Drag Race icon Symone says RuPaul made her ‘very aware’ of how she really felt about her
Symone and RuPaul, sitting in a tree. (Netflix)
Drag Race finalist Symone says RuPaul “isn’t one to hide her emotions”.
Lashauwn Beyond once famously declared that it’s Drag Race, “not RuPaul’s best friend race”. Except sometimes, it kind of is.
Often, RuPaul will take a shine to a particular queen: Lawrence Chaney, Miss Vanjie, and this season, Symone.
The “Ebony Enchantress” has made it to the top four through merit, notching up four main challenge wins and sending two queens packing with her mesmerising lip-syncing skills (the first, Tamisha Iman, was only booted to the Porkchop Loading Dock, but a win’s a win). But going in to the final, it doesn’t hurt that RuPaul is clearly enamoured with her.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Symone was asked if she was aware of “how much Mama Ru had fallen in love with [her] in the moment”, or whether she only realised while watching the season back.
“Oh no, I was aware,” she said. “She’s not one to hide her emotions, I’ll tell you that.
“So, I was very much aware of how she felt about me, and it just made me be like, ‘I’m going to go on this runway, I’m about to turn it. I’m about do this challenge.’ Except that one. But other than that, it just made me more invigorated to be like, ‘Let’s do it. Let’s turn it. Let’s make her proud. I want to see that smile, baby. I want to see her light up.’
“It was very apparent, and I wanted to strive for that every week, for sure.”
Throughout the season Symone has been lauded for her striking runway looks, which often came with deeper meaning. After Snatch Game, she received a round of applause on the main stage for a jaw-dropping gown and headpiece with “Say Their Names” and red bullet holes painted onto the back.
Of her choices, Symone told ET: “I think it’s important, especially the times we’re in. I didn’t just want to be a pretty thing on the runway.
“I mean, that’s easy. I wanted to just say something and to show myself and to express myself through clothes. That’s obviously what I like to do. So that was my mission, and I think I did a pretty good job.”
Going into the final, Symone said she would “love nothing more” than to walk away with the crown. If she doesn’t, she would “of course” come back for an All Stars season. We’ll find out Saturday (24 April) which path she’ll take, when RuPaul crowns one of Symone, Gottmik, Rosé and Kandy Muse America’s next Drag Race superstar.
