want, little girl. You don’t have to like it, and that’s fine – just like if I don’t like it, I don’t have to hear your opinion.

I think we live in a world now where everybody has to be a social media warrior and they have to say, “This is what I think. This is what needs to happen.” I don’t necessarily agree. You don’t like it, don’t watch it. It’s very simple.

And no matter what you do, someone’s gonna be offended by something. I mean as I sit here in a wig, Christians are upset that I’m a man in a wig. You know what I mean? There are drag queens that hate me. What do I fucking care?

Live your life ‘cause you really are missing out on life if you sit back worried about some other bitch looking like this. I’m no brat!

 

On social media’s impact on being a drag queen, Drag Race’s popularity

It made them [Instagram-based drag queens] seem talented! (laughs) Well, I mean, there is a talent to taking a good picture. I mean, Instagram is huge now, and globally, it’s quite fascinating. 

You gotta remember a lot of queens now are doing the show because they grew up with the show, which is completely different from what we had. So these are young performers that saw Drag Race and thought, “Oh, this is what I wanna do, and this is what it is about.”

So it is pretty fascinating – the opportunities that exist, and you don’t realize how many people are watching the show or how many people are interested in what you’re doing. 

It still blows my mind that anybody gives a shit about what I’m doing, and I’m not even putting out the gorgeous photos like Aquaria or Violet [Chachki], who are beautiful. That’s what they do. I am the exact opposite.

It is pretty amazing just to see the global interest in what everybody is doing. The show is bigger than ever now. RuPaul is winning Emmy Awards. She’s snatching trophies – that bitch. It’s wild.

 

On season 11 being a ‘#SeasonOfIssues’

I laugh at the fact that this is what the show has evolved into, and it’s turned into something else. I find it funny when your ailment is stronger than your talent. 

This is a show about drag queens! Why are you talking about a cyst on your taint!? (referring to season 11 contestant Soju) That I don’t understand! You don’t wanna know what’s going on under my skirt! But I’m not gonna tell everybody. So I find that part to just be a bit much for me.

I’m a drag queen. We go where we laugh, we have a good time, we’re hateful toward each other in the dressing room, and we move on. But I think what’s fascinating now is it’s also a television show, so the sympathy aspect comes in.

I don’t live by sympathy. Sympathy is not a part of my drag aesthetic, and if you’re dying, I’m gonna go, “Good.” So for me, it is different, but I do find it quite amusing.

One week was [Soju’s cyst], the next week was [Mercedes Iman Diamond’s] stroke — what the fuck is that? I mean, where do you go from there!? Are we picking America’s Next Patient or are we picking a drag queen? I just don’t understand.

On the evolution of her own drag, Drag Race

Well, [my drag] hasn’t changed because I wear the same dress in every color.

I think the show itself has taken on its new life, and it’s a completely different show than when I did it. So I think it’s a completely different world. 

Everybody’s much younger. Everyone’s in designer drag. They’re spending thousands of dollars on clothes. We didn’t have that opportunity, or the time. I had 5 days before I had to do the show, so I didn’t know. I didn’t have access to create all this madness within [those] 5 days, and pack… and get there… and do the show.

I think it’s definitely evolved into a grander scale. Now, it’s huge in America and globally. It’s gonna be in the UK — their own version with Ru, which I think is pretty amazing. 

 

Drag has been bigger than it’s ever been, and I’m super grateful for the opportunities. But I’ve done drag now for 23 years, so to have this great moment later in my life… I mean, the beginning was great, too, but I think to have this exposure now has helped me as a person because I can appreciate it more rather than being a 20 year-old and an asshole like Aquaria. (press gasps) I’m kidding! We’re friends! My God!

I find that I enjoy it more, and I’m grateful for the opportunities. I get to travel the world. I don’t think I’d would ever have been in Manila if it wouldn’t have had the opportunities that I’ve had. So it’s been pretty amazing. The ride has been great.

On Fil-Am Drag Race alums Manila Luzon and Jiggly Caliente

I’m not [familiar with Filipino humor], but if you’ve sent me two jokes like those two to come to America. They’re a fucking joke. One can’t stop eating, and one can’t win a drag competition. Well, third time’s not the charm.

 

On Manila: Since I’m in Manila, I have to talk shit about Manila. Not you! I meant Manila Luzon!

It’s so funny because we fight on Twitter actually — Manila and I. There’s a few queens you can tackle with online, and she’s one because I’ve known her for at least 15 years now. 

So we go back and forth, and all the people online go crazy. ‘I can’t believe you said that! That’s so rude! You’re just a bitch!’ And I’m like, ‘Yeah, yeah, and yeah!’ I know I’m a bitch.

 

On Jiggly: Jiggly is another one that I’ve known for a good 15 years. 

She has been saying shit online and it hasn’t been in English, and she’s been telling the people in Manila what’s going on. And I don’t know what any of it means, so I’m worried that they’re all gonna attack me. 

No, she’s been great! She said go and eat the food. Well, obviously she said eat the food. She goes, “Eat everything,” and I’m like, “Alright.”

 

On RuPaul

I remember being a child and seeing Ru at the MTV Video Music Awards. I was in high school, and this huge blonde glamazon and I went, “Wow.” She was fabulous. 

I never thought in a million years I would meet him. I never thought would even be on the show. You don’t think about those things. And you sit back and you think, cool. We don’t go to lunch because she doesn’t return my calls, but… I’m kidding. I don’t have her phone number! 

Well, I do get to go to lunch with Michelle Visage, and she eats like Jiggly!

