Contestant Mirage sits down with EW's Joey Nolfi to preview 'RuPaul's Drag Race Season 16'.
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00:00 That was the best part.
00:00 Untouched was my favorite part
00:01 of the whole entire filming process.
00:03 'Cause that was when we really got to like,
00:04 kiki and go in on each other, and there was alcohol.
00:07 (gentle music)
00:10 - Hello, I am Joey Nolfi with Entertainment Weekly,
00:14 quenching your thirst today with the juicy cast
00:17 of "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 16.
00:19 And I'm here to confirm that yes,
00:20 we know you're feeling parched and dry
00:22 in the absence of "Drag Race" on your screens,
00:24 but this beautiful creature you see here
00:26 is indeed your desert Mirage, Mirage Amoro,
00:29 to be exact, welcome, it's nice to meet you.
00:31 - Nice to meet you, very excited.
00:32 - Yes, I love this, you came ready to read, clearly.
00:35 - With these glasses. - These are my reading glasses,
00:36 yes. (laughs)
00:37 I actually have horrible, horrible vision.
00:39 - Oh, really? - No.
00:40 - Oh, I was gonna say, you need these,
00:42 these are prescriptions.
00:43 - These are prescriptions. - Yeah, I stole them
00:45 from my mom.
00:46 Well, you do clearly have good vision though,
00:47 because I mean, look at the material.
00:48 I mean, this is like, - Thanks.
00:49 - Her robe, I mean, this is amazing.
00:51 Now, I heard that you stole this from somebody?
00:53 - I did. (laughs)
00:55 I was gonna just wear the, like,
00:56 whatever the hotel robe was, and I said,
00:58 you know what, I didn't know that the girls
00:59 were turning looks, and I told my friend,
01:01 and she said, I got you.
01:02 - And she did you well. - Yes.
01:04 - Now, let me just say, and we will get to this
01:06 in a minute, but this one, I mean,
01:07 you are not ready for her on stage,
01:10 if you don't already know, like,
01:11 you need to look up videos of her on stage,
01:12 'cause it's amazing, but I have to know,
01:15 one of my favorite singers is the Japanese pop star,
01:18 Nami Moro, is that where you get your name,
01:19 your last name from?
01:20 - Is it really? - Yes.
01:21 - I love her, I'm obsessed with her.
01:22 - That is so funny, yeah, actually,
01:24 my drag mom was the one that picked it out,
01:25 and I took her name, she's originally
01:27 from the House of Pandavas, my drag mom,
01:30 but she changed it just because Nami Moro's her favorite,
01:33 and so I took that one.
01:35 - Oh, okay, great, but you're not as familiar
01:36 with Nami, or you are?
01:38 - I personally am not, but I mean,
01:40 she looks sickening, and she does.
01:42 - And she retired, though, it's so sad.
01:44 - Very sad.
01:45 - But you have a very long career ahead of you,
01:46 I can tell, she's retiring as well tomorrow.
01:48 (both laughing)
01:50 - So tell me a little bit about how you got into drag,
01:53 like, and can you describe, like,
01:55 the drag goddess that we see on stage with you?
01:57 - It was an accident, completely, not even my idea.
02:00 But, so, my drag mom, the reason she's my drag mom
02:02 is because I asked her, she's sickening,
02:03 she's a trans woman, and I just always thought
02:06 she was the most beautiful, and so I asked her
02:08 to help me with my makeup, 'cause I used to work at a salon,
02:12 and so she did it on my face, and I looked in the mirror,
02:15 and I said, "It's over, it's over for you, hoes,
02:18 "this is me now," so I've just been doing drag ever since.
02:22 - And it has brought you to RuPaul's Drag Race,
02:24 so you're obviously doing something right.
02:26 - Started out as, like, a cross-dressing go-go dancer,
02:28 and now I'm really doing it big time.
02:31 - Oh, so wait, okay, so you were a go-go dancer first,
02:33 before you--
02:34 - Okay, well, I mean, you know, swearing,
02:38 but yeah, I got paid, so it counts, right?
02:40 - Yeah, I mean, yes, absolutely.
02:42 (upbeat music)
02:45 I was pleased to see that you are a resident performer
02:48 at Piranha in Las Vegas, because, I mean,
02:52 not only are you there alongside legends
02:54 like Hot Chocolate, Yara Sofia, of course, Anitra,
02:58 but not just anybody can get a spot at Piranha,
03:00 like, that is a huge deal, performing at Piranha in Vegas,
03:02 like, the level of talent required is next level.
03:05 What do you bring on stage at a performance?
03:06 What are we getting at a Mirage show?
