RuPaul Drag Race star Bianca Del Rio 'feels at home in Edinburgh'

Drag Race royalty Bianca Del Rio is coming to Edinburgh later this year - an event that will feel like a homecoming for her.

The drag queen superstar is known for her big hair, striking makeup, and witty, and dark humour. Originally from Louisiana, Bianca, 48, has been working as a drag queen since 1996 and shot to worldwide fame after winning the 6th season of RuPaul's Drag Race in 2014.

10 years on, the comedy queen who has been branded 'the Joan Rivers of drag' has continued to 'shock and offend' audiences across the world and is returning to Edinburgh in September for her new show Dead Inside.

READ NEXT-Edinburgh home bursts into flames as hero firefighters tackle blaze

READ NEXT-Edinburgh Airport emergency services race to Virgin Atlantic flight as it lands

Bianca is no stranger to Edinburgh. She has played at the Usher Hall, and Playhouse and had a full month's sell-out run at the Festival Fringe with her show Unsanitized where she said she discovered just how much Scottish people can drink.

Speaking to Edinburgh Live about her time at the Fringe, she said: "Wow, you guys know how to drink! Being an American, I come from New Orleans, Louisiana, which is another drinking party town - It felt like home, I felt that I was with family here.

"Usually when I tour I don't have much downtime, it takes a long time to get dressed up and you know I don't wake up in drag - well I do if I fall asleep in it from the night before! But during August in Edinburgh, on occasion, I was able to go out and have a few cocktails in the bars - in between shows that's all I could do!

"It was lovely and I always look forward to coming back."

As well as looking forward to returning to Edinburgh's clubs on Elm Row, known as the Pink Triangle, Bianca is eager to get in front of a Scottish audience.

"I've just finished up the American leg of the tour, I have a little break then I'm heading to the UK and Europe. I'm always excited to go to the UK, because I often say, when people ask me, what is your best audience? And I always say, the UK and Europe are the best, as well as Australia.

"They really get my sick sense of humor, which is a dream. With America, sometimes there's a tad bit of confusion, but in the UK, Europe and Australia, they're smart enough to know what's going on. I'm just excited to get back out and perform again."

The show is regularly evolving, Bianca admits. As things in the world change through the tour so does the content. She explained that she does have a loose script, but new jokes get added to it with every country she visits.

"Always expect the unexpected because everything changes," the Drag Race winner said.

"I have a lot of time in between my American leg of the tour and this one. And the world is changing so fast. So, there's always something to talk about.

"Even while I was on the road for three months, so much of the show structurally has shifted, because so much was happening within pop culture and politics, and I don't really talk much about politics. But sometimes you just can't pass it up, because it's such a good setup and such a good joke - I don't know if you've heard, but American politics are quite laughable right now."

She continued: "I do a lot of audience participation, which, of course, could totally change the show and shift things in any direction. I would say for the people of Edinburgh, get your cocktails, which I don't really have to tell you - you know how to do this - and be prepared to go on a ride because that's usually what it is for me every night!"

Bianca Del Rio will be performing her show Dead Inside at the Usher Hall on September 13.