Known for colorful, creative and surreal looks as well as offbeat humor, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 12 (2020) finalist Crystal Methyd dishes on life after the “Race,” inside scoop on a current season star, the Grammys, her Missouri drag roots and her upcoming Spongebob show in Brooklyn!
Thotyssey: Crystal, hello! Thanks for chatting with us today; no doubt you are a busy lady! What and where was the last show you did as of this writing?
Crystal Methyd: My last gig was actually a beautiful, private lesbian wedding in Southern California. I love lesbian weddings. This was not my first, and it’s always nice when you don’t have to travel far for a gig.
You are LA based! Is your day-to-day life there a constant flurry of celebrity activity and parties and fabulousness, or is it more grounded and normal than folks would think for a flashy drag performer?
I like to keep a balance between things like premieres and red carpets on one hand, and hiking, going to the beach and vegging out at home on the other.
Did you happen to watch the Grammys? Were you particularly pleased or annoyed with any of the results or performances? And did you have any Crystal-approved looks… maybe Jayden Smith’s castle hat, lol?
As a fellow Southern Missouri drag queen, I enjoyed Chappell Roan winning Best New Artist. I appreciate the fact that Sabrina Carpenter was in full drag. I love a look that requires a man to be following you holding part of the garment and holding your bag.
I recently learned that Mo Heart, Widow Von’du, Daya Betty and yourself are the only RuGirls from Missouri! How might you describe Missouri drag for the uninitiated?
Missouri Drag? The girls are sharing contacts. We’ve got the pageant queens, the dolls, the devos, the scaries, the kooks, the kings and the elderly. Think “Clash of the Clans,” but it’s pageant drag in clown makeup.
As a drag performer known for creatively eclectic drag looks, does modern fashion ever inspire you? Or do your ideas usually come from elsewhere–movies, paintings, video games, etc.?
Being on trend is never on my radar. All my looks come from “the Crystal cinematic universe,” and they need to be internally consistent. The specific references are vast — from Fortnite characters to the paintings of Zdzislaw Beksinski.
Have you had, at this point, an all-time favorite onstage performing moment?
Sao Paulo, Brasil. The Realness Festival. I was wiith some of my fellow sisters – Raja, Violet, Laganja and others. The energy of the crowd was so insane and made performing for them something that I will never forget.
Season 12, where you made it to the finals, was unlike any other season of RuPaul’s Drag Race. There were lots of controversies surrounding certain cast members, there was a heated political atmosphere, and viewers were all stuck in Covid lockdown watching you from home which led to some pretty intensified fan reactions. But despite all that it was a very entertaining season of TV, with lots of diverse and incredible artistry displayed! And you of course came off as very likeable and interesting, with a real comeback narrative. Today, do you feel the good of the experience far outweighing the bad?
I could have never dreamed it going as well as it did. I am very thankful for what I’ve experienced.
I still think that Bert & Ernie duo / makeover look you did was one of the most fantastic visual moments in the show’s history! Do you have an all-time favorite memory or moment from your time filming?
RuPaul would ride around on a golf cart on set, and he would see the cast and flip us off. I loved that.
Might you have any interest in returning to the franchise as an All-Star or lip synch assassin (if that’s still a thing!) someday?
Ru and I text daily about this very topic.
Are you still in regular contact with your Season 12 castmates?
Most of us are in regular contact. For instance, Heidi and I just returned from a trip visiting Jan in New York so we could se her perform in DRAG: The Musical. I feel very fortunate to be part of the Season 12 cast, and to call these queens my friends.
Have you been watching the current Drag Race season? If so, are you on anyone’s team?
I’m personally rooting for Jewels Sparkles. We met in South Africa while I was filming a movie for Tubi called Slay. She was working as an assistant for Trinity the Tuck. Unfortunately, she wasn’t very good at her job and got fired. Thankfully, she has Drag Race to fall back on.
You were in Brooklyn last month for some shows; how did that go? And, do you have any favorite New York drag performers?
I did a viewing party for season 17 at the Arlo Williamsburg for Luis Fernando. Janelle No. 5 and Essa Noche cohosted the event with me. It is always fun to watch the show with a microphone and a crowd. Later that night, I went and partied with La Zavaleta at The Rosemont.
You will return to Brooklyn on February 22 for “Patrick’s Party: A Spongey Soiree” at 3 Dollar Bill! Olivia Lux will be hosting, and you’ll be joined by some of our best local queens and kings onstage for SpongeBob SquarePants inspired performances. This is gonna be Everything! What can you tell us about the show, and is SpongeBob’s world an inspiration of yours?
I love a themed event. My brother and I definitely loved SpongeBob growing up. I’m excited to see what characters each drag performer identifies with. Personally, I identify as a Dirty Bubble.
Is there anything else you want to mention?
If you don’t know what to wear to the SpongeBob party, you can always wear some of my timeless merch.
And finally: these are strange and scary times for queer folks in America. As a drag performer, what’s your strategy on how to navigate all this?
There is no law that will stop people from being queer. There is no law that can stop queer people from expressing themselves. There is no law that can stop me from serving. As RuPaul says, “Daddy didn’t like when I’m feminine cunt, but I got a right to give the people what they want.”
Thanks, Crystal!
Check Thotyssey’s calendar for Crystal Methyd’s upcoming area appearances, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, LinkTree and website.
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