03:08 - I like to bring a little bit of stripper,
03:10 a little bit of heel clacking, some floor work,
03:13 you know, I like to roll around, clean it up a little bit,
03:15 'cause, you know, the messy (beep)
03:17 always gotta (beep) it up before I get out there.
03:19 Yeah, I like to, like, give a little audience interaction.
03:22 I don't know, I'm kind of a mess, I've been told,
03:25 but it's in a fun way.
03:27 - What's the wildest audience interaction
03:28 you've ever had at one of your shows?
03:30 - Um, somebody threw their drink on me one time, and--
03:34 - You threw your microphone at them, like Cardi B?
03:36 - I wish I had a microphone.
03:37 Okay, so to be fair, I was also drunk,
03:39 I probably threw mine back at them.
03:41 It was a good old time, it was like those days
03:43 when you're, like, first starting a drag,
03:44 and you're just like, you know, nobody knows who you are,
03:47 and you're (beep) around.
03:48 I don't know, I kinda miss it.
03:50 I know that's a little bit,
03:51 I don't even remember what the question was, but.
03:53 - It was, what was your wildest interaction?
03:54 But I think that, yes, given that answer, yes,
03:56 that, no, that does sound like a wild interaction.
03:59 What is the most extreme,
04:00 'cause I know you are a really great dancer,
04:02 so what is the most extreme or challenging maneuver
04:05 or dance move that you've ever done on stage?
04:08 - Okay, so at the bar I used to work at before Piranha,
04:10 they had, like, these, like, chains
04:11 that would hang from the ceiling,
04:12 'cause we had a go-go who used to be an aerialist.
04:14 And so I used to get up there and just, like, twirl around
04:17 and just, you know, taught myself a little something,
04:19 but yeah, I would just be up there upside down,
04:20 swing on the chains.
04:21 - So did you tell anybody you were gonna do this
04:22 or you just decided to improvise
04:23 and just go up on the chains?
04:24 - Well, the song called for it.
04:26 - Really? - That's what it was.
04:28 I don't remember.
04:29 I remember the first one it was,
04:30 but there were, you know, there were several.
04:31 I used to do it all the time just for whatever,
04:32 Madonna, Summer, it was like, whatever.
04:35 - Were there any injuries involved
04:36 with any of these dance maneuvers?
04:38 - Not to me, to others.
04:40 I'm just kidding.
04:41 - Oh, okay.
04:42 I was gonna say.
04:43 - Luckily, no, fingers crossed.
04:45 There's still time, though.
04:46 - Yeah, there is still time, yes.
04:48 So what is the best night ever
04:50 that you remember performing at Piranha?
04:52 'Cause I know it does get wild there.
04:54 Were there ever any like famous people in the audience?
04:56 - Ooh, I met Slater one time.
04:58 Kim Petras was there.
05:00 And one time I heard that Janet Jackson was in the building,
05:04 but we were not allowed to go talk to her.
05:05 So speculation as far as I'm concerned.
05:07 - We know Coco Montrese loves to do Janet Jackson drags,
05:10 so maybe it was just Coco.
05:11 - It might've been, it might've been.
05:12 I wouldn't be surprised.
05:13 She's done that before.
05:15 - Have you ever, I mean, so like in Vegas,
05:16 have you ever, did you cross paths with Coco at all?
05:18 - Yes, yeah, she's one of my faves.
05:20 - Oh, did you ask her for advice before you went on the season?
05:22 - Okay, she's not that much of my fave.
05:23 (both laughing)
05:25 No, I'm just kidding.
05:25 I actually cross paths more often with Kahana,
05:29 which still not super often,
05:30 but you know, we go to the same beauty supply,
05:31 so I see her there.
05:32 And Alexis Mateo was actually the one that helped me a lot
05:34 with my getting ready for a drag race.
05:36 - Oh, really?
05:37 What did she help you most with?
05:38 - She actually made one of my gowns.
05:39 - Oh, cool.
05:40 - For one of the looks, we'll see.
05:42 And then just advice, telling me like how to be professional
05:45 and stuff, I mean, it didn't sink in completely,
05:47 but you know, we're still working on that one,
05:50 but yeah, she's been a good mentor, a good mentor.
05:53 - That is a really great mentor to have, Alexis Mateo.
05:55 I mean, if you're gonna look up to somebody.
05:57 - I mean, she's working.
05:59 If there's one thing that I say
06:00 that I wanna get on a drag race for, it's the longevity.
06:03 You know what I mean?
06:04 And she, her and Coco, I want that kind of career.
06:07 - I feel like we're gonna see that from you, definitely.
06:09 (upbeat music)
06:11 What is your background in dance and performing?
