Picture Supply: Getty / Astrid Stawiarz
Season 14 of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” was not like another we have ever seen. From the sudden twists to the out-of-the-box fashions to a historic finale, this season’s solid held nothing again as they competed for the “Drag Race” crown. After many (many) lip-syncs and surprising elimination rounds, RuPaul lastly declared Willow Capsule, aka “Wiwwl Piwwl,” a winner, child. It has been almost three weeks for the reason that season’s closing episode was filmed, and Capsule remains to be processing her victory.
“I actually wish to launch a number of the stress that I really feel and simply have the win in a lane that’s actually enjoyable, wild, but in addition relaxed, and nonetheless pleasing.”
“It feels nice, actually. I believe I am actually simply at first of beginning to compute that [I’m season 14’s winner],” they inform POPSUGAR. As the primary trans lady to win a non-All Stars season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” Capsule shares that the stress of being a public determine has piled on much more, however she welcomes it with open arms. “I believe generally we put an excessive amount of stress on not solely the ‘Drag Race’ women however particularly the winners,” she provides. “I would be mendacity if I stated that this journey hasn’t been troublesome, particularly on my physique and thoughts, simply how a lot it’s important to work and provides to the individuals. So, I am really attempting to do the other. I actually wish to launch a number of the stress that I really feel and simply have the win in a lane that’s actually enjoyable, wild, but in addition relaxed, and nonetheless pleasing. I do not need it to really feel like torture.”
This season’s “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finale noticed Capsule face off in opposition to runner-up Girl Camden in an epic lip-sync battle, which the latter describes as an pleasing second for the pair. “I believe the 2 of us have been simply so pumped and excited to make it to that time,” Camden tells POPSUGAR. “I believe in these previous few moments, numerous it goes out the window. You attempt to carry out the crap out of [the song] and simply have a superb time and be current.”
For the primary time in “RuPaul’s Drag Race” historical past, 5 queens made it to the finale — together with Angeria Paris VanMichaels, Daya Betty, and Bosco — proving but once more that season 14 adopted its personal guidelines. Viewers might have been shocked by RuPaul’s choice to maintain so many individuals within the competitors, however Camden at all times knew there was an excessive amount of expertise within the solid to have something fewer than 5 finalists. “I felt just like the 5 of us had all confirmed ourselves in numerous methods, particularly when it was Angeria and Willow within the backside,” she says. “At that time, observe report does sort of come into play a bit bit extra, and I simply could not actually see them going dwelling as a result of they have been each simply actually robust.”
“I believe the present goes to proceed to evolve simply as queer tradition does.”
Even the competing queens who did not make it to the tip discovered a solution to make their mark on the “Drag Race” legacy. Capsule and Camden agree that their season has been probably the most unpredictable. “I actually consider that this is without doubt one of the greatest seasons that is occurred in fairly a while,” Capsule remarks. “It is simply been so particular, and I attribute that to the solid. The solid is simply phenomenal. I imply, everyone seems to be so enjoyable and type, and it is actually only a group of weirdos. All of us are a bit bit odd in our personal methods.” Camden provides: “I really feel like lots of people have been stunned by who really did make it to the tip, myself included. I really feel like not lots of people thought that I used to be going to make it that far at first, and I believe possibly that is why persons are sort of discovering that this season’s totally different [than] others . . . I believe that the present is altering each season as a result of, as individuals, we perceive that queer tradition adjustments all through the years. So you possibly can’t actually count on to do the identical factor time and again and have or not it’s as fascinating. I believe the present goes to proceed to evolve simply as queer tradition does.”
Picture Supply: VH1
From the primary second the season 14 queens walked into the Werk Room, followers have seen super progress. Season 14 put a serious highlight on transparency round gender identification, coming-out tales, and well being circumstances — all of which impacted the solid. However highly effective testimonies from individuals like Capsule — who has suffered from a situation referred to as cystinosis since start — on a platform as large as “RuPaul’s Drag Race” weren’t straightforward to disclose.
“I knew that so as to give a full view of what my drag is, I might even have to present a full view of what is occurring behind the scenes.”
“We have had queens (like Yvie Oddly) discuss continual sicknesses prior to now, however I wished [to give] full transparency. I knew I must have full transparency as a result of a lot of my drag is knowledgeable by my sickness,” Capsule shares. “There is not any solution to actually clarify the expertise with out explaining what’s occurred to me prior to now. Plenty of my appears to be like themselves are additionally impressed by my sickness and my relationship with demise and darkness. So, I knew that so as to give a full view of what my drag is, I might even have to present a full view of what is occurring behind the scenes.”
These revelations allowed Capsule and Camden to completely immerse themselves within the “Drag Race” expertise. Neither had a method coming into the competitors, however primarily based on the choose’s weekly critiques and observations, each rapidly realized they’d must do the sudden to make it far on the present. “I believe I attempted to play it secure and simply do nicely at first, after which that was proving to not likely work as a result of I believe I discovered fairly rapidly that the judges weren’t considering seeing individuals [just] do nicely,” Girl Camden explains. “They have been considering discovering out extra concerning the particular person and seeing them have enjoyable and do loopy issues and take dangers.”
Capsule is a chief instance of these loopy issues and dangers taken — the important thing to her success as season 14’s winner. And although they did not have a plan drawn up, her season went precisely the way in which they anticipated. “It wasn’t that I walked in with this enormous technique. It was extra like, I wish to go into this and be as genuine and trustworthy about my life as I presumably can,” she says. “As a result of I do know I’ve a narrative, and I wish to reveal that in layers . . . It actually took quite a bit to simply restrain myself, have persistence, and be like, all proper, we will take this one episode at a time. Every episode, I regarded to disclose a bit bit extra of myself, that method I am actually telling the story of how my drag turned what it’s.”
Picture Supply: VH1
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” provided the queens numerous classes — lots of which furthered their understanding of the true which means of drag. Vogue and lip-syncing weren’t the one issues prime of thoughts — self-discovery was an enormous a part of season 14’s narrative. “I believe one of many largest takeaways was simply numerous coming to phrases with my gender identification,” Capsule shares. “I establish as trans femme and being with the opposite women, notably the opposite trans women, was simply such a blessing. It actually made me go dwelling from the present like, ‘All proper, I’ve bought a bit little bit of homework I must do in figuring the place I match into all of this as a result of it feels totally different than once I walked in.’ Plenty of that’s simply attributed to how a lot enjoyable I had attending to be Willow once more and attending to be in drag once more, as a result of the pandemic took that away for some time.”
“I believe that ‘Drag Race’ taught me, regardless of the place you’re in your profession, to have enjoyable with drag and take dangers.”
Camden got here to her conclusions rooted in confidence, empowering her to take possibilities as nicely. “I believe that is precisely what I took away from it. Anytime I did take a danger, it was the time that I did nicely,” she says. “And anytime that I performed it secure was the time that I used to be in probably the most hazard. So I believe that ‘Drag Race’ taught me, regardless of the place you’re in your profession, to have enjoyable with drag and take dangers.”
“RuPaul’s Drag Race” has given each queens a brand new sense of freedom to be themselves, have permission to do no matter they want with out concern of ridicule, and belief their instincts as a result of it is already taken them up to now. As they embark on their subsequent endeavors — in TV, movies, sketch comedy, and dwell performances — the 2 queens are assured in realizing that their post-” RuPaul’s Drag Race” chapters are only the start.
