Exclusive with Vinas Deluxe
Viñas DeLuxe, welcome to Spill the Tea gorgeous! To start, when did you discover that you wanted to do drag?
When I was in the theatre, I’ve was fascinated with female roles. I did a female character in one of our musical plays and then I realised I wanted to do it more often and for a different crowd, where I can interact with the audience while performing. Then I met Brigiding, one of the alumni of our theatre org. He introduced me to the world of drag and brought me to the club where he performs. It was at that moment I told myself, I will be a drag queen. After few months I auditioned, and got in!
How did it feel to be selected for the very first season of Drag Race Philippines?
It felt surreal – I didn’t expect that it would happen this fast. I got super excited, but also I wanted to focus and enjoy the experience. I found it challenging how quick the preparations were and I’m so proud that I produced all that I needed in time. Of course, with the help of my friends and family.
When I heard there will be auditions for the first season of Drag Race Philippines, I told myself that there is no better season to be in than the first season. Then I contacted my best friends Precious and Brigiding - at first Precious was hesitant to join, but I told her that she needs to join so we can travel the world together! We will give the world a shooow!
I LOVED hearing your loud laugh and seeing your wide smile each episode. Are you always this happy in real life or just when doing drag?
I’m just a normal human! I am usually happy, but sometimes I also need to recharge and have my quiet times, especially at home where I rest. I’m always in my bedroom - sometimes working, editing vlogs and content. But most of the time asleep, LOL.
Was the competition what you expected or totally different?
It is totally different, in a positive manner! I expected it to be super hard. What I did not expect is the bond and the sisterhood we all made in the show. The love, support and care of all the production, from the staff to the producers, we felt valued and loved. One of my best experiences in life.
As you left this week you said you showcased every side of you, the good the bad and the ugly. Would you change anything you did in the competition?
Not at all. That’s what I wanted to show people, that I’m just as normal as them. That just like normal people, do I laugh, cry and get drunk sometimes!
Do you think your bad ankle was what made you lose the lip-sync and get sent home?
Its part of it. Since the day before the episode, I’ve already felt that all the signs have aligned and I might go home next. Been in the bottom 3 for two weeks and then got a fracture. I just told myself that it is okay, Im a winner already, I’ll just drink to numb the pain and enjoy the night and if I win, I’ll just take that as a bonus.
Let’s not forget losing is the new winning (as RuPaul says), getting on the show is a huge achievement which opens many doors but what do you hope the future holds for you?
It actually opens a lot of doors, not just for me but for the whole drag community, and the systems in the drag scene that are not acceptable. Drag Race helped local clubs to appreciate and pay queens what they deserve and not exploit their talents. I hope to inspire more people, not just queens, to dream and work to achieve their goals.
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 aqueer artist doing their thing.
Visit my daughters Fewsha and Tiny Lil Jayper Deluxe on Instagram. Fewsha is my baby, I am now training her to be the next superstar! Tiny Lil is a live singing drag queen!! Full of talent, a very good singer and very charismatic!
Drag Race Philippines continues every Wednesday, exclusively on the streamer of all things drag, WOW Presents Plus. To subscribe click here.