EXCLUSIVE Michelle Visage: 'RuPaul's Drag Race UK is definitely going to happen'

Earlier this year, RuPaul’s Drag Race was nominated for a staggering eight Emmy Awards after almost a decade on air.

The structured reality show sees a series of drag queens fight it out in a bid to be named “America’s next drag superstar”, taking part in a selection of challenges before a panel of judges – including host RuPaul and former Celebrity Big Brother star Michelle Visage.

In recent months, Drag Race has slowly started to shift into the mainstream after being picked up by Netflix, meaning that it finally airs across the world – including in the UK – as well as in the United States, with the show changing lives for members of the LGBTQ+ community through its inclusivity and by educating and opening the minds of viewers.

In fact, with the help of RuPaul drag has become so popular that the inaugural UK DragWorld convention kicked off at London’s Kensington Olympia yesterday, with thousands of people flocking to the venue to meet their favourite queens, including past Drag Race contestants, in a celebration of every aspect of the community.

Michelle Visage was also at the event, speaking to fans and delivering inspiring speeches on the main stage and in a selection of panels, and the popular TV star admitted to us that it’s only a matter of time before the UK gets their own version of RuPaul’s Drag Race – and both she and Ru will be making the trip across the pond to continue as host and judge.

Speaking exclusively at DragWorld, Michelle explained: “Myself and Ru will be doing it, there will be no one else. It’s RuPaul’s Drag Race, and you speak English so we don’t have to worry about the translation.

“We’re getting closer [to a UK version], but here’s the thing with the television situation here; I think commissioners don’t watch the show so all the gay people in the office and queens are like: ‘B*tch, you better watch this’, trying to talk to these people but they don’t understand the heart of the show.

“It’s life-altering and if they watched a series they would get it.

“So a UK version is definitely going to happen, but I just don’t know when. I am not giving up hope; I will fight for this b*tch until I die.

“There’s far too much drag talent in England, Scotland and Wales… All different parts of the UK, so it can’t not happen.”

We couldn’t agree more.

Michelle also opened up about how she’d like to see the series progress in the future, admitting that she would love to see a spin-off that allowed “biological women” to take part in the competition.

She explained: “I personally would love to see a bio queen Drag Race, it’d be fantastic and maybe I could star in that one, who knows?

“I don’t like to say ‘faux queens’ because there is nothing ‘faux’ about them, I am a huge fan and they’re very real, I’d love that.

“[Past contestant] Peppermint was an out trans woman and she went all the way to the top two, so you never know – there’s many ways you can go, but traditionally RuPaul’s Drag Race is about the art of men dressing up as lady boys.”

Michelle continued: “I would love to see a winners’ season but I just don’t see it happening… Getting all of those egos, I mean girls, together.

“With their schedules I don’t know how it could be done, but I would love that.

“I would like to theme it too, like why can’t we have a big girls’ season?”

Before leaving the stage, Michelle, who is a long-term and incredibly vocal ally to the LGBT+ community, also offered some advice to anybody whose parents are struggling to accept them.

Urging everybody to be proactive in educating those who do not understand, Michelle said that those who aren’t accepted should “get a job and make as much money as they can so that they can get the f*ck out, but they should also try to educate.”

She added: “We don’t teach anything through hate, yelling at somebody – even with awful words – doesn’t get anywhere. Education is key.

“People don’t understand the trans plight, and with our idiot President banning transgender troops we are regressing so I abhor you to try and speak like an adult and explain that this is who you are, you’re not going to change and that you love them no matter what.

“All you need is love, they don’t have to approve but they have to accept and if they don’t then bye, because all these people here today, they are your family.

“We can’t choose our family, but we have a really tight knit community.”

And as drag queens, members of the LGBT+ community, and straight allies from across the world united for this weekend’s convention, Michelle’s words could not have rang any more true.

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