After 15 years and almost 40 seasons, the Queen of Drag RuPaul has taken a (very small) step back from the empire that is Drag Race, resigning as host of Drag Race Down Under. Taking her place is the inimitable Michelle Visage, a powerhouse performer who promises to bring her “very best” to the role.
Back in February, the rumour mill was abuzz with speculation that RuPaul may not be returning for a fourth season of Drag Race Down Under. Then, less than a month later it was revealed that Michelle Visage—RuPaul’s right hand gal—would be taking her place. For Visage, that decision was a no-brainer.
“I said to Ru, ‘you want me to do it?’ and he said, ‘absolutely. But, I want you to be you. That’s why I want you to do it. Nobody’s going to do it better than you,’” Michelle Visage tells Not Safe For Queers. “So, for the people who are expecting me to do RuPaul things, no, because that would be me faking it and me trying to live up to somebody I cannot live up to.”
Still, the newfound host knew that she would have to walk a fine line between familiarity and freshness for the franchise.
“All I could do is just be me,” Visage admits. “Things aren’t going to magically change because I’m sitting in the hosting position. I think if I was trying to be something that I’m not, people would see through it right away, and they wouldn’t have it. So, I’m still going to judge the way that I judge. But I wanted to be present, I wanted to really support these kids and what they came here to do.”
“But I had to keep the familiar things,” she stresses. “I mean, people are waiting for the good luck and don’t fuck it up. Like, there’s certain things you can’t get rid of because they’re mainstays. They have to stay. You gotta feed the children, my darling.”
Joining Visage on this season’s panel are a rotating roster of former Down Under queens, local celebs, and, of course, Rhys Nicholson. For Visage, having these alumni was essential.
“It was so important, so necessary, but also really exciting to have those kids who’ve been through the machine—because they know what it’s like. Not only have they been through it, but then they’ve been out on the touring circuit, they’ve been out doing the bars, the clubs, one-woman shows. They have been out there experiencing what life is like through Drag Race and after Drag Race, so they are the perfect ones to sit next to me on that panel,” she says.
Ultimately, stepping up to the plate has been the opportunity of a lifetime for Mama Michelle; one that’s allowed her motherly instincts to really shine, all while showing a great deal of appreciation for the artform that is Australasian drag.
“I loved having the queens on a rotating panel, and I loved having guest judges. But I think my favourite part was going into the workroom and getting to know the queens on a different level, because that’s where the maternal thing does come out in me. I want to just protect them from all the negative energy that lurks in this world because they are so very precious and they are so very special,” she shares.
“And you know what? You know what they called themselves? They call themselves Mitch’s Bitches. I’m so honoured to have my own group of bitches,” she laughs.
With the season kicking off on November 1, Visage adds, “I just can’t wait for everybody to see these talented queens that season 4 has to provide. They’re unbelievable right out of the box.”
Drag Race Down Under Season 4 premieres this Friday only on Stan.