Drag OUT

America's Next Drag Superstar and "RuPaul’s Drag Race" winner BeBe Zahara Benet (above) and fellow contestant Tammie Brown stopped by San Francisco’s Toad Hall Thursday with Chicago DJ-producer Mark Picchiotti as part of the Absolut "Real Fruit" Tour.

Beginning with the "Drag Race" finale party March 23 at NYC bar Therapy, the tour continued on to Chicago's Roscoe's, Miami's Score, and on April 16 San Francisco's Toad Hall, before culminating at Los Angeles hotspot Eleven the following night.

Before Benet and Brown took their turns on stage and Picchiotti on the decks, Gay.com’s Josh Rocker chatted with them about "Drag Race," the Absolut tour, and the transformative power of drag.

The winner, BeBe Zahara Benet

So how’s the Absolut Tour been treating you? I’m sure you’ve been getting a royal reception.

It’s been wonderful. In New York I was just excited to watch the finale, because I did not see Nina and I going against each other yet. I was excited to see the Absolut and Logo team, and the people who support the artistry of drag. It’s been amazing to connect with the people who’ve supported me. They express how my persona inspired them, so it’s great when people find a connection to who you are and what you do.

When did you first develop a passion for drag?

I always knew there was something different about me. Even as a child I was always interested in drag and fashion, grooming, and was naturally talented at doing makeup and hair. I was interested in modeling; I mean I was 6'4" in hair and heels. So I was in France, doing an internship with school, and I was doing a runway show, modeling as a male and we were short one of the females. So I just said, ‘Dress me up and paint me up.’ They could see it because I was so in touch with my feminine side. That’s where my persona was born. It wasn’t about being passable. It was about being better than other women. Then it transitioned from runway to performing.

Culturally speaking, what has a show like "Drag Race" done for the art of drag?

It’s created a reawakening. In spite of drag, young artists express themselves in different ways, and sometimes there’s no appreciation for what men do, even though they’re often the best chefs and designers. But people will say, ‘That’s women’s jobs.’ But that only hinders the development of their art. So I hope that people like me, who take it to the next step, will help them develop their art.

In general, a lot of people are taking drag much more seriously, more as entertainers than as just a hobby. They’re seeing what we do as entertainers. People are dedicating more of their time to it and investing more financially -- making a career out of it.

I know that one of your main goals is to help improve conditions for people in you home country of Cameroon.

I have two homes, America and Africa. So I want to be the voice for Africa, to use my art to spread awareness of HIV and get help sent back to where I come from. I created the BeBe persona in part to empower women there, who have problems with their self esteem, to handle difficult situations. I’m also using the show to talk to children, to teach people self-respect and to take risks no matter what. That is my message.

Many were surprised that one of your longest-lasting competitors Rebecca Glasscock lasted for as long as she did. Do you think she deserved her place in the top three?

I’ve never taken a contestant for granted. Everyone was hiding their secret. I just brought myself and my determination to win. But it was always in the hands of the judges, who had their own opinions. It may have been different if America had to vote.

Did RuPaul give you any special advice that helped you through the competition?

He always told me to pursue with persistence, to really appreciate our craft. There were always words of encouragement readily available.

So where have those words taken you today?

I aspire to be a drag artist, singer, fashion designer, spokesmodel, and actor. I aspire to be successful. I’m working on a fashion line, ‘Zahara,’ for men and a line for women, because people always ask me where I get my outfits from and I thought it would be a great way to keep my fans in touch with me.

I’m also an ambassador for UNICEF. I want to create revenue, so I could go back home and open a center for kids with HIV.

Now, I’m working on an EP of African sounds and American sounds to come out end of spring or early summer. It’s called ‘Beautiful Day: Prelude to the Dance’ and it is all about love, celebrating differences, and learning to tolerate each other. People today place so much emphasis on the problems we have, but we never sit and appreciate what we’re lucky for. In order to handle what’s going on, we need to also love each other and celebrate.

Cameroon is not the richest country. There are people with no food to eat and those who are sick with no ways of getting medication. But in spite of all that, they find ways to celebrate and find happiness. I want to bring that feeling with the sounds. I’m sewing a seed.

The unsinkable Tammie Brown

So you seemed the most caricature-like to me of all the contestants. How much of that was you and how much of it was pure persona?

That’s me, naturally who I am. I was influenced by Tina Turner and Josephine Baker and [peace activist] Daisaku Ikeda .

Tammie, what was your experience on the show?

I didn’t realize that the show would be so much about competing. I only compete with myself.

Out of all the contestants, you seem the most embittered from your time on the show.

Other than having problems with Akasha, most of my problems were behind the scenes. The temperatures were not right. It would be 80 and we were told that we had to do our makeup in 45 minutes. We would request fans and food that never came and they wondered why we weren’t there on time. Also, there was no element to express ourselves as artists, like Kiki and Herb. I don’t like competing shit, myself. I know I’m great looking, have nice legs and an amazing voice.

Did you at least learn something from RuPaul?

Absolutely nothing. I think he’s beautiful and thank you for the M.A.C. cosmetics.

What have you been doing since the show?

MySpace has been booming and I have a new album: ‘Popcorn: Tammie Brown’ with six tracks of blues, country, and electropop.

What kind of feedback have you gotten from "Drag Race" viewers?

That I’ve inspired people to start doing drag, and they tell me how I encouraged them to change their lives.

What advice would you give an aspiring drag entertainer?

Have a gimmick. Be creative. Take what you have and use it. Be yourself and enjoy the faces in the crowd. Really like people.

DJ (and silver fox) Mark Picchiotti

How did you get involved in the Absolut tour?

Well, the show was to find the next superstar drag queen, and I’m a DJ who’s worked with superstars. I’ve produced for Kylie and remixed everyone from Madonna to Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey. Now I’m working on producing one of BeBe’s first singles.

Have you been enjoying yourself?

It’s been fun and refreshing. The crowd is more vibrant and having a good time partying. I’m excited to be part of the show. I’ve always been on the periphery of drag culture, but non-judgmental. But meeting BeBe has really opened my eyes to the driving force behind what compels people to perform. It takes a lot of chutzpah to get up and take on that persona. And if it’s doing that for me, and I’m in my mid-40's, then I can’t imagine what it’s doing for others, who’ve had no experience of drag queens.

So it’s been a growing experience for you, as well?

Yes, definitely. It’s this mentality of ‘I am who I am, and it’s more important to stand firm to who I am.’ Through drag, anyone can learn the essentials for being a strong performer and person.

(All Photos: Valencia Ganoe)

Comments

[Bob Newhart]

Tammie Brown is HOT out of drag.