The “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 14 star is largely known for her burlesque aesthetic, classically trained dance repertoire, sharp humor and sexy runway looks. And now that her tour is taking her to NYC Pride, we can all taste what the delicious Bosco has to offer! [Cover photo: Eric Magnussen]
Thotyssey: Hello Bosco, thanks for chatting with us! So where in the world are you now, and what was your last big show like?
Bosco: Howdy! Not a problem at all. I’m currently in Washington DC, on my way to Minneapolis. I’ve had the pleasure of doing a lot of big shows recently, but was especially proud of a show I played recently at House of Blues in Orlando — great party, with a fabulous dance troupe I got to work with called Hard Drive.
What’s your favorite number to do these days?
My favorite song in the whole world is “Careless Whisper” by George Michael, and I love performing it.
Everything you did on that live taped Drag Race finale was exciting and exquisite! Did that experience feel like you were in a Broadway revue or something?
It was a wildly stressful and intense day. I think I was corseted for 8 hours or so? I had bruises and blisters all over my back for a week after. I wouldn’t have made it through that day without the other girls in the Top 5. We were each other’s support group, for sure.
One of my favorite elements of this past season is how you got some flack with being one note with your presentations in the challenges and runways, but then you blew everyone away with how dynamically funny you were in that roast! You also had great reads in that mini-challenge. That must have been the best feeling in the world, when you were able to show that side of yourself, right?
Yes.
You were known for incorporating burlesque into your looks and numbers onstage, and for getting your inspiration from that world. Is it still a big part of what you do?
Oh absolutely, I find a lot of inspiration in burlesque when translating acts to the stage. But the main source of my inspiration comes from strippers and sex workers.
There was a lot of trans visibility on your season, with two queens being openly trans throughout the run, another queen coming out emotionally mid-season (our New York sis Jasmine!) and two queens including yourself coming out after filming. That’s been a really wonderful thing to see! Do you think this opens up many opportunities for non-cis drag performers to be on the show someday?
Who’s to say? It’s hard to say what the impact will be… but I do know that there is no unringing the bell. Our season demonstrated very clearly that trans performers are an important part of the drag community, and including us only elevates the quality of the show.
Have you ever been to, or performed in, NYC before? Or kiki’ed with any queens from here, besides Jasmine?
I hadn’t been to NYC before the show. but since filming I’ve met a ton of super lovely queens from here! I’ve had a lot of fun with Neon Calypso, Dahlia Sin, Maddelynn Hatter, Nicky Doll, and Jackie Cox to name a few off the top of my head.
You’ll be in town again on Pride Saturday for “The Fantastic Six,” a perfectly named showcase presented by Voss Events! It will star yourself and five other girls who made it to the top of Season 14: Jorgeous, Daya Betty, Angeria Paris VanMichaels and winner Willow Pill! Have you all gotten to kiki together since the season ended… and are you excited to work with the emcee Miss Vanessa Vanjie Mateo?
Yes! We all got to hang out and catch up in May, when we were tasked with surviving Drag Con. Miss Vanjie seems like a good time gal so I’m excited to meet her!
Anything else to let the children know about?
Working on some killer acts for the upcoming Voss tours! Also scheming and plotting some top secret projects I’ll be announcing later this year.
And finally: if “The Daytona Wind” ever became a real show, would you reprise your role… sound effects and all?
Only if we win the Emmy.
Thanks, Bosco!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Bosco’s upcoming area appearances, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok as well as her website.
Thotyssey 