{"id":371485,"date":"2024-09-12T17:56:48","date_gmt":"2024-09-12T16:56:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/?p=371485"},"modified":"2024-09-13T20:51:51","modified_gmt":"2024-09-13T19:51:51","slug":"drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

The 12 queens of RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race UK<\/em> season 6 discuss the \u201cfreshest\u201d instalment yet.<\/p>\n

WORDS BY\u00a0SAM DAMSHENAS
\n<\/strong>DESIGN BY JACK ROWE
\n<\/strong>SPECIAL THANKS TO BBC’S JASMINE ALOMA <\/strong>AND SOFIE VAN DE GRAMPEL<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/p>

Babes, let\u2019s all take a moment to reflect and thank Michelle Visage for sacrificing her sanity<\/a> to live in a claustrophobic hell-hole with Katie Hopkins and Perez Hilton on Celebrity Big Brother<\/em>. Without the Seduction singer\u2019s valiance<\/a> in trying to secure a British broadcaster for Drag Race UK<\/em>, the United Kingdolls failed to bing, bang, bong<\/a> popular culture, the Angels of the North<\/a>\u2019s shoplifting tendencies have landed them in jail as opposed to BBC iPlayer and Chappell Roan has gladly accepted a brand deal with H&M<\/a>. Thank you, Michelle!<\/p>\n

In two weeks (12 September), 12 more queens will flex their charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent to serve more iconic, culture-defining and controversial moments via lip-sync smackdowns and challenges. As one queen tells GAY TIMES<\/em>: \u201cThere has never been a cast of Drag Race UK<\/em> where the cast are determined to show you, not just great drag, but great TV as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

As per, season six features the return of RuPaul as host, with Michelle Visage, Alan Carr and Graham Norton as regular panellists. The quartet will be joined by a plethora of LGBTQIA+ icons and allies<\/a>, from The X Factor<\/em> champion Alexandra Burke to \u2018Shoulda Woulda Coulda\u2019 icon Beverley Knight and Big Brother<\/em> co-host AJ Odudu.<\/p>\n

Here, we chat with the 12 fierce queens hoping to usurp Ginger Johnson as Britain\u2019s Next Drag Superstar:<\/a> Actavia, Chanel O\u2019Conor, Charra Tea, Dita Garbo, Kiki Snatch, Kyran Thrax, La Voix, Lill, Marmalade, Rileasa Slaves, Saki Yew and Zahirah Zapanta.<\/p>\n

Inevitable Laganja Estranja reference incoming: \u201cC\u2019mon season six, let\u2019s get sickening!\u201d<\/p>\n

Actavia
\n21, North Wales<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Tayce and Anetra
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> Sasha Colby vs Anetra – \u2018I\u2019m in Love with a Monster\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 6 and UK season 2<\/p>\n

\u201cSugno fy selsig,\u201d says Actavia. Explanation incoming: as one of 12 queens competing this season, the 21-year-old has just made history as the franchise\u2019s first fluent Welsh speaker, so rather than ask sincere questions such as \u2018what does this mean to you?\u2019 or \u2018what impact do you want this to have?\u2019 etc, I seize the opportunity to learn how to say something filthy and sordid. \u201cIt means \u2018suck my sausage\u2019.\u201d Good! To! Know!<\/p>\n

Newsflash, that was also a lie: I did, in fact, ask Actavia the latter question and she tells me that she\u2019s already noticed the impact of \u201crepresenting a small town\u201d on Welshians who are, like her, fluent in sausage-speaking smut. \u201cWhen I first started watching Drag Race<\/em> I didn\u2019t really know what drag was because there was nothing around me, drag-wise. Hopefully, if someone is watching who is around my age when I started they\u2019ll be able to think, \u2018Okay, I can do that.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

While Actavia\u2019s \u201cvillainess\u201d promo suggests she\u2019ll be a tough cunty queen, she assures me that campery and stupidity are the traits she exhibits most. No, really: \u201cI\u2019m the densest person ever. [I\u2019m] so stupid.\u201d<\/p>\n

