Yahoo News RuPaul’s Drag Race winner Sharon Needles reveals what the show glosses over
Since RuPaul’s Drag Race came on to the scene in 2009, there’s been a huge explosion of drag culture in to the mainstream.
Drag queens are becoming household names, and RuPaul merchandise is available at Primark. Season four winner Sharon Needles spoke exclusively to Digital Spy about whether there were any aspects of the culture that should stay underground.
“It's too late, nothing is staying underground,” she said. “The show has demonstrated the variety of drag from comedy to pageant to art to sloppy to club kid. Every form of drag has been represented on RuPaul's Drag Race. The cat is out of the bag.”
Discussing the backlash some queens have had following inappropriate jokes and comments, she continued: “I say let's be more honest. Let's show the little kiddies how much dick we're sucking and how much coke we're snorting.
“RuPaul herself has the image of love yourself, and ask the universe for what you want but also there is a danger side to drag that is never represented. When we say a girl gets 'caught' in something unsavoury, I say let them know. Drag culture has always been about excess.”
She added: “Absolutely [the show glosses over that]. Maybe the world wouldn't benefit so much to have your idols and your icons glorify the filth of night life, but the fact is it's very true.”
Sharon, 37, continued: “My concept is drag queens are not a reflection of society, they are a fun house reflection of society where we bend, and twist and manipulate the anxieties we all feel. It's funny, as drag queens we are called a lot of things but we are never called misogynist and that's the closest thing you can call a drag queen because what fucking woman looks like this?”
Speaking about whether she’s ever felt the need to censor herself, the Halloween queen said: “I was raised on GG Allen, Divine, Elvira and Marilyn Manson. I was always more interested in those button pushing, transgressive artists and they made a lot of good money doing it.
“Unfortunately, although us drag queens are ruling the world we're still paid like D-list celebrities, which has its own faux misogyny and homophobia. This is a job, and if you're interested in the money I say censor the shit out of yourself. Alaska is a great example of that. Be soft, put the smile on, earn coins and make people happy.
“I like money but I love performance art and it goes hand in hand. I'm not the Titanic, I'm The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I'm not a blockbuster, I'm a cult classic. I think my strong but cult-like fanbase expects me to challenge norms.”
She added that she doesn’t consider herself a role model, saying: “I consider myself a supermodel but a role model is not something I asked for. If they find something inspiring that betters their life or brings them comfort to this dark world there's nothing wrong with that.”
Sharon is currently on tour with a number of other RuPaul’s Drag Race fan favourites, including Bob The Drag Queen and Asia O’Hara for the Christmas Queens tour.
“Christmas Queens is a conundrum and slightly oxymoronic in a way because you have these filthy-mouthed glamazons spreading holiday cheer,” she said. “What's even stranger for me is me, America's most loved satanic drag queen and the queen of Halloween, to do this. But the reaction has been great and we love doing it.
Season 4evs.. suit by @theladyhyde @rupaulsdragrace @jigglycalienteofficial @phiphiohara
A post shared by Sharon Needles (@sharonneedlespgh) on Dec 6, 2018 at 12:20pm PST
“I like it because Halloween for me is 365, all my work is in the horror and gore genre so Christmas to me is almost more like Halloween than Halloween because I get to dress up in all these warm, glittery, holiday colours, blonde hair, soft make up so the fans get to see a stranger side to Sharon.
"I love all the colours in the crayon box, I just happen to use the black crayon more.”
Tickets for Christmas Queens are available here. Sharon Needles third album Battleaxe is also available to buy on iTunes.
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