The winner of the first ever season of World of Wonder’s singing drag competition “Queen of the Universe” (which offered the biggest cash prize of any drag competition in history), Brazil’s own Gregory the drag queen aka Grag Queen has new songs to stream, and an upcoming show right here in NYC! [Cover photo: Sam Li]
Thotyssey: Hello Grag, thanks so much for talking to us today! Where are you in the world right now, and how are you?
Grag Queen: Hello my dears, here is Grag Queen speaking straight from Los Angeles California… extremely exhausted from DragCon, but extra happy for what I just lived.
Between DragCon in LA and Carnival in Rio back in April, you’ve been a busy bee! So, belated congratulations on being the first ever winner of the singing drag competition “Queen of the Universe!” Your $250K win is the largest prize won by anyone in a drag competition! Have you adjusted yet to all your new-found fame and success?
Well thanks! And no, I don’t think I adjusted to all the things already… but no complaints, lol! It might get a little long, but never gets bad.
I love the song and video for your hit song from March, “Party Everyday,” which is like 75% Portuguese and 25% English! You are a co-writer of this song and I see you mostly write your other songs.
Yes, I co-wrote the song like all of the songs I put on the platforms.
What comes more naturally for you in creating songs, the music or the lyrics?
I’m a melodic person, I love making it up with some beats.
Were you singing and making music long before you started drag?
Nope! Grag Queen came to give me all the confidence I needed to start doing these things.
Who are some of your favorite musical artists and style icons?
Lauryn Hill, Bruno Mars and Amy Winehouse.
Do many drag queens sing in Brazil, or are you one of the few?
We have a lot of music artists with lots of soundings. I love Brazilian drag music!
How did you enjoy your Queen of the Universe experience? As a viewer, the show was entertaining but seemed to move so quickly!
It did move quickly… and thank God I was on it ’til the end, lol! Me and my country just lived all the fantasy of World Cup of the Wigs, lol! That was an amazing time.
There was such a diverse group of competing queens, in nationalities and languages and in drag and musical styles! Were you able to bond with any of your fellow contestants?
Yeah, I’m very close with Rani from India; we get along so good ’cause we don’t understand at least 50% of the speech most of the time. So we just agree, and love each other.
Between host Graham Norton and the amazing judges panel of Leona Lewis, Trixie Mattel, Michelle Visage and Vanessa Williams, were you star struck at all?
Yes, totally! I gotta confess that Michele Visage just made me shake, lol!
Were you shocked when so many queens went home at once in the second episode, including New York’s own Novaczar and the legendary Jujubee?
My heart just broke. I couldn’t even celebrate my passing through. Just each of us know how hard we worked to prepare our asses off for the show…
How did it feel to win?
I felt like everything I did and went through was just worth it. So amazing, getting to tell this info to my family!
Yay! And now, what’s your favorite song to perform?
I will say “Rise Up.”
You are coming to New York in June! Have you ever been here before?
I went to NYC when I was 18 years old, but I wasn’t even out as a gay brother! Now, the funny part: the girl on the flyer is me, lol!
Specifically on June 24th (Pride Friday), you’ll be performing for JC Events’ “Frisky: Wonderful World” which will be at Brooklyn’s The Meadows! Many great international DJs will be spinning there as well! What can we expect from the night, and how excited are you?
I’m totally excited. Oh gosh, I have such a fun performance planned, and I am thankful for what this city already did for my journey. I want to live and soak up every single second.
What else is coming up for you?
Lots of projects are coming up. Definitely more music and lots of secrets — ’cause that’s what artists do, they never tell! Big surprises.
Finally: RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7! Who are you rooting for?
Guess what: I love every single queen, and most of them I know. So I prefer not to say names… but I’m crazy excited to watch it!
Thanks, Grag!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Grag Queen’s upcoming area appearances, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Stream and download her music here.
Thotyssey 