With her dance background, expect her to flip, kick, split and [insert name of other gravity-defying drag tricks here] on the stage, but she\u2019s also been known to chuck in a tribute to Charity Shop Sue every now and then. \u201cI take drag seriously, but not to the point where it\u2019s not fun,\u201d she says, \u201cand I think that will come across.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for how she describes season six? \u201cChaotic, exciting and elevated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chanel O\u2019Conor
\n25, Scotland<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Scarlet Envy
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> Katya vs Sasha Belle – \u2018Twist of Fate\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 6<\/p>\n

Ahead of this interview, Kyran Thrax kindly warned me that, out of all 12 cast members, Chanel O\u2019Conor is the firecracker and troublemaker of season six. BREAKING: I can confirm that is, indeed, quite accurate. \u201cWell, I\u2019m a lady of leisure, a lady who likes her own way,\u201d she says (with a somewhat sinister smile). \u201cIf I haven\u2019t had my breakfast, oh I\u2019m foul<\/em>.\u201d However, Chanel refuses to be labelled as a diva. \u201cI would say \u2018beast\u2019. Really setting the bar, aren\u2019t I?\u201d<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old Scottish diva<\/del> beast<\/em><\/a>, who claims Bill Gates messaged her at four a.m. for a spot of hanky-panky (lawsuit incoming\u2026), exclusively reveals that season six includes a challenge where the cast \u201cbare-knuckle box each other covered in turkey grease\u201d. As you can probably tell, Chanel is a queen whose comedy is based in truth. Suffering from PTSD from the aforementioned challenge, which is 100% real and a major spoiler, by the way, she emotionally continues: \u201c\u2026 then they threw Yorkshire puddings at us, and RuPaul covered us in potatoes.\u201d<\/p>\n

As well as truth, Chanel\u2019s comedy is rooted in \u201cthe land of Seth Macfarlane\u201d, so you can expect megalomaniacal sociopathy ala Stewie Griffin<\/a> and alien cross-dressing hijinkx ala Roger Smith<\/a> (that\u2019s the extent of my Seth knowledge – I hope the gifs helped). \u201cThe kind of old-school ridiculous comedy where it\u2019s more situational stupidity,\u201d she divulges. \u201cI will throw myself down the stairs if I can make somebody laugh.\u201d In fact, \u201cI actually kept doing that [on the show] and production were like, \u2018Chanel, stop please, the Queen Team aren\u2019t happy about this.\u2019 I\u2019d be like, \u2018One more time!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

So, there\u2019s a check mark next to \u201ccomedy\u201d. Having concocted garments for season two winner Lawrence Chaney, the same can be said for \u201cfashion\u201d too. What about her other strengths?: \u201cI\u2019m so passionate about interrupting people.\u201d As Chanel\u2019s bio comes to an end, it\u2019s important for her to add another hard-hitting truth: \u201cMichael Bay is the greatest director of all time.\u201d<\/p>\n

Charra Tea
\n23, Belfast<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Miz Cracker
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync<\/strong>: Kitten Kaboodle vs The Girlfriend Experience – \u2018Tongue\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 6<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was so crazy, big and pink,\u201d says Charra Tea. \u201cIt was literally the best moment of my life.\u201d You can halt those perverse and impure thoughts right this second<\/em> because the 23-year-old is not following in the footsteps of her Northern Irish sister Blu Hydrangea in the filth department, she is simply reflecting on when her dreams came true by entering the Drag Race<\/em> werkroom. (I\u2019m actually unsure if she was intentional with those choice of words, time will tell if she\u2019s a secret saucy minx.)<\/p>\n

Charra does, however, want to emulate the success of the franchise’s scarce Northern Irish contestants, which only includes Blu and Jonbers Blonde: \u201cBlu won UK vs the World<\/em> and Jonbers was a finalist on season four, so those are some big boots to fill! But, I\u2019m excited to represent Belfast and show fans that, if I can get on the show as a quiet and anxious kid in school, anyone can do it.”<\/p>\n

