RuPaul’s new Netflix series ‘AJ and the Queen’ premiered in Hollywood at the Egyptian Theater with a glitzy and glam red carpet extravaganza. And I do mean RED.
The show’s stars, many of whom are RuPaul’s Drag Race alums, were decked out in all red premiere eleganza, a nod to the show’s main character Ruby Red. I chatted with some of the queens about Drag Race, lap dances and the gag of a black gay drag queen running a media empire.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Ryan Ashton Taylor and Leo Llanos attend Netflix’s ‘AJ and the Queen’ Season One Premiere at the Egyptian Theatre on January 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Trinity the Tuck
The Knockturnal: Hey Trinity! So you’re a winner, everything’s going great. What would your empire look like? Ru’s built this huge empire. Would you be a tv host? What would you do?
Trinity the Tuck: Girl I’m in this for money, so I’mma do whatever I got to do, whether it be tv or autotune music, cause girl I can’t sing. Pimping him out on the sidewalk, whatever is gonna make me money I will do.
The Knockturnal: What was your inspiration for your outfit tonight?
Trinity the Tuck: I have a designer in Orlando, his name is Jeffrey Kelly. And he’s just a drag queen himself and knows exactly how to dress me, so I just let him do whatever he wants.
The Knockturnal: I was just in Miami for the first time, and I went to Twist. I’ve never been in a situation where there are guys walking around offering $20 lap dances.
Trinity the Tuck: Did you get one?
The Knockturnal: …No
Trinity the Tuck: Well girl, that’s your problem.
The Knockturnal: I was gonna say, what should I do next time I go?
Trinity the Tuck: Get out your money! Hello!
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Eureka attends Netflix’s ‘AJ and the Queen’ Season One Premiere at the Egyptian Theatre on January 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Eureka Ohara
The Knockturnal: You’re the comeback queen, obviously. Which time was more fun?
Eureka Ohara: I think the first time in anything is always fun, because it’s scary but also so new. It was obviously a lot more fun that I got to go farther in 10 and experience more, but nothing will ever take away that original experience with my season 9 sisters, and just getting the opportunity to be in the RuPaul’s drag race workroom.
The Knockturnal: You showed a lot of skills on the show, especially acting. What’s a skill that people don’t know you have?
Eureka Ohara: I mean it’s not very secret, but I’m really good at giving head. I do my kegel’s and all that jazz so I’m really good at a lot of things. What’s something good, I don’t know. I’m not talented!
The Knockturnal: Head was great! Let’s just go with that.
Eureka Ohara: I’m kind of a good cook. And I’m good at organizing things, randomly.
The Knockturnal: You’re great with wigs, too. This looks incredible!
Eureka Ohara: This old thing. You know me, honey. She’s trying to be Jessica Rabbit.
The Knockturnal: Was that your inspiration?
Eureka Ohara: A little bit of Jessica Rabbit. But after she boiled the bunny. Fatal Attraction 2, y’know? 2.467.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Monique Heart attends Netflix’s ‘AJ and the Queen’ Season One Premiere at the Egyptian Theatre on January 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Monique Heart
The Knockturnal: You’re one of my favorite contestants of all time.
Monique Heart: Thank you! It’s the melanin.
The Knockturnal: Yes, of course. Duh. How exciting is it to be here, a young gay black boy, for the premiere of a black drag queen’s tv show?
Monique Heart: God calls certain people to be ones that open up doors. And I feel like that’s what Ru has done. That man has almost given his life to make sure that other queer – I’m gonna say specifically black folks, you know white people are in everything – to make sure that we are visible, that we are heard, our experiences are told. And then to go from like, working under the bridge, walking around the bodega back in NY with the toes hanging over the shoes, to running his own empire. You know girl, you’re doing something! Started from the bottom now we’re what? Here! Thank you!
The Knockturnal: What would your empire look like?
Monique Heart: My empire is gonna look something like his, a lot like Oprah’s, a little bit like Beyonce’s, and tons of Rihanna, duh. Cause she follows me and I love her. Well, we follow each other, love you.
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 09: Jaymes Mansfield attends Netflix’s ‘AJ and the Queen’ Season One Premiere at the Egyptian Theatre on January 09, 2020 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
Jaymes Mansfield
The Knockturnal: Obviously you all shot this forever ago, but the day’s finally here. How does it feel?
Jaymes Mansfield: It feels great. I mean being on set was surreal because I saw all these people from the 90’s I never thought I’d meet in adulthood, like Tia Carrere, Bobcat Goldthwait.
The Knockturnal: Oh shoot. How was Bobcat?
Jaymes Mansfield: Oh my gosh. I was surprised he actually talks like that. Somebody actually has a weirder voice than me.
The Knockturnal: Obviously you have a poppin YouTube channel, you’re doing a lot of work, you’re in AJ and the Queen, what’s next for you?
Jaymes Mansfield: Honestly I’m just gonna keep plugging away at youtube cause that is my #1 passion. I wanna get to over 100K! Subscribe goddamnit.
The Knockturnal: Subscribe goddamnit! OK, beautiful. All-stars in your future?
Jaymes Mansfield: I mean if they’re brave. I am so talented and so beautiful, they gotta keep the competition fair. They have to get girls that are at my caliber.