06:15 Do you have like formal training
06:16 for all of the work that you do on stage?
06:18 - Not really.
06:19 I used to, well, you know what?
06:20 I always say tequila helps, first and foremost.
06:23 I'm just kind of winging it.
06:23 You gotta pick a song that you love.
06:25 You gotta pick a song that you know the words to.
06:28 And other than that, you just have to,
06:30 it's when it's something that you feel, it just comes out.
06:32 - Strive for a scholarship with tequila.
06:35 That is the tequila scholarship.
06:37 So self-taught sort of like you.
06:39 - For the most part, I did do, what's it called?
06:41 I tried to do ballet for about a year
06:44 when I was like 19, but all the other girls were like 12.
06:48 So it was just weird, I left.
06:50 (both laughing)
06:51 - Yeah, I'm trying to get a picture of that,
06:53 like just a bunch of 12 year olds and then a 19 year old.
06:56 Were you--
06:57 - Okay, they were like freshmen, but it was still weird.
07:01 - So were you in drag at that time?
07:02 Like were you-- - Oh, no.
07:03 - Started your drag career yet?
07:04 Oh no, you hadn't. - No.
07:05 - Okay.
07:06 - I actually started kind of late by today's standards.
07:07 Like I feel like everybody starts
07:08 before they're even old enough to go to the club.
07:10 I was like 23.
07:12 - Your skills also brought you to,
07:14 I just love saying this,
07:15 I asked Anitra about this last year,
07:17 the Taco Bell drag brunch tour,
07:21 which is every time I get to say that, it's so funny.
07:24 How does one land a gig doing a drag brunch for Taco Bell?
07:29 - Well, actually I didn't land that one.
07:33 That was all Anitra, and she was nice enough to bring me on.
07:36 - Okay.
07:37 - But it was honestly, that was probably my favorite gig.
07:39 I'm gonna say top five of my entire life.
07:41 As you know, anytime you bring out money,
07:43 the drag queen's gonna show up.
07:45 That's like, it's not that hard to get a booking,
07:47 to book a queen, but they fed us,
07:49 there was rehearsal, very professional,
07:50 we had choreography,
07:52 they taught us a song about Cinnabon Delights.
07:54 It was singing, I highly recommend.
07:57 I'm not sponsored, but. - So you do again.
07:58 Yes, any fast food restaurants
07:59 that would like to sponsor Mirage
08:01 for fast food brunches, yes.
08:04 I imagine you have some good stories,
08:05 'cause Coco actually was, she did that as well.
08:07 I imagine you have some good stories of Coco on tour.
08:10 'Cause Coco Monterey's on tour is like something
08:12 that I would love to experience in person.
08:13 What was that like?
08:14 - She is really funny.
08:16 She cracks me up a lot, and not always on purpose,
08:19 but that's why it works.
08:20 I have some good photos of Anitra trying to get her
08:23 out of her costume on the ground.
08:24 It was like foot on the ass,
08:27 and you know Anitra's strong.
08:28 I was like, don't.
08:29 (both laughing)
08:30 - So you had multiple people to try to get Coco
08:31 out of costume, is what you're saying?
08:33 - Yes, I will be posting them later.
08:35 - Oh yes, please.
08:36 (Taylor laughing)
08:36 Yeah, very much looking out for that.
08:38 Now obviously, Miss Anitra, you know her from Piranha.
08:41 Being so close to her, have you ever been like
08:43 the dutiful auntie, and you've had to walk
08:45 the (beep) ducks while she's out on tour?
08:48 - Well, it's a hard job.
08:49 A thankless job at that.
08:51 But somebody's gotta do it.
08:53 - You mean like literally walking her ducks?
08:54 - I'm just joking.
08:55 - Okay, 'cause I've done that too.
08:57 - She actually has ducks?
08:58 - No.
08:58 - Oh, okay.
08:59 All right, so lies.
09:00 Lies abound in this interview.
09:02 - Sorry, Liza Minnelli tomorrow.
09:03 (Taylor laughing)
09:04 (upbeat music)
09:10 - What is your relationship like with her though?
09:12 And what kind of advice did she give you
09:14 before going to Drag Race?
09:15 - Well, okay, she also really scared me,
09:17 I'm not gonna lie.
09:18 I mean, I know she had a sickening experience,
09:20 but she was like, "Well, you know, be careful
09:23 "with this and that."
09:24 And like, I don't know, I'm trying not to give away
09:26 like any like BTS deets or whatever.
09:29 Just to like take it day by day, each day as it comes,
09:32 and just be in the moment and give everything you can
09:34 in that moment.
09:35 Just run with it, basically.
09:36 Whatever they tell you, just run with it.
