Check out this sickening series
Recently, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire has partnered RuPaul’s Drag Race alumni Bebe Zahara Benet, Trinity the Tuck, and Manila Luzon for a new mini series called Jack Fire Drag Queen Summer Glamp. Shot on location at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, the three-episode series will premiere on June 17 exclusively on JackFirePride.com.
Each episode of Jack Fire Drag Queen Summer Glamp features the trio completing various glamping-inspired challenges with help from the distillery’s staff. Drag Queen Summer Glamp takes Pride Month back to the great outdoors and far beyond city limits to create a bold new experience — for both the queens and their hosts.
We had a chance to connect with RuPaul’s Drag Race Winner and All Star, Bebe Zahara Benet on her time filming this series:
The Knockturnal: What was it like teaming up with Jack Daniel’s for this campaign?
Bebe Zahara Benet: It was really amazing when I was selected as one of the artists for this campaign. I love the fact that Jack Daniel’s is being inclusive and celebrating diversity, celebrating acceptance, celebrating love, and that is what the brand is doing. So it was an honor to be a part of a campaign and also to be a part of people who are trying to move humanity forward and people who are trying to move the community forward. It was really, really an honor. And also the experience, it was amazing!
The Knockturnal: In this series you, Trinity, and Manila take on several glamping related challenges and activities. What was that like for you?
Bebe Zahara Benet: Oh my god. First of all, I was very nervous doing this glamping thing because I have never gone camping. I have never gone glamping either. I have always wanted to do it, but I had never done it. And so when the opportunity presented itself, I was like, ‘ oh my gosh. Glamping! What is it going to be like?” But when I heard Trinity and Manila were doing it, two sisters of mine that I love dearly, I was really excited because that would give us an opportunity to work together, bond together, and I knew it was going to be a good ol’ kiki honey, a good ol’ kiki. So I was nervous and anxious for it but also very excited to experience it and experience it with artists and sisters that I do love.
The Knockturnal: Can you share some of your favorite moments while filming the series?
Bebe Zahara Benet: I think the big one for me was the opportunity to meet and connect with so many of the people who work in the distillery as well the producers behind the scenes, the director of the campaign, and all those that were filming. Because I remember after we were done filming, we would go have dinner and go around a campfire and sit down with our blankies and have conversations – conversations about life and getting to know more about each other. And it was interesting to see how many different worlds we all come from but how we are still so very similar in ways when it comes to humanity and as people. And so, it was so great to listen to stories and just laugh and just be silly and funny. It almost felt like a family reunion in a weird way where we have all known each other before and come together every year. That was my favorite part, the people we got to meet as well as the filming crew!
The Knockturnal: What was it like exploring the distillery in Lynchburg Tennessee?
Bebe Zahara Benet: It was amazing. First of all, that was my first time going to a distillery, especially in Tennessee. So it was great just to see how the whiskey was being produced and the protocols and the language they use to describe the process. It was a whooleee thing. It was a moment. And it was so exciting to discover the distillery. It was really a moment and I can check that off my list so that was fun!.
The Knockturnal: How was it like working with fellow Drag Race alumni Manila and Trinity?
Bebe Zahara Benet: Like I said, it was such a blast working with Manile and Trinity. I think chemistry is very important especially if you are going to go far away and spend that many days – especially with people. It was very important for me to have fun throughout the process. And Manila and Trinity made it very fun for me. We had so many good laughs and talked about so many other stories. It was like the sisters having a vacation and so it was so fun and I really, really loved it.
The Knockturnal: How does filming this series compare to competing in your seasons of RuPaul’s Drag Race?
Bebe Zahara Benet: It’s different because when you are competing it is very different than when you are doing a campaign. When you are on Drag Race, the tensions are high, you are super stressed, and you are competing to win or you want to be the best. The competition is a whole different mindset than filming this campaign. Here, we have fun and just be ourselves. Although it was a little crazy with us walking around in 4 inch stiletto heels in some of these places. But, it was fun and a different kind of pressure because it was just us having a good time and being ourselves and not competing with each other. So it allowed you to really see our personalities and just really be present.
The Knockturnal: Anything else coming up for you that you’d like to share?
Bebe Zahara Benet: First of all, this year is my 20th anniversary in drag. Yesss, I am turning 20 years old in the artform and I am just so excited. I have my new documentary film called “Being Bebe” which is all about my life which will be premiering in Tribeca and other film festivals after that. That’s happening and I am very excited. This is 15 years of my life. I am also working on new music. The fans have been asking for new music. I will be going on tour too. And most importantly, I will be launching my new haus, The Haus of Zahara, which is going to be a collective that brings artists from all walks of life to inspire each other and share each other’s network and mentor the younger artists that are just coming.
