With RuPaul’s seventh season drawing to a close last week, Chris Godfrey catches up with the show’s resident ‘ball-busting bitch’ (her words, not ours), Michelle Visage.

Hey Michelle! First things first, how did you find judging G-A-Y Porn Idol last month?

Oh that was so fun! I love Jeremy Joseph and everybody at G-A-Y, it’s like a second home for me. When I go to London I always go. But it seems that when I’m there, Mary Mac tells me that people get shy because it’s me. I think the other queens or whoever else comes are ok, but for me because I’m known to be such a ball busting bitch they get nervous. They all get really shy. It’s like, I came here to see willies and fannies people, don’t get shy now!

And how was being back in the UK? 

Well you know it’s my favourite place on earth, right? I’ve had a love affair with the UK since I was 13 years old and my parents took me over for the first time. It must be some kind of other worldly connection, some past life, but I just know that I’m British somewhere.

So you’ll be coming back to see us soon then?

I’m definitely coming back the first week in November for the release of my book, The Diva Rules. But as many bookings as I can get, I go. I just love the people and love the place and I said that when I did Celebrity Big Brother. I think people at the beginning thought that I was full of shit because every American says that when they go in. But truth be told, I watch almost only British television except for RuPaul’s Drag Race and maybe a few others. It’s the sense of humour; it’s the way of life. I don’t have to explain my really, really dry, super-sarcasm, everybody there completely understands it.

Which shows do you watch?

Well obviously all the reality shows: Made in Chelsea, TOWIE, Big Brother, Geordie Shore, The Valleys before they cut it off, which made me very upset. And I love game shows like Strike It Lucky, just to see what Michael Barrymore was wearing. But I think my favourite British television show of all time – and I know it goes way back – is Nighty Night.

“So bring it to the main stage, bring it all to the main stage. I beg of you.”

Nighty Night? I’m getting a lot of thumbs up from everyone here in the office but it’s not one I’ve seen yet.

Are you kidding me, you haven’t seen it? Jennifer Saunders is like an idol of mine, and Julia Davis can go toe to toe with her. The two are very different – Julia Davis is very dark – but I dare anybody to go up against her and her writing skills. She is fucking brilliant and Nighty Night is literally the best-written show ever.

I’ll have to check it out! So last week I saw you were quite vocal on Twitter about Drake Bell misgendering Caitlyn Jenner…

Here’s the thing: we have to educate. I did not bully him at all, and I’m gonna defend myself because the word bully is bandied about a bit too much for me. To call somebody out for their transphobia and him defend it, is not bullying. I said to him if you have any questions, ask, and someone will educate you. But what you’re doing right now is hiding bigotry behind opinion. And I have such a fundamental problem with people doing that.

I probably shouldn’t have told him I regretted spending money on his shitty record, because that’s kind of going down to his basic level and I shouldn’t have done it. I’m the most opinionated bitch on the planet but I’m also open to every single opinion. I admit when I’m wrong, which is rare, but I admit when I’m wrong. For anybody to sit there and go ‘I’m still calling him Bruce’ is not an opinion. That’s disrespect.

How do you think the reaction to her cover-shoot has been generally? 

It’s been 99% positive. What Caitlyn Jenner did is so brave, but there is such a war going on with people posting pictures of soldiers saying ‘oh really I thought this is what bravery was’ – bitch, back the fuck up. Bravery comes in so many different faces and forms. You can’t compare what a soldier does to what a trans person does in that manner, but you can say they are both equally as brave. They’ve never walked a day in a trans persons life.

I couldn’t agree more! Last week also saw the conclusion of RPDR Season 7, would that have been your top 3? 

I definitely would’ve liked to see Katya in the Top 3. The funny thing is watching the show is so different from filming it, just like Big Brother. As a judge I only see what they bring on to the main stage, I don’t see any of the workroom, any of the confessionals, I don’t know anything about what they are like. I didn’t know Violet said she hated me and I didn’t know Ginger defended me.

Watching the show I wish I could’ve seen all this as it adds so much more to who they are. Which is why I beg for all the queens that are going to read this (for when we finally get to Drag Race UK) to understand that what you bring to the stage is so much more than a look. When I say ‘I don’t get who you are, I don’t understand your personality’ I am looking for that so I can see who you truly are, because I don’t get to see anything but your outfit. So bring it to the main stage, bring it all to the main stage. I beg of you.

“I love Jeremy Joseph and everybody at G-A-Y, it’s like a second home for me.”

How do you think the queens on this season compare to others? It seems to be getting a lot of stick on Twitter.

Everybody likes to talk shit. When their favourite queen doesn’t win they get really upset and I understand that. They want their pick to win. But there’s a way to lose gracefully and then there’s a way to be violent and disgusting.

With that said, I think Season 7 was different because it felt a little more raw. It wasn’t a bunch of seasoned queens, it was a mixed bag but there were a lot more new queens. I think that’s very different from anything we’ve ever done and I think it’s inspirational for new queens that are starting out to see people like Pearl and Max and Violet.

And if you were on the show which challenge would you suck at?

I would suck at sewing because my sewing is very basic. But I would slay acting, singing and anything else. I can put a look together and I could probably walk the house down, but the sewing challenge is tough for me. It’s tough for a lot of these queens because most of them don’t sew. But I have a 15-year-old daughter who’s teaching herself to sew so it’s not even about age; it’s a matter of who wants to learn and who doesn’t.

Speaking of which, we’re always hearing about what the queens learn from their time on Drag Race, but what about you?

Oh my god, I’ve learnt so much. It’s opened my mind in so many ways to the art of drag. I grew up in New York City so for me that’s the drag that I knew, which is kind of similar to London’s drag – very cabaret, very camp, very in your face and raw. Living in LA over the years I’ve known all different types of drag – I get more exposed every day. I do a gig and appearance and meet new drag talent from all over the world and it just makes me happier and happier and encourages me that this art form is here to stay.

I’ve also learnt that I’m quite easy to please if you just listen to what I say!