Vybe: An Exclusive Interview
Currently streaming on Stan, RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under started with 10 amazing drag performers. Throughout the season they competed for the coveted crown and the title of “Down Under’s next drag superstar”. The Top Four queens are Freya Armani, Lazy Susan, Vybe, and Mandy Moobs. The finale will air today on Friday, December 20.
With over 13 years of experience, this prolific Sydney-based performer is known for her sharp sense of humour and killer wit. Vybe is also a regular host at Universal, Stonewall and Arq Sydney.
In an interview with Gay Sydney Australia, Vybe, 32, Spoke about the incredible experience of making it into the Top Four, how it changed her, and which fellow queen surprised her the most. She also shared the tale of her first time in drag (“was rouuuuuugh”).
Read for yourself…
How was the experience of being on Drag Race Down Under? How does it feel to have made it onto the show?
The experience was incredible!! It was a huge amount of work and preparation but that hard work just made the onset experience so much more fun! This season was incredible because of the gaggle of girls we had, sisters for life!
How does it feel to have made it this far in the competition? What would winning mean to you?
My goal coming into this was to reach the finale and to have made it that far is something I’ll forever be proud of! Now winning would be the cherry on top of an incredibly delicious season and that 50k would do wonders!
How has the experience of being on Drag Race Down Under changed you?
I’m a person who’s usually full of self-doubt, I’m my own biggest enemy but watching the show has made me realise that doubting myself achieves nothing! The anxiety and fear of thinking I’ve not done as well as I could’ve can be overwhelming but post-show I feel like I’m letting myself enjoy things more and comparing myself to others less. I finally got out of my own way!
Are you surprised by your fellow Top Four?
Not surprised no, to be honest, I saw Lazy and I in the final from day 1. Knowing what both Mandy and Freya can do I knew there was a real high chance they would be in the top with me too! But it was hard to pick the front runners all season long because each and every queen was literally incredible and there weren’t really any weak links, everyone was just too good the bastards!
What was the biggest surprise of the competition?
For me, Nikita surprised me the most. She has the magic of drag in her and seeing her pull these looks together out of thin air while on the show was wild. I also loved seeing her ballroom origins shine through and that added a really interesting angle to her that we got to celebrate and fall in love with.
Who was the shadiest queen on set? Details?
Shadiest queen on set…girl it might’ve been me!! But only ever playful. I’d kill for these girls at the drop of a wig!
What is the origin of your drag name?
Haha, Vybe came to life because I started out as an alt-drag queen. I was trying to be this club kid androgynous fashion model and refused to wear lace fronts, brows and couldn’t paint the face at ALL! So we went with Vybe cus we didn’t quite know what kind of drag I was doing and it was just generally confusing (and looking back at it now, butt fuckin ugly)
What was your first time in drag like?
Omg, my first time in drag was rouuuuuugh. I had a 30-cent red wig, Jeffrey Campbell Lita’s and a Kmart dress. Needless to say, it took a few years but we got there.
Is there anything about you that people are surprised to learn?
Oooh I’m not too sure!! I’ll ask around and get back to you!
Is there anything important that you would like to share with our readers?
Aliens are real, Katy Perry died in 2013 and was replaced by a clone and Kathy Hilton still doesn’t know who Hunky Dory is.
To keep up with Vybe, follow her on Instagram
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