Currently residing in Manchester, Charra\u2019s drag was birthed after her first viewing of Hairspray<\/em>. Her influences include future EGOT winners such as Nadine Coyle, Kim Woodburn and Gemma Collins, while her aesthetic revolves around bright colours and “massive prolapse dresses”. Remaining tight-lipped on the season, she reveals that her “dreams would come true” (x2) if she could be in Drag Race<\/em>‘s second-ever spoken word lip-sync to Peter Marsh’s pop culture-defining read of Jane’s “sad little life” on Come Dine With Me<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t expect Peter Marsh-levels of shade on season six, though, because Charra teases a new instalment of RuPaul\u2019s Best Friend\u2019s Race.<\/em> \u201cWe\u2019re like a family,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a gorgeous group on WhatsApp and we talk in it everyday. It\u2019s lovely and we all get on so well.\u201d This could be a misdirect, as she uses words such as \u201cbrash\u201d, \u201cexciting\u201d and \u201cdramatic\u201d to describe the season, adding: \u201cIt\u2019s everything you want Drag Race<\/em> to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dita Garbo
\n47, Kent<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Sasha Velour
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> [No answer]
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 16<\/p>\n

For Dita Garbo, it\u2019s an \u201chonour\u201d to make herstory as Drag Race UK<\/em>\u2019s oldest-ever queen. \u201cThe younger bitches need to be careful \u2018cause we\u2019ve got wisdom – and we\u2019ve still got time!\u201d (Kandy Ho is trembling.)<\/p>\n

While Dita is coy and doesn\u2019t want to \u201cblow my own trumpet too much\u201d – I assure her that blowing is okay – she hopes her appearance on season six proves to age-ists that \u201cif people are good at something in their 20s, they\u2019ll still be good at it in their 30s, 40s and 50s\u201d. Defiantly, the Kent native goes one step further by stating that she wants to \u201ckick the shit\u201d out of the archaic perception that queens of a certain age are unable to keep up with the TikTok-ing Gen-Z\u2019s: \u201cI want to take away that stigma.\u201d<\/p>\n

As a burlesque performer and Dita Von Teese stan (hence her name), we can expect her to bless our screens with a bit of sex and sauce, as well as splits, shablams and \u201csplits again!\u201d as a result of her professional dance training. \u201cI do it all,\u201d she rightfully boasts before teasing that, if she does somehow end up in a lip-sync smackdown, \u201cI\u2019ll put on a show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Contradicting Charra\u2019s above Tea, Dita promises \u201cphysical fights\u201d on season six (she was joking, I think – sorry), and one of the most \u201cdiverse\u201d seasons in the franchise\u2019s ever-expanding history. \u201cThere\u2019s a big age range and we\u2019re all very different. We\u2019ve all got different personalities and that means there\u2019s something for everyone watching. Yeah, it\u2019s going to be one of the best seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kiki Snatch
\n25, London<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Jaida Essence Hall
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> Vanity Milan vs Scarlett Harlett – \u2018Scandalous\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season<\/strong>: US season 9<\/p>\n

You feeling Ro\u2019Sham Bo\u2019Sham? If one is not embodying Ro\u2019Sham Bo\u2019Sham energy, then one needs to pull it the fuck together. \u201c[Season six] is so<\/em> Ro\u2019Sham Bo\u2019Sham,\u201d says Kiki Snatch, who uses the soon-to-be viral \u2018Padam Padam\u2019-esque catchphrase to describe, well, just about anything. \u201cI don\u2019t get myself sometimes, and people don\u2019t get me either. I\u2019m all over the place. If I can\u2019t put it into words, then it\u2019s Ro\u2019Sham Bo\u2019Sham. It can mean good or bad, it\u2019s all in the intonation.\u201d One more time: Ro\u2019Sham Bo\u2019Sham.<\/strong><\/em> (It really does roll off the tongue, eh?)<\/p>\n

