Fresh off a run on the second season of “Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs. the World” one of the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” franchise’s most beloved (and quotable!) cast members is about to headline NYC’s biggest drag event while also preparing for yet another huge competition… the entirely iconic Kennedy Davenport!
Thotyssey: Kennedy, hello! Thanks for chatting with us today, we know how busy you must always be! Where in the world are you now, and what were you just doing before this?
Kennedy Davenport: Thank you for inviting me. Right now I am in Texas rehearsing for the “Queen of Drag” pageant that is coming up. It’s super exciting, and I am taking time between shows in Vegas to work on getting that package ready. So, I’m still in Vegas for the most part, but I also go back to Texas quite a bit for work and to be with my family.
The second season of Canada’s Drag Race: Canada vs The World has recently concluded, and you were just as entertaining as you’ve always been throughout aa the Drag Race incarnations you’ve starred in! How did this go-around compare to your turns at those other seasons? Does production feel more like a well-oiled ship compared to your Season 7 (2014) initial debut?
Well, this time around was just completely different. The production team in Canada is completely different, so the ship just runs different all together, you know? I’m glad you were entertained, and I hope everyone else was, too. This competition was special because of the international element. I did know some of the other girls, but it was nice to be able to bond with my international sisters.
I imagined that you hadn’t worked with too many of the Canada or Europe girls before. We love Lemon, did you enjoy her? Are you surprised she won?
I don’t want to say “I’m surprised she won,” because she’s an excellent competitor. I worked on a Panto show with Lemon in the UK, and we already had a good relationship coming into the season. There were other people, including myself, I would love to have seen win, but I’m super happy for Lemon and I know she will be a great representative for the franchise. She’s very talented and a sweet girl.
You recently mentioned how you were an alternate cast member for the last aired season of Drag Race All-Stars before you went out to film Canada. That was maybe a wasted opportunity by Worlds of Wonder. You would’ve been amazing on that season; imagine you kiki’ing with and battling Roxxxy! Speaking of whom, some fans were a bit disgruntled at her losing that season… what did you think about that end result?
Listen, World of Wonder and Ru have the ability and right to do as they see fit with casting and crowning. I love Angeria and am so proud of her. Roxxxy is incredibly talented and strong, and she will keep being an amazing queen. She represented herself very well and I’m proud of her too. But I don’t think they wasted an opportunity, because they still brought me on board for Canada vs. the World. Not every opportunity is the right one, and I’m just glad to keep working and getting to showcase myself and my talent.
Of your own Canada runway looks and moments, did you have a favorite?
I love the Mother Nature look. Not only because of how it looked on me, but because the garment was created by my niece A’Keria Chanel Davenport. Oh, and it was my first win in the competition. So that look is extra special to me.
We all still say and meme “fuck my drag, right?” thanks to you! I’m sure you know how your big onscreen moments are going to slay, but is it ever shocking how sometimes your little lines and reactions that make it on camera resonate with people forever?
Actually, I think sometimes it’s the off the cuff stuff and unrehearsed comments that resonate with the audience more because they are not so produced. A lot of girls who go on the show try to produce those moments, and you really can’t. Some of those things just can’t be planned. That’s why they cast people like myself or Alexis, or Cheryl, because we are entertaining to watch… not just on stage. Even in Vegas, the best show is behind the scenes when the girls just be reading each other. So, yeah, sometimes it’s surprising what fans latch on to, but I think it’s great when they connect with a real moment that means something to them.
Were you able to watch any of the Olympics, by the way… and were you as surprised and confused as many of us were about the public response to the drag elements of the opening ceremony?
I did not get to watch as much of the Olympics as I would have liked because of my schedule. But as for the response to the opening ceremony, I wasn’t surprised or confused… but I was saddened. People don’t do their research, and they just jump to conclusions and get offended by stuff they don’t even know about. Instead of just seeing it as an inclusive step forward, they took it as an attack, which was not the intention of the producers. Unfortunately everything is ramped up because of the election and world events. But I hope we can all move on.
So much about the business of drag, the public’s reception of drag, and the role of Drag Race on the scene has changed throughout the past decade. Is the State of Drag strong today as both an art form and a business, or is it going through a transition?
I think it’s strong, but I also think it’s going through a transition. There’s more drag than ever before, and younger queens are bringing their own take to the art form. Not everyone knows how to perform on stage, and I wish that was different. But there will always be queens like myself who value and deliver quality entertainment live on stage. I just wish more of the younger queens would listen to us about that part of things. Doing your makeup and having an online following isn’t all there is to drag. There’s a lot more to it than that, and people don’t always know or even see what it takes to deliver and maintain a long career.
Do you have any good memories of performing in New York, or do you have any favorite queens that perform in NYC or are from there?
I loved getting to do my one-woman-show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Latrice and her husband Chris (I call him Uncle Junebug) really encouraged me to start singing live more, and I love getting to do that. And when I think of New York drag queens, of course it makes me miss my sister Sahara Davenport. I know she would be doing great things if she was still with us. She wouldn’t even believe how much has changed since then!
We’re excited to see you in Brooklyn on September 7th, where you’ll be headlining the massive and world popular drag festival: Bushwig! How amazing is this gonna be, and can you give us a tease about what we might expect?
Well, there’s no event quite like Bushwig in the whole country. They really celebrate all types of drag, which is amazing. You can expect me to deliver the full Kennedy Davenport Experience, baby! I’m known as the Ten Dancing Toes of Texas for a reason, and I deliver old school, high energy performance. With me, even a ballad can be high energy. I’m really looking forward to slaying the stage.
Is there anyone on the lineup you recall working with before, or anyone you are excited to meet for the first time?
Well, there are a couple of girls from Drag Race on the lineup that I haven’t gotten to meet yet, so that’s always nice. But I’m really looking forward to seeing what Bushwig has to offer. I love getting to see other styles of drag and learning from other queens. I can’t believe how much talent they have assembled for the function!
Are you gonna be in town long enough for any other gigs, or do you wanna see sites or shows while you’re here?
Unfortunately, I’m not really there long enough to do much other than the gig. I wish I could, though!
What else is coming up for you as far as TV, music, gigs, tours, etc., or is there anything else at all you want to say or discuss or mention?
As I mentioned, I’m working on preparations for the “Queen of Drag.” It’s bringing together some legendary national tile holders from different pageantry systems who are competing for the title and a nice prize package. September 22 in Fort Lauderdale is the final night, but we’ve already been filming stuff and working on all the different elements. I’m also going to be based out of Las Vegas for the rest of the year as part of the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race: Live! So people can catch me there. I’m also prepping for DragCon UK in January as well.
Okay lastly… if you were gonna take your own three month Trixie Break, where would you go and what would you do?
Bitch, I wish I could take a break. Let’s just leave it at that. LOL.
Heard! Thanks, Kennedy!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Kennedy Davenport’s upcoming area appearances, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.
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