A legend of the New York City drag scene who was first renowned for her Broadway costuming, Bianca Del Rio won season six in 2014. She is the eldest winner of the mainstay franchise, one that revolutionized the drag comedy scene. Bianca is the first drag queen to headline Carnegie Hall and Wembley Arena, and has embarked on six global comedy tours. She’s the author of Blame It on Bianca Del Rio (2018), and has performed on the West End and off-Broadway. There’s no denying Bianca’s success post-Drag Race positions her as one of the most successful queens from the franchise, and she’s gearing up to hit the road again and host the official Drag Race recap series The Pit Stop.
Before you won season six, were there any fellow winners that you admired?
Oh, totally. I wasn’t a Drag Race super fan initially. A lot of my friends were, and many friends were saying, “You should do it.” At that time, I just assumed I was well past my expiration date. My brain was like, “Eh, I don’t know. It seems like it’s for the kids.” I got to see, at season four, which was Sharon Needles, and season five, which was obviously Jinkx Monsoon, [they were] both very different, both out the box, both possess different talents. I was kind of amazed. I’m like, “OK, so it’s not necessarily a beauty contest” — no shade to them — but it was more of personality, talent and ability. And I thought, “Oh, you know what? This is worth a try.”
Do you think you had a defining moment that won you season six?
It’s blurred because I have my own experiences of being in the moment and dealing with what was in front of me. Of course, there’s the actual show, the edited version that was showcased to America. I often have people say, “Well, I knew from day one you were going to win.” I laugh and go, “Well, of course, because that’s their narrative.” When you’re in it, you really have no idea. I never thought I was going to win. I never thought anything I did was good enough on that level. There was no moment where I sat back and said, “Oh, this is it.” In retrospect, I go, (laughs), “Oh, well, this makes sense.” But in the moment, I truly couldn’t tell you. It’s wild. And I haven’t seen it since it aired, either.
You’ve never gone back and watched season six?
No, I’m horrified to do it. I barely got through it when it was airing. You have to remember, we filmed it, we went away, we went back to real life. I think they announced [our cast] in December of 2013 and it aired in 2014. At the time, we would have viewings at bars. I was watching it in a crowded bar with lots of drunk, fun people cheering you on. So it would happen, and that was it. I really haven’t revisited it, like, on my couch like everybody else has. I haven’t done that. I might wait 20 years, [and] I might be able to look back at it. I think because you’re going to be your worst critic. I’m not a fan of listening or watching myself.
What do you think is your biggest accomplishment post-Drag Race, and what is your personal favorite opportunity you’ve taken part in?
I have to say longevity has been an amazing thing. The extreme highs and amazing opportunities that happen because of this little television show, I have to give the utmost credit for. I’ll be going on my seventh world tour this year. Getting to perform all over the world, getting to meet so many people that were my cheerleaders for the show globally is one of the things that’s insane. [To] be a working artist and be accepted and continue to do that, that’s been the amazing thing over the years.
There’s a few things that really stick out on personal levels. One is always the work. Getting to work on any level, no matter what it is, whether it’s [performing for] 10 people or 15,000 people, it’s just amazing to get to do the work. I have to say, getting to do an interview with Joan Rivers before she passed, that was an amazing thing for me. Because I, of course, worship the altar of Miss Rivers, and thought of her as a brilliant performer, hard worker and an extremely nice lady. That was definitely one of those moments when I said, “Yes, this is it.” I guess I’m supposed to say meeting RuPaul, I should say that too, just in case she’s listening. (Laughs.) There are so many things that come to mind, but that’s just the very tip of the iceberg.
You’re the first drag queen to headline Carnegie Hall and the Wembley Arena solo, and you have paved the way with your comedy tours for so many queens. How do you think that your legacy after Drag Race, specifically with your comedy career, has changed the drag landscape?
I go where the work is. For me, it’s never been one of those moments where I sit back and think, “Yeah, that’s what I want to do.” I never think anything is possible. But somehow things just happen. And when it does happen, you just have to treat it — whether at Carnegie Hall or a bar with 50 people — the same way. You can’t get into your head, you can’t lose your mind. It’s not easy. I hope that’s the legacy that’s left, that anything is really possible even later in life for me. Never doubt. You never know what’s around the corner.
Do you have any other career goals you have not hit yet?
Waking up tomorrow. (Laughs.) That would be it. Listen, success is only measured by the work you have, and as long as there’s an audience, I’m excited. I don’t know what’s around the corner. I love film, I love television and all of those opportunities that have come my way. But truly, honestly, working with a live audience is the one thing that I hope I can continue to do, because that’s really the ticket. Connecting with people and making people laugh is the ultimate for me. You know what? Considering the current political climate, maybe run for office, maybe run for president. How about that? If they already have one washed up reality star in the White House, why not me? Let’s do it.
Bianca, would you partake in a second all-winners season?
I was asked to do the first [all-winners season] and it didn’t work out time-wise for me. This was the new idea they were doing, and they reached out to me and said, “Hey, this is what we’re doing.” And I said, “Oh, that’s great,” but I don’t know if I wanted to do that, and mainly for the reason that the show has changed tremendously. I come from a place of, you know, you don’t rob the same bank twice. And when I was asked, I didn’t want to do it. Currently, it would really depend on a lot of factors. I like to work, so that would mean taking off work, or scheduling timing. I’d usually say no, but hypothetically, I’m like, ehh. But I would say you never know. You just never really know. If it made sense at the time, sure. But the one [time] I was asked, it didn’t. (Laughs.) It didn’t make sense at the time. And that’s no shade on any level, it was just one of those moments where I was like, “Ehh, I’m good.” But you never know. I don’t know. I mean, it’s not that anyone’s asked. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not hiding any information. (Laughs.) It would really depend on the timing. I do know a lot of the queens that have won. So one part of me, it’s like, it would be fun. The other part of me [thinks] that it would be a nightmare (Laughs.) I’m kind of in the middle. I don’t know if I could really go through it. I was barely fun at 37, I don’t know if I’d be fun at 50. We’ll see.
What is next for Bianca Del Rio?
I will be touring this year with another solo tour. This fall, [I began] Tartuffe in New York City off-Broadway with Matthew Broderick, David Cross and a lot of fabulous performers. I’ve got some casino dates here and there. I’ve got some cruise ships here and there, in between my off time. I’m like, “I need a break.” And then I’m like, “Oh God, I’m bored.”
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