The Saint-Lucian\/London \u201ccross-breed baddie\u201d is determined to become Drag Race UK<\/em>\u2019s first capital city champion, and she says she\u2019ll do so with her skills as a fierce dancer and powerhouse vocalist, as well as her Beyonc\u00e9-Ciara-Donna Summer-inspired aesthetic. (Do we already have our girl group challenge winner?) Kiki says: \u201cAnyone that knows me will be like, \u2018It\u2019s that bitch.’ Anyone who doesn\u2019t know me is going to want to know me, because you\u2019re gonna fall in love.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although the merch-ready queen attempted to \u201cplead the fifth\u201d on the above information about her Drag Race<\/em> favourites, she ultimately conceded and revealed that her number-one queens from across the franchise are Jaida Essence Hall and Vanessa Vanjie Mateo, while she has a soft spot for the season where \u201cShea Coule\u00e9 walked in for the first time\u201d. As for the lip-syncs that live in her mind \u201crent-free\u201d, it\u2019s Vanity Milan\u2019s iconic \u2018Scandalous\u2019 battle with Scarlett Harlett and Alyssa Edwards and Tatianna’s seminal showdown to ‘Shut Up and Drive’.<\/p>\n

Of course, Kiki hopes to avoid the bottom two, but she acknowledges that, like the two aforementioned smackdowns, a lip-sync can be responsible for cementing a queen\u2019s legacy. With that in mind, Kiki is self-aware enough to know that being on television is her opportunity to serve iconic moments and a bit of – here we go again – Ro\u2019Sham Bo\u2019Sham.<\/em><\/p>\n

Kyran Thrax
\n26, Lancashire<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Sasha Velour, Adore Delano, Bob the Drag Queen
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> Adore Delano vs Trinity K. Bonet – \u2018Vibeology\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 6<\/p>\n

When one has a self-proclaimed witch on a Zoom call, one selfishly takes advantage of their other-worldly gifts to foresee the future. So, here is Kryan Thrax\u2019s prediction of how season six will be perceived by fans: \u201cPeople are going to be thoroughly entertained, shocked, horrified\u2026 and turned on<\/em>.\u201d I am listening!<\/p>\n

Crediting Lady Gaga as a main source of inspiration, Kyran is the drag daughter of season four\u2019s Charity Kase – making her the granddaughter of U.S. champion Raja – so you can expect this 6\u201d8 queen to be a conceptual fashionista of the horror variety. Oscar-worthy acting, too, because listen to her wildest experience in drag:<\/p>\n

\u201cA wife booked me for her wedding. It was her husband\u2019s sixth marriage and he\u2019d had a kid in each one. When the registrar said, \u2018Does anyone have any reason why these two should not be wed?\u2019 I burst through the door with a pregnancy bump and shouted at him, pretending to be his mistress. I\u2019ve never seen a man look so horrified in his life. I then went into a spontaneous lip-sync of \u2018I Will Survive\u2019.\u201d (We need footage, pronto.)<\/p>\n

Despite this, Kyran actually admits that she\u2019s scared of confrontation and doesn\u2019t \u201clike\u201d drama. Inevitably, as a drag artist who is passionate about her craft, she\u2019s not immune to conflict. \u201cI won\u2019t bite my tongue,\u201d she teases, \u201cif I need to say something I will. But I do internally scream anytime a bit of heat comes my way.\u201d Good thing it\u2019s Best Friend\u2019s Race<\/em>, then? \u201cThe cast is just phenomenal,\u201d she says. \u201cWe work together incredibly well and this is the freshest season of Drag Race<\/em> in a while. It\u2019s got so much edge.\u201d<\/p>\n

La Voix
\n43, Stockton on Tees<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Bianca Del Rio
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync: <\/strong>[No answer]
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 6<\/p>\n

