Exclusive Interview with Jiggly Caliente
Welcome my love to Spill the Tea, before I start may I call you Jiggly?
Of course darling, everybody does.
How are you doing, how have you been?
I am good, I'm exhausted but I'm good.
Now you're no stranger to the Drag Race franchise having appeared on normal and all-stars, how did it feel to be asked to be a main judge for Drag Race Philippines?
You know, when I was asked to be a main judge, I was like no f*cking way, yeah right, but when they finally called and said no, this is really happening, you are going to be a judge on Drag Race, I took it very seriously. One of my first phone calls was Michelle and I said help, may day, may day, is this for real and she told me to just take it seriously and judge them with my heart
Did you feel appearing on the show helped you when you were judging the contestants?
I felt like me being a former contestant helped my judging because I know what it feels like, I know what the girls are going through. When they're in the acting challenges or were in the design challenges I know what it's like, so I can give them the proper criticism and the proper critique without being malicious.
Now with so many spin-offs of Drag Race coming out at the same time, there's a lot to keep up with, why should people watch Drag Race Philippines over all of the others?
I mean drag in the Philippines in itself I feel is so rich in the culture of drag and the girls on the season are just so talented. They should watch just because of that but also because we have the prettiest cast of any franchise… period! Not only are these girls really pretty they're also very talented. I mean buckle up because these girls are going to give you so much personality, these girls are reading and shading the f*ck out of each other without even trying and the drama unfolds, usually you have to wait for episode 4 but nope, we started episode 1!
Before I let you go I want to play a little game called ‘Piping Hot Tea’?
It’s basically quick-fire questions that need fast answers back. What one word would you use to describe season one of Drag Race Philippines?
Dramatic!
When it came to judging style are you more like Michelle or Ross?
Michelle for sure.
Do you think that you should have been the host?
NO! Absolutely not, I do not have the heart to say Sashay Away.
If you were asked back to compete on say Drag Race Vs the World would you or are your competing days over?
Oh, my competing days are over honey, I am retiring. I'm gonna let these Filipino b*tches do it, I'm done, I'm good.
Do you think that the Drag World in general is still transphobic?
I feel like the fandom in itself still has a long ways to go, but I feel like we're moving in the right direction when it comes to trans inclusivity.
What's the best thing about performing in drag?
The best thing about performing in drag is to fulfil a fantasy and feeling the fantasy because I feel like drag is my escape and my exaggerated version of Bianca.
And what's the worst?
The worst is the heels! Has to be being in heels for like x amount of hours, it’s a pain in the ass.
Finally did you love sitting down for this interview with me?
Oh I absolutely did darling!
Shout-out time! What queer performer deserves a shout from you and why? - This can be a drag King, Queen or anything in-between or simply a queer artist.
I'm going to give a shout out to the whole cast of season one of Drag Race Philippines because I feel like these girls are so talented and I feel like they're good people and it couldn't have happened to the a better cast and I can't wait for the world to get to know each and every one of these queens because they truly are remarkable.
Catch the first season ofDrag Race Philippines exclusively on the streamer of all things drag, WOW Presents Plus. To subscribe click here.
For fans wishing to meet Drag Race alum and host Jiggly Caliente, in the flesh, tickets are now on sale for RuPaul’s DragCon UK 2023 here.
Imagery with thanks to our friends at Wow Presents / Edit Spill the Tea.