RuPauls Drag Racereturns next Friday at 8:00 p.m. Read on for Valentinas full elimination interview below.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Hi Valentina!
VALENTINA: Im great, mi amor!
Credit: VH1
Im on my way to work right now!
Yes, youve been so busy with rehearsals!
What a time for you to be eliminated: the same weekend youre also starring inRent.
Mettie Ostrowski for EW
You couldnt ask for a better pick-me-up.
Its the way life works!
Life is so weird and it feels like part of my destiny.
The fantasy is areality!
Speaking of pick-me-ups, girl, French Vanilla Fantasy?
I still dont know what the hell that means or what was in that cup!
AtDrag Race,wereveryexhausted.
Were working long days and long hours.
Mine was specifically the one with a little cute, pink donut on it.
I would say, Can you get me a French Vanilla Fantasy kindly?
[The] PAs were so sweet and worked so hard dealing with us crazy ass drag queens.
I appreciate them for living the fantasy with me!
Spoken like a true diva.
Is that the outfit you do all of your home improvement projects in?
And the heels are great at reaching real high to the ceiling, you know?
You dont need the ladder when youve got a pair of stripper heels.
… or Naomi Smalls shoulders.
Thats true, too!
Switching gears: I know you recently came out as non-binary.
Is that something you realized through the art of drag?
Its been a long process for me to explore and express myself and my femininity through drag.
I even felt different from gay people, you know?
Drag helped me be fully aware of my authentic self.
And there can be some days that I feel more masculine or more feminine.
Non-binary means you dont have to be either or.
I imagine your identity informed the way you approached Angel inRent.
I think thats my element of being able to bring some authenticity into the character.
Through that experience, Im [often] asked how I view Angel [and her identity].
Did some of theDrag Raceacting challenges help you prepare forRent?
My preparation forRentright now is preparing for the character and working with my director and vocal coach.
WhatDrag Racedid is it created a platform for me to be discovered, which I am eternally grateful for.
WithoutDrag RaceI wouldnt haveRent, you know?
I will always be grateful for that.
The art of being a diva, though, isnt specific to a gender.
Im definitely an authentic, complex character in real life.
Most people that have met me and know me personally know that Im extra and a lot of fun.
I think I was able to show who I really: Im silly and Im goofy.
Granted, I do know were filming a reality show….
Even if youre crowned Miss Congeniality!
It all resulted in some great memes this season.
Your line reading of So you think I could go home tonight?
You had to know that was going to stick!
No, I was literally shocked!
I was drinking so much alcohol to get rid of the pain in my feet from those boots.
It was a very drunk reaction of shock!
Obviously, the delivery behind it wasverytelenovela, and I live for watching myself on camera.
What were you going to say before the girls cut you off?
Im totally over it!
I hope she has a great life and a great career.
I found out that she was healing from a broken back or something [on that episode].
Maybe she was just…. having a painful day.
You never know what people are going through.
I wish her all the best!