Between her appearances on Britain\u2019s Got Talent<\/em> and Queen of the Universe<\/em>, as well as her viral mid-cruise Cameo where she learns of Queen Elizabeth\u2019s death<\/a> – \u201cBing bong, \u2018the queen\u2019s dead\u2019, I\u2019ll never forget that\u201d – La Voix is undeniably one of the most prolific queens on season six.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel like I\u2019ve come out of retirement to do one of the most energetic shows of my life!\u201d she says over Zoom – from another cruise, I should add. \u201cIt\u2019s a strange turn of events because I said I\u2019d never do the show, but a friend of mine applied for me. Funnily enough, I applied the same week to Bargain Hunt<\/em>. I\u2019m glad I didn\u2019t get it. I don\u2019t look good in a fleece.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite her plethora of career achievements, which also includes pantomime with Cilla Black, singing at Ian McKellen\u2019s birthday and standing metres away from the Queen as she busted moves to \u2018Uptown Funk\u2019 and \u2018Gangnam Style\u2019, nothing has put her \u201cthrough the ringer\u201d quite like Drag Race UK<\/em>. “There are curveballs every step of the way. RuPaul does things he\u2019s never done before, there\u2019s lip-sync battles we\u2019ve never seen,” she teases. \u201cAnd don\u2019t be thinking you know the order of challenges like, \u2018Snatch Game goes there\u2019 or \u2018that game goes there\u2019. No! They\u2019ve given Drag Race<\/em> a major shake-up. It\u2019s fresh, new, exciting and everyone\u2019s going to be mind-blown.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stranded on a non-moving cruise, the conversation takes a turn for the Ro\u2019Sham Bo\u2019Sham (see, it\u2019s catching on!) as La Voix jokes about revealing her \u201cred beaver live on television\u201d for a potential celebrity edition of Naked Attraction.<\/em>\u00a0\u201cYou can tell I\u2019m stuck at sea,\u201d she laughs, before pleading: \u201cDon\u2019t leave me on this Zoom. You\u2019re the only company I\u2019ve got.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lill
\n36, Manchester<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR alumni:<\/strong> Violet Chachki
\nFavourite RPDR lip-sync:<\/strong> Dida Ritz vs The Princess – \u2018This Will Be\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR season:<\/strong> US season 5<\/p>\n

A member of the Family Gorgeous, Lill says her conceptual sense of style is her biggest strength; a no-brainer considering the legendary drag dynasty also includes powerhouses such as Asttina Mandella, Cheddar Gorgeous, Dragula\u2019<\/em>s Anna Phylactic and Manchester legends Liquorice Black and Tete Bang.<\/p>\n

Lill describes the collective as all different from one another, but claims she\u2019s the \u201cfun one, the one you wanna go on a night out with\u201d. Case in point: she often does gigs abroad, and was once stranded with season five alum Banksie after skiing down a \u201creally dangerous\u201d slope in full drag. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know how to stop,\u201d she remembers in-between tears (my<\/em> tears, because the story had me cackling). Another career highlight, she says, is when she appeared on Lorraine<\/em> with the Family Gorgeous to promote their Channel 4 series Drag SOS<\/em>, where the Scottish ally proceeded to call her a – warning, this is just so cruel and wicked – \u201cQueen Pie\u201d: Lill says: \u201cI\u2019m not entirely sure why.\u201d<\/p>\n

With her name standing for Living in Lavish Luxury, I was completely convinced when Lill informed me that she\u2019s speaking to me from a Turkey hotel room because she\u2019s getting \u201cnew tits and teeth\u201d. So convinced, I had to investigate whether or not this was true. Still not sure, actually, so this either means a)<\/strong> she\u2019s taking advantage of her newfound celebrity status and getting All Stars<\/em>-ready or b)<\/strong>, she\u2019s the deadpan queen of the season and I\u2019m a daft bitch. \u201cI’m having all my teeth replaced with wooden pegs [like Katie Price],\u201d she says. \u201cI hope you like them when I see you next.\u201d<\/p>\n

Marmalade
\n24, Cardiff<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni<\/strong>: Sasha Velour
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> Trinity the Tuck vs Charlie Hides – \u2018I Wanna Go\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 6<\/p>\n

After supporting her respective drag mother and grandmother Tia Kofi and Victoria Scone on their seasons, and creating garments for them, it’s Marmalade’s time to sweep the competition. \u201cEveryone\u2019s going to expect me to kill a design challenge, which is fair,\u201d she admits. \u201cBut keep on eye on those other challenges. I\u2019m an actor first and foremost. I\u2019ve done musical theatre, I\u2019m a singer.\u201d Death drops, too? \u201cOh no, no, no. I wouldn\u2019t be getting up.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inspired by Hollywood stars such as Lana Turner, Rita Hayworth and Faye Dunaway, as well as Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn in Death Becomes Her<\/em>, Marmalade is known for her vintage aesthetic with a \u201cmodern twist\u201d. In addition to Tia and Victoria, she\u2019s created runways for Drag Race UK<\/em> contestants \u201cevery year\u201d – her services were even requested by a mystery queen for season six. \u201cI won\u2019t say who, but I had to tell them, \u2018Sorry, I\u2019m busy!\u2019 I then saw her in the werkroom and I think she sorted it out in the end, can\u2019t confirm or deny. I don\u2019t want to spoil!\u201d<\/p>\n

