Image Credit: Mathu Andersen
Latrice Royale was shockingly eliminated from RuPaul’s Drag Race in last week’s new episode, which whittled the field down from four to three. (Sharon Needles, Phi Phi O’Hara, and Chad Michaels are still standing.) At the time of her departure, Ms. Royale was nowhere to be found for a patented EW exit interview, but we caught up with the beloved big queen for a few minutes today. Latrice is a pleasure: She gamely talked to EW about her elimination, that touching speech she made to RuPaul, the contestant she’s rooting for now (thankfully, it’s not Phi Phi!), whether a big girl will ever win the Race, and what her next move is. Read on for all the dish from Latrice Royale.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did it feel when you were eliminated? Sad?
LATRICE ROYALE: I had such an amazing experience, and I had grown and gotten so much more out of the competition than I expected, so it was really a rush of emotions overtaking me. I had come to the realization that I had really, really made a mark and a difference on the show. It was so emotional for me. I didn’t want to leave the girls. RuPaul has really changed my life. I really feel that. I’ll never be the same.
How have you changed?
For me, personally, I had a lot of healing to do and I didn’t realize that coming on the show was going to give me the opportunity to do that, to close some chapters and open up some new ones, you know? It was just amazing. Of course I was with other contestants, but I was there by myself — no distractions — so you kind of have to face your dark days, you know?
With the challenge that eliminated you, did you think the judging was fair? Should someone else have gone home?
I mean, it coulda went either way. For me, we were all trying to create and make things fresh and new. And then some people just grabbed their dirty laundry out of their suitcase and walk it down the runway and win? I’m bitter! I still can’t swallow that pill.
Okay, that’s not “true.” I just wanted to sneak in an April Fool’s Day headline while I still had the chance. Happy holidays to all.
