MANILA, Philippines — Before The STAR’s turn for a one-on-one chat with Bianca Del Rio recently, a journo from a different broadsheet jokingly issued a warning that there’s no off-limits to the American drag queen and stand-up comic — not even reporters.
Famous for her sharp tongue and comebacks, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 6 winner will always have something “catty” to say to all and sundry. True enough, she had a field day commenting about yours truly’s phone camera, after offering to take our post-interview “selfie” and discovering it had a 20-second timer. First time to be called the B-word and by the Drag Queen B herself.
But Bianca Del Rio is Bianca Del Rio. This is why she’s loved and loved enough to have done not just one but two Manila performances as part of her Unsanitized Tour.
The Philippines was already among the last stops — she wrapped up the tour last week in South Africa — after doing over 120 shows (and lugging around as many as nine bags of costumes) from North America to Europe, from Latin America to Asia.
It was also her second visit to Manila after the two-day It’s Jester Joke show back in 2019, her memory of which was “that everybody was wild and excited, which was insane. I did not expect that many people would be interested in what I was doing.
“So, it was exciting to come here. That’s also been the gift of getting to travel. You never know what’s going to happen so we can either scare the f*** out of you or you sit back and go, ‘Wow, isn’t this cool?’” Bianca told The STAR.
Below are more excerpts from our interview:
Was it hard to be funny during the pandemic?
“No, I was laughing. I was laughing because if I wasn’t laughing, I’d be f***ing crying. We had to laugh because it was so insane like what was happening in the world? What was crazy for me is that I had not had that much time off or that much time by myself in a long time.
“So, the first few weeks, I went a little crazy because I’m used to being in some place. When the world just stopped, it was a little insane. Then you try to find your path and find your way. So, it took a minute to kind of get back into the groove of it. And then as soon as the floodgates opened, we were back on the road and back to it as hard as we could.”
What particularly made you laugh during this time?
“Oh, people’s posts. Oh my god, everybody was so f***ing dramatic. It was insane like discussing, ‘Oh, woe is me.’ What? Shut the f*** up! Like things could be much worse. So, I was fascinated by the people that shared a little too much online and also watching drag queens do performances in their living room. Now that sh*t was funny because everybody was doing a virtual live show and there’s always like some shitty curtain that they didn’t iron and a cat in the corner. It was always this rotted setup that they were trying to perform. And I’m thinking: Is this what people need during a pandemic, a drag queen lip-synching to I Will Survive? No, no, no! If anything, that causes people to want to kill themselves. (Laughs) That’s what that was.”
Did your jokes and routines change because of the pandemic?
“Oh, yeah. Well, I didn’t know what I was going to talk about. I didn’t know at that point, what the world was happening and there were ideas, thoughts and views, but it definitely doesn’t take form until you’re on the road performing. So, what I started with in America a year ago is completely different from where I am now.
“In the beginning, it wasn’t as intense as it was. There were some things that definitely shifted, but there’s always going to be that Drag Race section because that’s where people know me from. There’s always something to talk about because there’s 9,000 franchises of the show you can’t get away from it. So, I do have to discuss it, usually, every show.”
Speaking of Drag Race, you’ve said in interviews you’d never return as a competitor on the show. Or have you changed your mind?
“It’s an interesting thing, this whole Drag Race scenario. I don’t know… When I look at what people are doing on the show, it’s a different beast than it was when I did it. Back then, you only had to lip-sync when you were bad. Now, you’re rewarded for it… It’s (lip-syncing) not my thing. And honestly, I’m not interested in spending $50,000 on costumes to have Carson Kressley and Michelle Visage tell me what they think. It’s definitely not for me at this time, you know?
“They had asked me if I was interested in doing the last one. It just didn’t work out with my schedule and it wasn’t something I was interested in doing. I always say, I got through it unscathed the first time. You don’t go back and rob a bank twice. You just don’t.”
Can you comment about the Filipino drag community?
“Listen, the fact that the show (Drag Race Philippines) was here and that drag is alive and exciting, and for us in America, it’s been out there and someone, I think it might have been RuPaul who said that she never thought that drag would be mainstream and I sit back and go, she might have to eat her words because it’s pretty wild.
“In America, things were exciting and big for people. But now, to see it in the Philippines, Australia, the UK, it’s pretty amazing everywhere you go. Drag queens are falling out of the trees at this point, which is great. And I think what’s important is to find your talent, find your gift, go out there and entertain an audience. That’s what it’s all about. That’s drag for me.
“I do know that people do drag for different reasons. But for me, it’s definitely about the entertainment aspect of it. And I try to remind them to stay true to what you do best. Don’t compare yourself to some other sad b**ch because it’s too depressing.”
Are you really friends with Filipino-American Drag Race alums Manila Luzon and Jiggly Caliente?
“Sadly, yes (laughs). I’ve known them for quite some time before oh, god… we knew each other in New York. We go back to 2005, which is crazy! So I’ve known them forever and seen their success.
“It’s also good to see Jiggly as a judge on (Drag Race Philippines). I think it’s great. I mean, even though she’s the judge and she’s making money now, she still calls me for free tickets to my show. That b**ch. But no, I think it’s pretty amazing. The fact that we all knew each other in New York that many years ago and that we’re all getting to travel the world and do what we do, it’s pretty amazing!”
What’s your favorite memory from when you were starting out? If only to remind yourself how successful you’ve become?
“Oh, god, I still have the same friends and they remind me that I’m a piece of sh*t (laughs) and they remind me that I’m horrible. That’s kept me grounded.
“No look, the thing is you think about it every night. There’s not a night that goes by that you don’t think about how lucky I am to get to do this. Sometimes, you don’t even realize it till you come back.
“I would never say something is successful because what is success? We all have our own level of success. For me, I’m just grateful to get to work and you don’t realize it until we count the shows and realize what number we’re on. It’s not until I look back and go, oh, we did visit there or globally, the impact that you’ve had. It’s surreal! And for me now, this is eight years since Drag Race aired for us in America. It’s kind of insane to see the peaks and the valleys, but also this insane roller coaster that I’ve been on and how grateful I am to get to still be working.”
So, you’ve had a tour, you have a podcast, you’ve written a book (Blame It on Bianca Del Rio: The Expert On Nothing With An Opinion On Everything). What’s next for you?
“Porn. I’m ready to do porn (laughter)... No, you know, I don’t know what’s next. I look forward to getting to do anything and everything and say yes to it if it works out. Now, it’s usually just about scheduling. There’s been a couple of amazing opportunities that have come up in recent times that I’m looking forward to that will air and be produced in 2023, which is great. I just try to keep myself open. (A show?) I can’t tell you too much. This is not an inside conversation yet. But as soon as I will, I will call you (laughs). But there are some projects that are happening in 2023, aside from me just touring. I’m looking forward to having those aired and be out in the world.”