Echoing the comments from her sisters about the many \u201cfirsts\u201d on season six, Marmalade says she\u2019s never seen a season of Drag Race UK<\/em> where the entire cast are determined to show \u201cnot just great drag, but great TV as well\u201d: \u201cWe didn\u2019t hold back, and it made for an exciting and dynamic addition to the UK franchise that takes it into a direction it\u2019s never been before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rileasa Slaves
\n32, London<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Mo Heart
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> Dida Ritz vs The Princess – \u2018This Will Be\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> UK season 2<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know my number, Rihanna, I\u2019m happy to do a feature!\u201d Rileasa Slaves says after sadly confirming the Drag Race<\/em> superfan and future guest judge (?) has not made contact with her doppelg\u00e4nger. \u201cPut me in lingerie bitch. Savage X Fenty, hello? Click, click. Send me some free makeup.\u201d<\/p>\n

Embracing her status as the season\u2019s \u201cshapeshifter\u201d – Rileasa\u2019s mug has also been compared to Rita Ora and Andra Day – she wants fans to know that she\u2019s not an official impersonator of the \u2018Shut Up and Drive\u2019 songstress, she\u2019s simply a \u201cquarterback in a wig\u201d. \u201cBaby, baby, baby. I feel offended<\/strong><\/em> for Rihanna. She\u2019s a gorgeous Caribbean goddess!\u201d<\/p>\n

As the franchise\u2019s first representation of the House of Emancipation – also including her legendary drag mother Freida Slaves – Rileasa is inevitably feeling the pressure, but she\u2019s ready to demonstrate why her dynasty dominates London\u2019s drag scene. \u201cThe world is finally tuning in, baby. All these people are finally tapping into Rileasa\u2019s world, her universe, her cosmos. She\u2019s intergalactic, honey!\u201d she says. \u201cI wanted to fly the family flag and give credit to my mama, who paved the way. Also, just to give some melanin representation is important, to sprinkle some sea water on the BBC.\u201d<\/p>\n

A trained contemporary dancer, Rileasa has been known to slay the clubs with a bit of \u201cpuss and boom ka-ka-ka\u201d (spelling<\/a>?). But, she says the keyword here is \u201cretired\u201d: \u201cShe got old! She knows how to open her legs and drop into the splits, but don\u2019t be expecting flips and dips and tricks, honey. I love my meniscus.\u201d Rileasa does guarantee, however, to serve \u201cwomana\u201d and \u201cbody-ody-ody\u201d: \u201cI mean, does she need to pad when she does pilates?\u201d<\/p>\n

Saki Yew
\n33, Manchester<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> Marina Summers
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> Nina Bonina Brown vs Valentina – \u2018Greedy\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 6<\/p>\n

Although she\u2019s \u201cbooked and blessed\u201d as a Manchester queen, Saki Yew has made history (said that a lot in this article, haven\u2019t I?) as the first Drag Race UK<\/em> queen to be born in Australia. More incoming: she and Zahirah are also the UK’s first competitors of Filipino descent. (UK vs the World <\/em>not included!)\u00a0So, what do you get when you infuse Mancunian, Australian and Filipino culture into one queen? \u201cFrankenstein,\u201d apparently!<\/p>\n

Boasting thirteen years in the drag industry, Saki once took a hiatus to pursue a dance career. Now, she\u2019s back, back, back and ready to be catapulted to superstardom to serve \u201clooks, sass and a dulled down Australian accent\u201d. A musical theatre queen that can sing and \u201ccrochet\u201d the house down, Saki is eager to compete in the Rusical and girl-group challenge as \u201cit shows off what I was trained to do\u201d.<\/p>\n

For Saki, now was the right time for her to compete on the Olympics of Drag because she\u2019s at her \u201cpeak\u201d. More importantly, though, Saki just wants to showcase good drag. \u201cI don\u2019t really have an agenda with it,\u201d she shares. \u201cI just want fans to be entertained and see the love and effort and sweat and tears we put into our art.\u201d But as we know, it\u2019s not as simple as that, is it? \u201cEveryone\u2019s going to have their little armies [on social media], but like I always say, \u2018Their opinion is none of my business,\u2019\u201d she says, which was met with an extremely gay finger-wag from me. \u201cI don\u2019t really care!\u201d<\/p>\n

Zahirah Zapanta
\n28, Nottingham<\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Favourite RPDR<\/em> alumni:<\/strong> M1ss Jade So
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> lip-sync:<\/strong> Manila Luzon vs Delta Work – \u2018MacArthur Park\u2019
\nFavourite RPDR<\/em> season:<\/strong> US season 3<\/p>\n

With Drag Race<\/em>\u2019s long-awaited Asian renaissance, from bananactivist Nymphia Wind conquering season 16<\/a> to Marina Summers giving \u201ccolonisers the chop!\u201d on UK vs the World<\/em><\/a> and, of course, the universal acclaim of Philippines<\/em><\/a>, Zahirah Zapanta is ready to \u201creceive the love\u201d she deserves. \u201cI\u2019ve supported Marina on tour and she\u2019s a force to be reckoned with. [Their success] makes me so proud to be an Asian queen,\u201d says the Filipina Goddessa, who also wants to use her platform to continue defying archaic stereotypes that Asian people are \u201cshy and reserved – I\u2019m nothing of the sort!\u201d<\/p>\n

Making history as the first Drag Race UK<\/em> contestant *born* in the Philippines, the Nottingham-based star credits season three, All Stars 1<\/em> and 4<\/em> alum Manila Luzon with \u201ckick-starting\u201d her foray into drag. \u201cI was like, \u2018Oh, a man can dress up as a woman and receive accolades? Yes please,\u2019\u201d she explains. But, there\u2019s one recent contestant in particular that\u2019s captured her heart. \u201cM!ss Jade So from Philippines<\/em> season two is an icon. The things that come out of her mouth, wow. Her mind! Her cortex!\u201d Yes, we\u2019re somewhat diverting from season six here but this is of extreme relevance because, as she teases, a friendship (and a potential joint tour) is on the horizon (!!!). \u201cShe DM\u2019d me this morning and I was like, \u2018Let\u2019s do something\u2019. Can you imagine?”<\/p>\n

