The sweetest treat of all the Drag Race alum is Jujubee, and she’s landing in London to cast judgment on the eye candy on display at G-A-Y Porn Idol next week. Dylan Jones caught up with her for a taste of what’s in store…
Hello Jujubee. It’s lovely to talk to you!
Aaw thankyou so much that’s so sweet! I’m so excited to come back to London.
You came before didn’t you and performed with Meth?
Oh my god I LOVE Meth! Wait, that could totally be taken out of context. You could totally use that as a quote. “Oh my god I, like, LOVE meth.”
I’ve got you on tape saying it too!
[SCREAMS] NO!
So did you have fun when you were here then?
Oh my gosh, I had a great time. The queens there are so nice. And so talented. It’s a different side to drag.
Yeah, how does it compare to the US?
Well, this is what I’ve noticed. Even within the US there are differences. There’s culture in drag…like there are different subcultures within the culture of drag itself. But the girls in London just do what they want to do! And a lot of them perform live! And I think that’s so awesome! Because performing live is one of the hardest things to do. It’s so vulnerable.
Yes I think maybe there’s more singing and less lip-syncing.
Totally! And it’s also more diverse as far as looks go. I hate to admit this but drag is very superficial, from head to toe. We have to dig very deep to find the person behind the character, because everybody’s a character.
So congratulations are in order…equal marriage in America! Amazing!
Yes! Finally, right?! It’s so amazing. When it happened I was in Seattle for Pride, and it was just magical. People were happy and everyone was smiling. I also got to spend a little time in San Francisco with Raven and everything there was just so bright. It was basically like there was a huge rainbow that nobody else could see but the gays!
Oh my god so speaking of Raven… you guys’ lip-sync battle in All Stars was so heartbreaking.
[Laughs] It was such a rollercoaster ride, that whole thing.
Was it surreal going back for All Stars after season two?
I can’t speak for everybody else, but I know first-hand, and as far as Raven goes, we talked about it all the time. We were like “Whoa man!” (we call each other “man” and “dude” by the way, just because it’s funny). But yeah we were like, “whoa man, we’ve had all this time to experience life after Drag Race and now we’re back!” Because coming from season two, we had more time to expand our knowledge with the business and the art of drag. For me, drag is something you can never perfect. You can always keep setting the bar. And to get on Drag Race All Stars that quickly…I was like WHOA, we’re here, we’re competing AGAIN. Now in teams! Which was crazy and drove me insane!
I wasn’t very happy when they announced that that was how it was going down…
Yeah. Because you KNEW, if there were teams, there were less episodes! I was like “GIRL, I’ve bought all this shit, and I can’t wear it all?!”
I love that clip of you stealing Raven’s ring in Drag U! “It’s mine now bitch!”
I think I still have that ring somewhere [cackles]
Whose actually was it?
It was hers. BUT IT’S MINE NOW BITCH!
Do you guys still hang out a lot?
Yeah we’re seeing each other this weekend! We’re gonna spend July 5th together because I’m working on the 4th. We’re gonna do the good old American thing and eat hamburgers and hotdogs!
I’m actually going to a 4th July party!
Oh you’re having a little American party?!
Yes! And a drag queen is singing!
Oh my god, if she sings the American National Anthem, tell her it HAS to be the Whitney Houston version, live from the Superbowl in the eighties. It HAS be that one.
You’re judging Porn Idol at G-A-Y! Have you been before?
I’ve never actually been! I’m really looking forward to it, I hear it’s huge! I just can’t believe I’m finally getting paid to judge something. I usually do it for free. I’m very judgemental.
So thanks so much for talking Juju. Just one final question…what advice would you give a baby queen starting out in this beautiful new age of pride and equality?
Know exactly who you are as a performer and why you’re doing drag. Whether it’s for fame, or for the art. One will win over the other. If a queen is worried about being well known, then she’s probably not doing it for the right reasons. So know what you’re doing and know why you love it.
That could apply to a lot of things!
Yeah! It could apply to drag and it could apply to life.
• Jujubee is judging G-A-Y Porn Idol @ Heaven (Under the Arches, Villiers Street, Charing Cross, WC2N 6NG) on Thursday 16th July, 10:30pm-5am. Free entry wristbands available at G-A-Y Bar
