Not content with interviewing just one star from RuPaul’s Drag Race this week, Jason Reid went for the double, from deep in the Irish countryside, he caught up with Adore Delano on the blower, who was kicking back in Los Angeles. We’re just so damn international here at QX…
It’s great to talk to you Adore. You’re going to be over in London performing at West 5 this month, AND guess what? You’re the first Drag Race contestant to ever perform at the venue. Are you exited about popping their cherry?
Are you serious? I didn’t know that. I’m really looking forward to it now. That’s awesome.
So what are you expecting?
I’m expecting there to be a lot of cool people with awesome accents.
What will you be serving up?
Oh I’m very unpredictable! Saying that, I’ll definitely be performing plenty of live original numbers, and probably some Iggy Azalea, as I’ve been learning a lot of her stuff recently. I almost always end up doing extra numbers too. It’s all about having fun. As long as my wig stays on, it’s all good [laughs].
Are you planning to hang out and hit the clubs while you’re in town?
Hopefully! I’m a big party person. You can sleep when you’re dead, man. And I don’t even touch drugs or anything; all it takes is a Coca-Cola to get me up and keep me going.
Gotta let your hair down in London town, right? Let’s talk briefly about Drag Race, because if we don’t the gays will come for me with pitchforks. One of my favourite episodes from Season 6 was the Snatch Game, in which you impersonated Anna Nicole Smith brilliantly. How and why did you get into her, so to speak?
She was huge over here in America for being the blonde bombshell with no brains when I was growing up, and I kinda identified with her. It’s so weird! Everyone else at school had their folders covered in pictures of pop idols but I had mine plastered with Anna. I loved that she was like me: from a nowhere place, yet she still managed to make a good living for herself and her kids.
“I’m very unpredictable!”
You need to see the opera of her life, it’s amazing. So how would you describe your Drag Race experience in a sentence?
Amazing, life-changing, surreal, eye-opening, and a blessing.
Having also competed on American Idol – and apart from the obvious – what were the main differences between the two shows?
On Idol you have to be so careful what you say, and everything goes through so many filters and producers. I’m very grateful for the experience and it did teach me a few things. In comparison, Drag Race was so refreshing; I felt like I was just hanging out with a group of friends, cussing and being myself, totally forgetting about the cameras.
Did you feel like your personality was being stifled on Idol?
Yeah, it’s all very contrived, plus it’s on the Fox network (a Republican station – which is not known for being a gay outlet). They didn’t want me coming out; I had to keep my hair a certain length and sing certain songs, so yeah, it was quite stifling.
Finally, Adore, what do you Adore? (see what I did there)
[Laughs] I adore pizza, my boyfriend and Freddie Mercury – who is my inspiration.
• Adore Delano will be performing at West 5 (56 Pope’s Lane, W5 4NB) on Saturday 13th September.
