‘The show is very much the drag housewives of London’: Krystal Versace on her new show
- Published
In her new documentary, Krystal Versace catches us up on an intense two years since her record-breaking win on the Drag Race stage.
“You, at 19, were born to be a drag queen.”
Those were RuPaul’s words before crowning Krystal Versace the youngest ever Drag Race winner on series three of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK.
It’s been a wild ride ever since. Now 21, Krystal, who is originally from Kent, has wrapped up an epic run of tour dates in the US and UK, all while serving the flawless fashion and make-up looks fans have come to expect.
Her latest project, BBC Three show Keeping Up with Krystal Versace, follows the performer as she prepares for her first solo show at the iconic London Palladium.
The six-part series gives us a glimpse into life after the Werk Room, from the intense schedule-juggling to the enormous pressure that comes with being a winner, baby. But crucially, we get introduced to Krystal’s drag family, including her daughter Imani Versace too. “I just love watching her grow,” says Krystal.
“[The show] is a high tension and high pressured situation, which always makes for the best TV,” says Krystal.
“There’s something for everyone in this series,” says Krystal. “This is the time for people to come into my creative process and my life and get to know, really, what I’m about. But it is not only me saying it, it is my closest sisters telling the story.”
After Drag Race Krystal found things tough
Drag went from a "hobby to [a] job real quick" after Krystal won Drag Race
Being crowned the winner of Drag Race UK is an honour - but fame has not been totally easy for Krystal. “People who watched Drag Race got to see one side of me,” she says.
“It was hard when I won because [drag] went from hobby to job real quick,” Krystal reveals in the documentary.
“Doing a show became a much bigger deal than it was before where you’d just turn up for a brunch… there’s so much that has to be taken into consideration.
“After I won, I fell out of love with Krystal, which has never happened before,” she says.
After taking the brave decision to step back at a time when the Drag Race buzz was at its peak, Krystal rediscovered her passion and put the focus back onto performing. Now, she feels she’s where she’s meant to be, adding: “I’m in a much better mental state because I’m doing what I love again.”
Krystal wouldn’t be where she is without her drag family
Krystal's drag family each have their "own role" in the series
Although Krystal Versace is the name we all know, Krystal will be the first to admit it takes a village to raise a drag queen to the next level...
After dropping out of college at 18 with best friend and fellow drag artist Dede Licious, the pair devoted themselves to drag. “Dede is my looks queen, she is very much included in my creative process,” Krystal says.
In the documentary, Dede describes sewing her first dress, Krystal’s Cruella de Vil look on Drag Race UK. Dede created two more looks for the show: Krystal’s bejeweled ‘Oh My Goddess’ one-piece and her ‘Red Carpet Showstoppers’ emerald gown.
And the rest of Krystal’s drag family each have their own role to play in Keeping Up With Krystal Versace: manager and drag icon La Belle takes the reins with Krystal’s career and choreography; London legend Dosa Cat is the mother figure sharing her wisdom; Bones brings gothic glamour to the group and Imani Versace is Krystal’s drag daughter and the drag protégé of the house.
“They are my rock. Without them I wouldn’t be as confident,” Krystal shares in Keeping Up With Krystal Versace. “This show is very much the drag housewives of London.”
Tour life gave Krystal time to reflect on her gender
Krystal has struggled to "come to terms" with her identity
Krystal admits that after her tour across the US she felt “a bit lost” in her “identity”.
“I was a machine for two months and had to come back to reality to get to know the person that lives beneath all the make-up and hair,” Krystal says.
“I’ve never come to terms with how I identify before… it raised a few questions for me.”
Krystal goes on to explain where she’s at when it comes to gender. “I’m just trying to figure it out. I am more towards she/her but I don’t feel like a they/them or a trans woman at this moment.”
“I’d say I was a boy, but I’m not a he,” she adds.
Krystal 2.0 is on her way - and she’s bringing the next generation of drag with her
Krystal and her "queer support network"
With so much success under her hip pads already, Krystal is laser-focused on becoming bigger and better every year, bringing her drag family along for the ride.
“I want to use my platform to expand the community and keep the next generation of drag going,” she explains.
“This is not only a drag community, it is a queer support network…We’ve come together as a family because we share so much in common,” Krystal says of the other girls in the show.
Her immaculate make-up looks wowed fans of Drag Race UK and Krystal is hoping to dive into even more make-up, maybe launching a business one day. “I’m always expanding myself as an artist. I’m going to keep creating my status and dreams. I’m always working towards something new. I will keep working on being an icon.”
Watch every episode of Keeping Up with Krystal Versace on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer
