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Bianca Del Rio talks ‘Drag Race’ behind the scenes, ‘Hurricane Bianca,’ and the importance of employment protections
Bianca Del Rio is just a girl who can’t say no.
Since winning season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race She has starred in a movie written for her, started ‘Really Queen?’ her own successful youtube show, and is touring the world with her stand up show.
To what does she owe her success? She Just loves to say yes, after performing in bars for nineteen years she isn’t taking a single opportunity for granted.
With her movie, Hurricane Bianca in post production and her Rolodex of Hate tour in full swing she has been a busy girl.
Don’t worry, she has still made the time to reflect back on her days as a Ru girl.
“I had a very different impression of it. I told my friends I was very nice I was very calm,” she said. “Then I look back and the first episode I’m cussing somebody out, it’s like ‘oh shit.’”
Del Rio undoubtedly had a reputation as a bitch, but she couldn’t agree more. And doesn’t everyone loves a bitch with a secret heart of gold. She managed to win the hearts of America, or at least everyone who has Logo. Bianca is not complaining, in the past many queens have come out and said that they felt the show was edited unfairly.
While she admits that things do get very tense with the rigorous 12 to 14 hour days in a row with no socialization allowed outside of filming. She does not feel that the show is to blame if you don’t like the way you look on tv.
“When the queens complain about the editing it makes me laugh. The fact is they need to edit themselves, there are lots of things I chose not to do or say cause I didn’t want it to backfire on me.” Her strategy on Drag Race? Sit back and watch the rest hang themselves.
You can’t say it didn’t work.
Del Rio knew that the producers wanted to show someone who would cry and share feelings, she doesn’t blame them, they are just trying to make good TV. Many of the contestants choose to share on camera about hardships they may have faced. However she was determined to win her way or not at all, and her way did not include tears.
“I didn’t want to win because my parents kicked me out and I didn’t want to win because my parents left me at bus stop. That’s all other shit thats not my life,” she said. “That’s not my story, which is one of the reasons why during the process I didn’t think I was gonna win.”
But Win she did, and the opportunities have been flowing her way ever since. Hurricane Bianca is something that her friend Matt Kugelman has been working on for years.
It centers around a science teacher in Texas named Richard Martinez. When the people in the small town find out he’s gay, he’s fired. Martinez returns to the town as Bianca del Rio to teach the close minded folks a valuable and hilarious lesson. While the movie is a comedy, Del Rio said it holds an important message. In 29 across the U.S it is still legal to fire someone for being gay.
“I was unaware that this takes, place which is really insane,” she said. “It’s 2015 and this shit still happens, everyones talking about marriage equality and this and that which is amazing but when you think about it just for being you you can get fired which is kind of nuts.”
Del Rio said that the most challenging part of the 18 day shoot was playing a science teacher, not a role she is used to entering. Playing Bianca Del Rio was no problem, except for having to do day drag in the Texas heat.
She is quick to correct herself, while wigs in August can be a pain in the ass, Del Rio feels is really grateful for the whole situation and the opportunities its allotted.
“A drag queen in the heat ain’t nothing I can deal with it,” she said.
As for future projects, Del Rio said she isn’t slowing down anytime soon. She’s got a brand new stand up tour in the spring, Hurricane Bianca comes out soon, and when you say ‘yes’ to everything you’re bound to stay busy.
She slyly mentioned a secret project that she isn’t at liberty to talk about yet, but promised as soon as she could she’d let the world know…. Bianca Del Rio 2016?
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Bianca Del Rio talks post-Drag Race success and the secret to comedy ahead of 10/21 National show
. “But I’ve met some amazing queens all over the world, from Amsterdam to Brazil to Akron, Ohio. It depends on your attitude and your likability and how professional you are.”
October 19, 2016
