RuPaul's Drag Race winner Aquaria talks ahead of Birmingham show
It'll be 10s, 10s, 10s across the board when RuPaul's Drag Race winner Aquaria comes to Birmingham.
The 'look queen', created by 22-year-old drag performer Giovanni Palandrani, will come to the O2 Institute as part of Holy Trannity's 10s Across the Board tour.
The Pennsylvania performer will feature alongside fellow season 10 queens such as Kameron Michaels, Asia O'Hara, Miz Cracker and Yuhua Hamasaki.
"It’s a fierce show that has a theatrical element to it," the New York-based queen told us.
"High energy, high fashion, tons of dancing, and of course the one and only b**** from New York City.
"Unfortunately I won't be bringing my season 10 crown, it doesn’t fit in my carry-on, but we can always pretend".
Aquaria is looking forward to returning to the UK, both for her fans and the shopping opportunities it presents.
"I always have such a blast with all my fans here," she said.
"The UK fans are definitely very passionate about their drag queens and have always been so welcoming and supportive.
"I have tons of friends scattered throughout the UK so it's always nice to reunite with them before the shows".
"I'm really looking forward to shopping as well.
"There are so many amazing British designers that I love like McQueen, Stella McCartney, Burberry, and more".
Aquaria is famously known as the drag daughter of Drag Race season four winner Sharon Needles.
She began performing in drag in 2014, and like legendary queen RuPaul, Aquaria received early support from outlandish event producer Susanne Bartsch.
Aquaria was featured in a Vogue Italia spread in 2016 alongside Bartsch and other Drag Race stars, and continued to rise in popularity through her social media presence.
She is known for creating a variety of flawless drag looks, and she draws her inspirations from similarly iconic fashionistas.
"I like doing things that make an impact," she told us.
"The representation that I always go back to is a pop star, whether it’s Lady Gaga or Madonna.
"I love the way those women in pop music have always made an effort to create a specific vision".
Earlier this year, Aquaria was announced among 14 other contestants to appear on season 10 of RuPaul's Drag Race.
She was the season's youngest contestant, winning three main challenges, never ranking in the bottom two, and being the first queen in the show's history to win both the ball and the Snatch Game.
Aquaria beat her fellow sisters Eureka O'Hara and Kameron Michaels in the final three to take home the coveted titled of America's Next Drag Superstar.
RuPaul's Drag Race has transformed the face of drag, and catapulted the art form into the public eye during it's 10 years on TV.
As well as transforming the US drag scene, it has also made waves over here in the UK.
"The drag scene in the UK is super fierce," Aquaria enthused.
"I love travelling and seeing the different styles of drag around the world, and the scene in the UK is full of so much vibrancy and talent that it's impossible not to love these queens.
"It would be amazing to see a UK version of Drag Race. I think the show is such a special platform and it would be wonderful for drag queens all across the globe to share in the success of the original".
Aquaria will appear on the 10s Across The Board tour at Birmingham's O2 Institute on August 8.
For more information and to buy tickets, click here
