Friday night “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race” brought the big finale to Season 2, and with the competition going into the final round, it’s really anyone’s game.
Poppy Love (aka Backstreet Boy AJ McClean), Thirty Von Trapp (aka “Ugly Betty” Mark Indelicato), and Cycle 7 (aka “Fresh Prince of Bel Air” alum Tatyana Ali) are running neck and neck while competing for the crown. Huh .
“AJ not only came out of the box, but remained really strong,” judge Michelle Visage told TheWrap when we spoke with her and co-panelist Ross Matthews on Thursday (you can watch our conversation above). “Poppy, you know, we said this on the show — she’s one of those queens we know is going to kill it every time.”
“But I would say when you start strong like Poppy, the pressure to keep it up is more because now we know how good you can be,” Mathews said. “But the thing about Poppy is that throughout the season he kept that level for the most part. And so going into the finale, he’s in a really strong position.”
Indelicato’s thirsty von Trapp had some rough times earlier in the season, but the “drag race” franchise judges often like to call the “right time” reached a climax.
“Yeah, it’s about speed,” Matthews explained. “We’re learning in the first few episodes who you are. But if you don’t kick it into high gear in those last five, four episodes of the season, you’re never going to make it to the end and you’re going to win. are not. [Thirsty] Got the right mojo at the right time. She has come on her own. She has defined herself as a queen. Maybe in the first week or two, I wouldn’t have seen him take the crown he needed. But now, take heed.”
Ali’s drag personality cycle 7 has also seen its ups and downs in “Secret Celebrity Drag Race” Season 2. But as her past performances showed, she has reached the zenith of ferocity.
“It is about travel most of the time. Sometimes there is a clear precursor from the gate,” Visage said.
“When there’s a trip, you invest in someone,” she continued. “Somebody else, you know, you feel comfortable with all the time. There’s someone you feel comfortable with, but there’s a journey—that was the cycle, I think, and he really surrendered to the process. “
For Mathews, Chakra’s attention to detail in all aspects of his performance is a major reason why he stands out.
He said, “What I love about Chakra is that it always did these thoroughly thought-out renditions that were so comprehensive, so intelligent – from the color and design, to the choice of songs, to its subject matter, ” They said. “She just performed so smart. And I love that kind of performance because I melt into it.”
“RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race” took the competition to a whole new level for Season 2, turning the show into a weekly drag queen showdown, with celebrity contenders mentored by Brooke Lynn Heights, Monet X Change and Jujubi. , and was criticized by the judges – RuPaul, Visage, Matthews and Carson Kressley.
For the first several episodes, the show only gave clues about the celebrities who were competing in drag (unless you can tell who they were by their voices), leaving them untouched when they were removed. was given. Some of the stars who participated were actress Loretta Devine, pop singer Taylor Dayne, “Mean Girls” actor Daniel Franzis, “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” alum Thom Filicia and “Glee” alums Jenna Ushkowitz and Kevin McHale. Who almost made it to the final round.
“It signifies that our umbrella welcomes everyone and it doesn’t matter what type of person you are, what type of celebrity you are. If you give in to the art of pulling you are not only welcome, but the sky That’s the limit,” Matthews said. “Look what these humans did on our show, you know? Who would have thought that these people we know so well could do it all? And that’s because the drag is so limitless. ,
The Season 2 finale of “RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race” airs Friday at 8 p.m. ET/PT on VH1.
