Seeing RuPaul go out there and not only create music, but TV and film roles, and continue to go down so many creative avenues - that is inspirational. For a person of color like myself, I see RuPaul and I say, 'Oh, honey, I can do it too.'
— Shangela
Becoming a drag entertainer and really embracing that helped me to embrace who I was as a gay person even more.
I have a song called 'Working Girl' and it represents my whole story.
For someone with darker hair in the beard area that likes to sometimes sprout during a 14-hour drag day, I must have a thick, yet smooth foundation.
I grew up as a little gay boy in Paris, Texas, which was a very conservative community and I had a strong religious background as well.
I know what it feels like to be on the outside, a place that you don't belong, feeling like you're the only one of your kind.
I would love one day for us to all get in to drag together and all hang out. Wouldn't that be fun, me and Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in drag skipping around the city?
We can't live in fear. There are going to be people who will disagree with us, but it's important for us to stand up and say what's right and what's wrong.
I needed to get attention a lot of times - I'm a performer, that's who I am.
When it comes to a lip sync, Kennedy Davenport is someone that, when I first turned 18, I was going to the clubs in Dallas, because I went to college there, seeing, and tipping, and would live. She's the dancing diva of Texas.
Michelle Obama, one of my inspirations, said 'when they go low, we go high,' and it was a thing that I really carried with me.
I don't have any problem with drag being more mainstream... I enjoy the fact that we're moving toward a place where people are a lot more open.
RuPaul's Drag Race' is the holy grail of drag.
Even last minute, you can find a great makeup artist at your local MAC store or department store makeup counter, and a lot of times they'll hook you up for free.
It's amazing how far that we've come and the strides we've made in the LGBTQIA community with regard to acceptance and equality and really honoring ourselves and who we are.
It's a real honor and dream come true for me to be part of something as awesome as NBC's 'Community,' working with such comic legends as John Goodman and Chevy Chase.
I don't have a sugar daddy, I've never had a sugar daddy.
As African American, gay drag queens, we live with more adversity and challenges.
You walk in and he's an A-list actor, so you're like, 'Oh my gosh it's Bradley Cooper! Let me make sure my wig's on right!'
I'm the Nancy Drew of drag!
The MAC Skin Primer keeps my makeup nice and smooth during application and throughout the night. I can't be having no creases up in this mug!
Even though she may not be a physical presence, for me RuPaul is an aspirational presence. Ru is out there doing her job - being RuPaul. That takes a lot of time and a lot of commitment. Besides, I don't need RuPaul standing over my shoulder telling me 'Good Job.'
On-stage I like to give people something that they will remember, something different but something electric.
You can say a lot about Miley Cyrus, but at the end of the day, she is a professional.
If you can find your passion in life, hold on to that. Go for it and don't be afraid to put in the work: things will work out for you.
You know, when you start thinking about residencies in Las Vegas, you have J.Lo, Britney, Mariah, those types of stars. So to be performing next door or across the street from them, I'm just thrilled beyond my wildest dreams.
It's harder to compete against queens you know, because you have that personal relationship with them already.
I not only went back to the 'All Stars' gig for myself but also for my fans. I wanted them to see the story of even if you get knocked down, you get back up, you keep going and you can win.
My first show was at Here Lounge in West Hollywood.
It's a performer's worst nightmare: to hurt yourself on stage and not be able to remove yourself from the stage.
I started watching, growing, learning, and putting in extra effort to become the best queen I could.
I have a lot of talent and sometimes, you know, when people see you're a drag queen they go, 'Oh, he's a drag queen. That's what he does.' But I'm always excited to... stretch the boundaries on how they see me.
Live your passion, and live it to the fullest.
She's quite the professional, but I think the true Gaga - the magic of Gaga - is she knows how to dive into any element and really just be comfortable in her own skin.
I think that's what happens when drag starts to go mainstream: All of a sudden, you're watching 'The View' and there are three drag queens on there and it's not a joke. Yes, we're here, we're queer and you better deal with it. 'Cause we ain't going nowhere.
Truly, I hope to inspire people.
I get a daily master class in Jenifer Lewis, and that's been so special to me. If I haven't prepared for something, she'll ball up the script and throw it at me. She'll say, 'You're not ready for this! Go downstairs and work on it.'
I always say that the most resourceful people in the world are drag queens.
I've always wanted to continue work as an actor in Hollywood. So being in a film with Lady Gaga is something I'm trying to get my head around. It's a fabulous dream honey, don't wake me.
I'm from a small country town and to now be moving around with some of the largest names in Hollywood is a dream come true.
My grandmother will watch any episode of a show I'm on, but she watches her soap operas every day. When I was on 'The Bold and the Beautiful,' you would have thought I had won an Oscar. She told everybody at church that I was on her favorite soap.
When I started in 'Drag Race,' I didn't know anything about drag - my makeup was a mess, my hair was a mess, but I love what I was doing.
I made it from Paris, Texas, to Paris on the Strip. Who else can say that?
I mean, who cannot name at least three of her songs that you've broken a sweat to in the club? She's also been such an ally and an advocate to the LGBTQ+ community for so many years when it wasn't popular, and for that reason alone I say hats off, or should I say wigs off, to Madonna!
I think everybody should have the right to do drag if they want to. Even if they look busted!
There's no union for drag queens.
Every good look needs a storyline.
I grew into who I always wanted to be as a drag entertainer and performer.
The drag scene in Miami has always been top notch to me.
Baby, everything I have I've worked for and gotten myself.
