{"id":27405,"date":"2021-06-22T17:21:52","date_gmt":"2021-06-22T17:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/?post_type=articles&p=27405"},"modified":"2021-06-22T17:21:52","modified_gmt":"2021-06-22T17:21:52","slug":"bob-drag-queen-coach-interview","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/graziamagazine.com\/us\/articles\/bob-drag-queen-coach-interview\/","title":{"rendered":"An Exclusive Kiki With Bob The Drag Queen On 60s fashion, Janelle Mon\u00e1e, and ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Bob
Clip from Coach Conversations with cohosts Bob The Drag Queen, Ts Madison, and Jack Mizrahi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Five years ago, Bob the Drag Queen sashayed into our lives as a contestant on\u00a0<\/span>RuPaul’s Drag Race<\/span><\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>Season 8. After taking home the crown, it seems Bob’s name was in the lights all over the country in the hottest venues\u2014and it still is. Bob’s personality is as big as his wigs (and there are some pretty big ones). So naturally, I jumped on the opportunity to sit down and connect about the latest episode of\u00a0<\/span>Coach Conversations<\/span><\/em><\/a>\u00a0on YouTube\u2014and more.<\/span><\/p>\n

As part of the episode, airing Tuesday, June 22, the comedian, activist, and actor chats with ballroom pioneer and producer Jack Mizrahi and reality star and entrepreneur Ts Madison to celebrate\u00a0<\/span>Pride Month<\/span><\/a>. But ahead of its release,\u00a0<\/span>GRAZIA\u00a0<\/span><\/em>spoke one-on-one with the icon about style being your authentic self and the LGBTQ+ community. Read on for our conversation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Grazia: <\/em>How would you describe your drag style?\u00a0<\/span><\/h5>\n

Bob The Drag Queen: <\/strong><\/em>It’s very mature, without being elderly. You know, mature without being matrilineal. I would say it’s way more matriarchal than matrilineal.<\/span><\/p>\n

G: <\/em>Are there any designers\/fashion eras that have influenced you?<\/span><\/h5>\n

BTDQ: <\/strong><\/em>I really love Black fashion from the 60s. Janelle Monae, Michelle Obama, and Mugler are also all excellent references for me.<\/span><\/p>\n

G: <\/em>What does being your ‘authentic self’ mean to you?<\/span><\/h5>\n

BTDQ: <\/strong><\/em>Well, I think it can change a lot. There’s no constant for what your authentic self has to be. Like when people you’ve met in high school are like, “Oh, you changed?” Like I’m thirty-five now? So I hope I’m a little different from what I was fifteen years ago\u00a0(chuckles).\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

G: <\/em>Who is your biggest fashion icon?<\/span><\/h5>\n

BTDQ: <\/strong><\/em>For me, as far as fashion goes, I’m going to give it to Janelle Monae. She always turns it! Also, Viola Davis\u2014and out of drag for me, Whoopi Goldberg.<\/span><\/p>\n

G: <\/em>What doe Pride mean to you?<\/span><\/h5>\n

BTDQ: <\/strong><\/em>It’s something different for each person. I met a guy that once said that Pride was the only time he could hold his partner’s hand outside. For the whole year, he only got to do it one month out of the year. You know, for some people, Pride is working hard and making some money. And for others, it’s a riot. For me, it’s a time to celebrate my community and uplift voices.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

G: <\/em>Being a trailblazer in the Queer space, what advice do you have for the younger generation still discovering themselves?<\/span><\/h5>\n

BTDQ: <\/strong><\/em>I consider myself part of the young generation! (Laughs)<\/em> Maybe that’s naive? Maybe I’m aging and not realizing it yet. No, I’m not one of the old people! I’m Young! Young people like me can look to people who done it before us and for us for all the liberties we have today; they’re all here because someone fought for them for us.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

G: <\/em>After winning the eighth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, wondering how do you look back at this moment now (and how it’s pivoted your career)<\/span><\/h5>\n

BTDQ: <\/strong><\/em>Being on RuPaul’s Drag Race<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>and\u00a0<\/span><\/em>winning has been one of the most pivotal moments in my career up to this point. I am so happy to have done the show and think about it all the time. I was so incredibly happy and lucky to be alive at a time when it was happening and still in my prime. So grateful! I look back very fondly.<\/span><\/p>\n

G: <\/em>What is your message for our community this Pride?<\/span><\/h5>\n

BTDQ: <\/strong><\/em>Remember to celebrate Pride the way that you want to celebrate Pride. Don’t let anyone else dictate what it means to celebrate Pride to you. You can let them influence it, but don’t let them make rules for you. Take bits from all over and decide for yourself.<\/span><\/p>\n