09:38 - You feel like you lived up to that?
09:39 - I do not.
09:40 (Taylor laughing)
09:42 - Well, you tried, you tried.
09:43 - I did, I did.
09:45 - Did she help you with any costumes or anything?
09:47 - Oh yeah, like most of them.
09:49 I mean, I sewed everything for the most part.
09:50 She helped me finish a gown,
09:52 she like stoned a bunch of stuff for me.
09:53 I had a little sweatshop in my house,
09:54 like the two nights before I left in a row,
09:57 they just, me and my sisters.
09:59 - I love that. - They helped me.
10:00 The same one I stole this robe from.
10:02 They do a lot for me, actually.
10:04 - It takes a village to raise a drag queen.
10:06 What is one story that Anitra would absolutely kill you
10:08 for telling me right now in this interview?
10:09 - Oh my God, there are just so many.
10:11 (Taylor laughing)
10:12 Well, she does love to be bald.
10:14 I don't know if it's really a story,
10:15 but I have, again, a lot of photos.
10:16 - Photos of bald Anitra.
10:19 Okay, you're gonna have to post this too.
10:19 - It's a contact photo, it's so funny.
10:21 (Taylor gasping)
10:22 - Do you wanna get out your phone and show us?
10:24 No, that's just not okay.
10:25 - It's on the charger.
10:26 (both laughing)
10:27 - Well, Anitra did have a request for this interview.
10:30 I did source a question from her.
10:32 She says that you give great face,
10:34 so she would like you to describe your drag to camera
10:37 in three facial expressions or large movements.
10:40 - She knew I wasn't gonna have panties on, I'm pissed.
10:43 What the (beep) am I doing?
10:44 Well, I'm gonna have to do it sitting down, of course.
10:46 Gives great face, just the face, not the whole--
10:50 - She said it can be large movements too.
10:52 - Hmm.
10:53 - This contemplation is one, you've got one down.
10:55 (Taylor laughing)
10:57 - Okay, honestly, one of my go-tos, contemplation.
11:00 I don't have my tits on either, so I'm so unprepared.
11:03 - I hope you're pleased with this result, Anitra.
11:05 - Right. - You asked for this.
11:06 - You got me, she (beep) got me, Anitra.
11:08 - Well, we'll applaud the attempt, yay.
11:11 (Taylor laughing)
11:12 We always know on "Drag Race," twists and turns,
11:14 they're coming. - Oh, yeah.
11:15 - I mean, "Drag Race" is a gag every single season.
11:17 So what can you tease about the season that's coming ahead
11:21 and what's gonna elevate season 16
11:22 from seasons in the past?
11:24 - Hmm, I think the biggest thing that's gonna elevate,
11:26 like, besides twists and turns, of course,
11:28 I will get to that. - Okay.
11:29 - But the biggest thing I think that's gonna elevate
11:31 this season over others is the chemistry that the cast has.
11:34 I think it's so different from,
11:36 I mean, I wasn't at the other ones, obviously,
11:37 but we just clicked so well.
11:39 And not even in that we all got along,
11:41 but we all feed off each other's energy
11:43 and we can all be shady and rude and evil and hateful.
11:46 And then also not take it personally, you know what I mean?
11:49 So there's a lot of good reading, a lot of banter,
11:52 a lot of evil queens. - Yeah.
11:54 - It's bad.
11:54 - Okay, so I heard you used the word evil twice in that.
11:57 - Yes, and her name is Dawn.
11:59 - Oh, really? (Taylor laughing)
12:00 - Yes. - Dawn's the evil one.
12:02 - Yeah, but in a cute way.
12:03 When you see her, you're not gonna believe me,
12:05 but-- - She's like evil elf
12:06 on the shelf, kind of, is what I'm getting.
12:09 - Elf the house down. - Okay.
12:10 - Yes, you saw the ears?
12:12 - Oh yeah, that's why, yeah, that's why I'm saying it.
12:14 Yeah, the ears that she does. - That's what people are,
12:14 evil elf on the shelf.
12:16 - Oh, cannot wait to ask her about that.
12:17 Okay, so she is the evil one.
12:20 - Yes, and she knows.
12:21 It's not even a reading. - Okay, well, I am now
12:22 going to ask her about being evil.
12:23 - Tell her more,
12:24 what does that say? - I'm gonna be like,
12:25 "Mirage said, Dawn, that you were evil."
12:27 Okay. (upbeat music)
12:34 - Without spoiling anything,
12:37 what are a few mood words for the moment
12:40 you're most excited or most nervous for fans
12:43 to see about you on season 16?
12:45 - Ooh, can I say crybaby (beep)?
