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Interview: Bebe from RuPaul's Drag Race
Bebe Zahara Benet and Dollhouse Dude (Tom Andrews, LAist)
With so many fantastic queens competing to be the winner of RuPaul's Drag Race, very few fans expected Bebe Zaraha Benet, the Minneapolis queen born in Cameroon, to beat out experienced veterans of runways, cabarets, and the Vegas stage to take the throne. Bebe speaks to us from a phone at the airport as she and her manager dash to Los Angeles for tonight's Real Fruit tour stop at the Eleven.
You’re the reigning queen of RuPaul’s Drag Race! You beat out a lot of other contestants who were, shall I say, far more “cocky” than you. Do you think your humility and being nice worked to your advantage?
Bebe: Well, I came with a very professional attitude. I was basically bringing myself to the table, and that’s what my persona is all about. Apparently that worked to my advantage.
On the last day, did you know you were going to win? Did you think Nina Flowers would beat you?
Bebe: There was no point where I was like “I got this.” Because every contestant to me was somebody you had to watch out for. Because people had too many secrets in their bags! So I was really on my guard. But I came with who I was, and I was very confident that it was going to take me far.
Out of all the guest judges, who was your favorite?
Bebe: Debra Wilson! The show did not get to show a lot of what she told us, but she gave us powerful advice during the taping. And we took away from it that she was a comedienne, but she was also a real person. Sometimes as an artist, even when you’re criticized, you want positive criticism, and that’s what she was capable of.
Out of the “lip sync for your life” segments, which one had you the most worried? It doesn’t have to be your own, but which one had you puzzled as to which way it would go?
Bebe: Well, when I made bottom two, I was very, very surprised! Because going into that challenge, I thought I had it in the bag. Not necessarily winning, but I thought I understood the challenge. But to my greatest surprise, the judges didn’t get it! Everybody who watched that episode got what I was doing, but the judges. But I kind of look at it in a positive light, because you had people see what you can do if you make the bottom two. So in a way I worked it to my advantage.
Did you have a positive reaction with the way fans reacted to your performance?
Bebe: I have had so many! It’s overwhelming, but as an artist, you want people to be able to find a connection to what you to, to be inspired. The biggest thing I’ve taken away from this show is fulfillment from all the people who support me. I’ve had so many stmen, gay women and straight women, from all over the place who have said how my persona has encouraged them. You want to make money, ha ha, but you also want to do the best job.
Do you think in your native Cameroon, you helped better the lives of gay and transgendered people?
Bebe: You know, everything is a reawakening, and I think me being the winner of this show is a reawakening. Not necessarily about sexuality, but the freedom of being able to express yourself in whatever form you want to. In a culture where you have to be the doctor, or have to be the pharmacist, or the lawyer, all the safe jobs, and a man cannot be the best make-up artist, cannot be the best hairstylist, be the best cook, that kind of limits the progress of the people but also the whole country. With me being part of this show, I hope they pull away a reawakening that people can be free, and that okay, I can express myself. That’s really what I’m hoping.