 

What she did with her *RuPaul voice* cash prize of $100,000

I paid taxes! I did because you know, in America, when you win something — unlike other [countries]… Well, I don’t know if it happens here, but in the UK, if you win a hundred thousand dollars, you get to keep a hundred thousand dollars. But in America, when you win a hundred thousand dollars, it was $52,000 in taxes!

I’ve just been saving money. I haven’t really bought anything extravagant. I’m not an extravagant person. So I haven’t really bought anything exciting. 

I’ve been working, so I’ve just been hoarding my work money and hopefully [use it] to buy a house soon — which is what I’m hoping to do this summer. Finally.

On her comedy idols, Joan Rivers and more

I had met Joan Rivers a couple of times in New York City in different events because she was very involved in theater, and she would frequent a lot of opening nights. So I met her a couple of times – always gracious, always sweet, always took a photo. Then I had an opportunity to do [her] show [In Bed with Joan] which was a lot of fun. 

 

They say never meet your idols, but it was amazing to get to meet her because she was so goddamn funny. And also very generous because she didn’t have to be generous. You’re Joan Rivers. [She didn’t] even have to look at me, but she did. And she was very, very sweet and I appreciated it so much. 

Don Rickles – I don’t know if you’re familiar with him. Rickles is very funny as well, and not only did I enjoy his sense of humor, but I also appreciated their work ethic. 

They were working up until they were 80. So, it’s pretty amazing to see their longevity and their commitment to comedy.

There’s sort of other people. I love Wanda Sykes. I love Chris Rock. They’re fucking funny-ass people. 

On the possibility of doing comedy outside of drag

When I lost my luggage, I had no choice. We always say, what’s a drag queen without their luggage? A man!

Things like that have happened. I don’t rule anything out. I don’t know what’s to come. I’d say yes to everything.

What putting on drag has taught her about being a man

Obviously, everybody does drag for very different reasons. For me, it’s strictly about the comedy of it or the act of it — you know. 

That’s why I’m saying something like this is always weird for me to do when I’m dressed like this. When I’m onstage, I’m used to it. But on a personal level, I think that they do cross because I have the same sense of humor. 

I do have some friends that do drag that do drag for very different reasons, and they’re a different “act” when they’re in drag or a different voice even. I think there’s different compartments in it, so I think that I’ve kind of learned that the more you’re yourself, the more fun and accepting it is. 

I know that sounds crazy because I’m sitting in a wig. It’s just what I am and what I do. And you can’t be on 24/7. So it’s a lot of pressure to do that.

Photo by Paolo Abad/Rappler

 

Her advice for young people

Stay off social media. Live your life.

I have friends like Adore [Delano, and when] anything that happens in their life, she immediately goes to the internet. I usually go and drink something, and then, I’ll go to the internet. But I find it fascinating that everybody’s world has revolved around it.

Obviously, it’s a huge part of my life because I didn’t have Instagram or Twitter before Drag Race, so it is interesting to see all of these that’s happened. But I try to keep it as professional as possible. You know, fun times, but I don’t put all of my business. 

So I would suggest that the kids maybe think before you write something on social media ‘cause you know how many people are deleting tweets in the middle of the night. You’ve seen it — especially politicians.

On chasing your passion versus getting big paychecks

You gotta get through life. Get through high school. Get through college, and then you can figure it out.

I always say it’s important to keep moving because I didn’t plan to do this. I mean obviously, this was not a choice. But it is something that through life, it eventually evolved into this. So it’s kind of saying ‘Yes and yes,’ and then if something comes along, then of course, it changes your path. 

But I’ve never been the person to say, ‘This is my goal. I’m gonna make that happen.’ That’s too much pressure for somebody. You gotta live a little bit, and if you don’t fall down, you don’t realize how great it is when you’re up. But it always goes back and forth. Trust me.

Photo by Paolo Abad/Rappler

 

What she learned from performing all these years

I don’t take myself too seriously. I take myself seriously with the professional, business side of it, but as a person, you gotta laugh, and you gotta have a good time. 

And I think what’s amazing is that a lot of people in this world now are afraid to laugh because they think, “Can I laugh? Is that allowed? Is someone gonna judge me? Is there gonna be some video of me laughing later…”

So, I feel like when you come to the show, when you come to hang out with me, you get to laugh and do it. You’re fine. You’re safe. If anything, they’re gonna come kill me first. Don’t worry.

On differing, contrarian opinions

This is the thing: people are not gonna be happy as long as they have a hole in their ass. There’s always something to fight about. If you’re not being noticed, people complain about it. If you’re being noticed, then people complain about it. The thing is, you just get out of your head and not deal with it.

When people come to me, and they say, “Oh, you shouldn’t do this. You shouldn’t do that,” I don’t give a fuck because I’m not your elected official. I’m not your President. You didn’t vote for me. I don’t give a shit if you like me or agree with a lot. 

The world is gonna change. The world is gonna evolve. People are gonna be prettier. People are gonna be younger. People are gonna have more talent. People are gonna get more opportunities. So what are you gonna do, sit back and be bitter about it?

So you have to take the comments, the complaints, and the bullshit along with the compliments, and call it the same thing. Lovely! Keep moving. Lovely! Keep moving because in the end, none of those people are gonna be there when I’m dead, so what does it matter? – Rappler.com

 

The interview was edited for brevity. 

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Paolo Abad

Paolo Abad writes, edits, and shoots for a living. He is one of the founding partners of the online radio platform Manila Community Radio.