12:48 - Crybaby (beep), yeah, it's multiple words,
12:50 but I am, yeah.
12:51 - That's what I would use to describe myself this season.
12:53 It's an accident.
12:54 - So, "Untucked" is very, like a lot of waterworks
12:56 in "Untucked" for you this season?
12:57 - Not even "Untucked," that was the best part.
12:59 "Untucked" was my favorite part
13:00 of the whole entire filming process,
13:02 'cause that was when we really got to like,
13:04 kiki and go in on each other, and there was alcohol.
13:07 So there was no holding back,
13:08 and that's where we met Evil Dawn.
13:10 It was fun. - Okay.
13:11 Evil Dawn comes up again in this interview.
13:14 This is very exciting. - She was kind of ruling
13:16 the "Untucked" for me for a minute.
13:17 She was my favorite one there,
13:19 'cause she knows how to be shady and like,
13:20 she's just so cute, you like, can't be mad.
13:22 - And you don't, it's like you don't see it coming.
13:24 - Yeah. - Like, 'cause she is,
13:26 her drag is very, I mean, it's out there,
13:28 but it's like very, almost inviting in a way,
13:31 so I'm surprised. - Yeah, approachable.
13:34 But when you say crybaby (beep)
13:35 you're referring to yourself.
13:36 - Of course. - Okay, all right.
13:38 - Which is, I'm a Capricorn,
13:39 so we don't like to show our emotions,
13:41 but I decided to cry for the first time
13:43 on television of all places.
13:45 - Oh, well, was it a good cry or a bad cry?
13:47 - We'll see. - Okay, all right.
13:49 - Could be both. (laughs)
13:50 Who said it was just once?
13:52 - So, well, okay, I was going to ask
13:55 who the shadiest queen of the season is,
13:56 but I feel like you've already answered that question,
13:58 but is there anybody who needs
14:00 the Mistress Isabel Brooks drag delusion vaccine this year?
14:04 Who would that be? - Ooh.
14:06 Oh, wow.
14:08 Just one? - It can be multiple.
14:10 - There are multiple. - Okay, let's name 'em.
14:12 - Let's see, let's see.
14:13 The delusion as in, well, okay,
14:15 before I start reading (beep)
14:16 what, in what way are we delusional?
14:18 - This is open to your interpretation, Miraj.
14:21 - Oh, well, there's, I mean.
14:23 - If you had a drag vaccine,
14:25 Mistress Isabel Brooks' drag vaccine in your hand,
14:28 who would be the first three queens of the season
14:29 that you are jabbing in the arm?
14:31 - Jabbing in the arm, it's gotta be,
14:32 what's her name, Plain.
14:34 - What's her name?
14:34 (laughing)
14:35 What's her name?
14:36 - No, it's 'cause they always get so mad
14:38 when I mix up Plain and Plasma,
14:40 and then I started doing it on purpose
14:41 because I know it was making them mad,
14:43 and it just stuck, and now I really don't know who they are.
14:46 - Oh, okay, we forgot already. - In a fun way.
14:48 - In a fun way, always.
14:49 - But yeah, both of them, for sure.
14:51 - Okay, okay, looking forward to seeing that.
14:53 Is there anything else that you wanna say
14:55 about what fans can expect about the season ahead?
14:58 What's in store?
14:59 - I would say get ready for a lot of shade.
15:03 There's a lot of, I don't wanna say backstabbery.
15:06 I'm trying to think of a cuter word, that sounds bad.
15:08 - That's a cute word.
15:09 Backstabbing in the context of drag race, that's a cute word.
15:12 - Right, okay, well, there's a lot of that.
15:13 There's a lot of going for the throat.
15:16 There's a lot of honesty, is that a good,
15:18 that's a better way to put it.
15:19 - Yeah, okay. - Yes, honesty.
15:20 - That's a very pageant way.
15:21 - We're very honest with each other
15:23 about the things that we dislike
15:24 about each other's faces and bodies.
15:27 - I love that you look right to camera
15:28 as you're saying that, 'cause you mean it.
15:29 - I mean it. - Absolutely mean it.
15:30 - It's serious, and I don't like them,
15:32 and I'm not sorry about it.
15:33 (both laughing)
15:34 - What a lovely way to end this interview, Maraj.
15:37 Thank you so much, this was really fun
15:39 - Thank you. - talking with you,
15:40 and I cannot wait to see what you do on the season.
15:42 I'm very excited.
15:42 - You too, thank you so much.
15:43 - Stay tuned for more with the cast
15:45 of "RuPaul's Drag Race" season 16.
15:46 (upbeat music)
15:49 [BLANK_AUDIO]