Trixie Mattel | Interview | Stingray Rising Stars

What’s the most important advice that you would give to future drag queens and drag kings?  

I would say drag is not the get-rich-quick scheme it’s drummed up to be. The government wants you to think that if you buy a wig on Amazon, you’re instantly going to be rich and famous. And I’m here to tell you that is not the truth. Okay? I represent the upper percentage of people who really lucked out with my career and just make sure that if you’re going to do drag, you do it because you love it, and you would never expect any return on it other than enjoyment, fulfillment, and artistic voice. Because then if something cool happens financially or you catch a break, it’s a cool bonus, but even if nothing ever happens, even if you never get a paycheck in your life, you still got what you wanted out of it. That’s the most important thing.  

What is the worst lie you’ve ever told?   

My bigger problem is telling the truth too often, hitting people where they live, not reading the room. Oftentimes in life, I find myself feeling like I’m in the twilight zone where I’m like, “Is anyone going to say what’s really happening here?” I’m always the one, who like after the fact, someone would say, “You didn’t have to say it like that.” Because I’m just like, “What? We had to say it.” So I’m problematic in the sense of just, I would rather air the building and move on. I don’t believe in telling white lies.  

What was the funniest thing that happened to you while performing?   

Oh, God. I mean, after the fact it’s funny, but one time I was performing at Oasis in San Francisco, and I was lip-syncing, and  30 seconds into a five-minute lip-sync number, I fell off the front of the stage. I fell off so fiercely that my hands wiggled like this on the way down, both of my shoes fell off, and I still had five minutes of a song to do. So then I had to get up and put my shoes back on in front of people and lip sync while people tipped me awkwardly. Tipping me like my face was covered in scabs. Like, “Just give her a dollar. Oh, I feel so bad.” I mean, it was so awful, but it’s part of the gig!  

What’s the weirdest thing that a fan has ever given to you?   

I am newly an owner of This Is It, which is the oldest gay bar in Wisconsin. And one of our bartenders, Michelangelo, today, before I left, said, “Oh, Trixie, I forgot, I have a gift for you. Don’t open it in front of me.” And I go, “Okay. Right.” I’m thinking it’s a love letter. I’m thinking it’s a ring, perhaps. It’s a little statue of a bald man that says “bald is beautiful” on it. So he’s been fired. No, I’m kidding! He’s in federal prison.  

If you were arrested with no explanation, what would your friends think you’ve done?   

If I was arrested with no explanation, I think it could be confirmed that I was selling counterfeit pussy. Honestly, if I ever go to jail, if I get arrested, it’s probably going to be like my 13-year-old Napster account being discovered and me going to jail for pirating music or something.  

If you could ever be reincarnated as something, what would you want to be reincarnated as, and why?  

If I wanted to be reincarnated, I would like to be a bird because I want to fly away. I don’t know where my soul is. I don’t know where my home is. Nelly Furtado.   

What does pride mean to you?   

Honestly, my pageant answer is pride is about the community and loving one another and making sure everyone’s accepted, and knowing who you are. But honestly, pride is usually the time of year where I do the things that I’m most ashamed of. If you know what I mean!