On season six, Zahirah claims to be a queen who doesn\u2019t start drama, but can \u201cparticipate\u201d: \u201cLike, if you put it in my direction, I\u2019m throwing it straight back at you. If you hit me hard enough, then something is gonna come out of my mouth because it only takes a matter of time, baby.\u201d As we conclude these interviews, I ask Zahirah to throw some adjectives my way for season six: \u201cChaos. Fashion. Fierce.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drag Race UK season 6 premieres 26 September on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 12 queens of RuPaul\u2019s Drag Race UK season 6 discuss the \u201cfreshest\u201d instalment yet. WORDS BY\u00a0SAM DAMSHENAS DESIGN BY JACK ROWE SPECIAL THANKS TO BBC’S JASMINE ALOMA AND SOFIE\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1168,"featured_media":371564,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/feature.php","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[556,205,557,531,665],"tags":[20462,1642,5596,3096,636,2129,530,1820,644,536,2288],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The 12 queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 6 discuss the 'freshest and most chaotic' season in herstory.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The 12 queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 6 discuss the 'freshest and most chaotic' season in herstory.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"GAY TIMES\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gaytimes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-12T16:56:48+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-09-13T19:51:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DRUK-season-6-Amplify-header-1024x629.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"629\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sam Damshenas\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@samdamshenas\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@gaytimes\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sam Damshenas\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"1 minute\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sam Damshenas\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/person\/26c9cf714baced5dc8d01904295f787c\"},\"headline\":\"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-12T16:56:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-13T19:51:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/\"},\"wordCount\":13,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"Actavia\",\"BBC\",\"BBC iPlayer\",\"BBC Three\",\"Drag Race\",\"Drag Race UK\",\"Interviews\",\"LGBTQ+ TV\",\"Long Reads\",\"RuPaul's Drag Race\",\"World Of Wonder\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Amplify\",\"Culture\",\"Drag\",\"Originals\",\"Television\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/\",\"name\":\"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-12T16:56:48+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-09-13T19:51:51+00:00\",\"description\":\"The 12 queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 6 discuss the 'freshest and most chaotic' season in herstory.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/\",\"name\":\"GAY TIMES\",\"description\":\"Amplifying queer voices.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#organization\",\"name\":\"GAY TIMES\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/cd-gaytimes.j.layershift.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GT_ICON_ILLUSTRATOR_BLACK_RGB-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/cd-gaytimes.j.layershift.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GT_ICON_ILLUSTRATOR_BLACK_RGB-1.png\",\"width\":11710,\"height\":11710,\"caption\":\"GAY TIMES\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gaytimes\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/gaytimes\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gaytimes\/\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gaytimes\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/gaytimesmag\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/GayTimesChannel\",\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_Times\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/person\/26c9cf714baced5dc8d01904295f787c\",\"name\":\"Sam Damshenas\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7743490aea9fb232439a8166d15b1a39?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7743490aea9fb232439a8166d15b1a39?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Sam Damshenas\"},\"description\":\"sam@gaytimes.co.uk\",\"sameAs\":[\"samdamshenas\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/samdamshenas\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/author\/sam-damshenas\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6","description":"The 12 queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 6 discuss the 'freshest and most chaotic' season in herstory.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6","og_description":"The 12 queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 6 discuss the 'freshest and most chaotic' season in herstory.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/","og_site_name":"GAY TIMES","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gaytimes","article_published_time":"2024-09-12T16:56:48+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-09-13T19:51:51+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":629,"url":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/DRUK-season-6-Amplify-header-1024x629.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Sam Damshenas","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@samdamshenas","twitter_site":"@gaytimes","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sam Damshenas","Est. reading time":"1 minute"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/"},"author":{"name":"Sam Damshenas","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/person\/26c9cf714baced5dc8d01904295f787c"},"headline":"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6","datePublished":"2024-09-12T16:56:48+00:00","dateModified":"2024-09-13T19:51:51+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/"},"wordCount":13,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#organization"},"keywords":["Actavia","BBC","BBC iPlayer","BBC Three","Drag Race","Drag Race UK","Interviews","LGBTQ+ TV","Long Reads","RuPaul's Drag Race","World Of Wonder"],"articleSection":["Amplify","Culture","Drag","Originals","Television"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/","url":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/","name":"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-09-12T16:56:48+00:00","dateModified":"2024-09-13T19:51:51+00:00","description":"The 12 queens of RuPaul's Drag Race UK season 6 discuss the 'freshest and most chaotic' season in herstory.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/amplify\/drag-race-uk-season-6-cast-amplify-interview\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"\u2018A new direction for the franchise\u2019: Drag Race UK stars on \u201cmind-blowing\u201d season 6"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/","name":"GAY TIMES","description":"Amplifying queer voices.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#organization","name":"GAY TIMES","url":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/cd-gaytimes.j.layershift.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GT_ICON_ILLUSTRATOR_BLACK_RGB-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cd-gaytimes.j.layershift.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/GT_ICON_ILLUSTRATOR_BLACK_RGB-1.png","width":11710,"height":11710,"caption":"GAY TIMES"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/gaytimes","https:\/\/twitter.com\/gaytimes","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/gaytimes\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/gaytimes","https:\/\/www.pinterest.co.uk\/gaytimesmag\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/GayTimesChannel","https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gay_Times"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/person\/26c9cf714baced5dc8d01904295f787c","name":"Sam Damshenas","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7743490aea9fb232439a8166d15b1a39?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/7743490aea9fb232439a8166d15b1a39?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Sam Damshenas"},"description":"sam@gaytimes.co.uk","sameAs":["samdamshenas","https:\/\/twitter.com\/samdamshenas"],"url":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/author\/sam-damshenas\/"}]}},"amp_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371485"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1168"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=371485"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371485\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":371720,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/371485\/revisions\/371720"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/371564"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=371485"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=371485"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gaytimes.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=371485"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}