The Queen Of Mean Is Dead Inside Down Under

YOUR EX

December 3, 2024

She’s arguably the biggest star ever to be birthed by RuPaul’s Drag Race. Bianca Del Rio is returning to New Zealand this February, touring Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. To hype her imminent return, she talks to Oliver Hall about Trump’s win, touring the world and if she would ever do Drag Race again!

How are you feeling about four more years of President Trump?

That is your first question?! Interviews are supposed to be like anal sex. You’re supposed to ease into it, and here you are, trying to fuck me without lube. Of course, I’m not happy with the outcome of our election. I’m so sick of hearing his name, seeing his face and hearing his voice. The thought of another four years of that makes me cringe. It all makes me sick.

Insult comic Tony Hinchcliffe’s joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally before the election outraged many on the left. As an insult comic yourself – what was your take on this?

He’s a brave motherfucker. I’ll give him that. You don’t mess with Puerto Ricans. As much as Trump’s campaign tried to claim ignorance, I think they knew exactly what he was going to say, and it accomplished exactly what they wanted. It encouraged his racist base and pissed off liberals. They think Puerto Ricans are illegal immigrants. If there was a brain between them, they would know they are U.S. citizens.

Analysts are suggesting that despite the outrage, record numbers of Latin voters turned out in support of him. What do you put that down to?

You’re asking the wrong person. I have no idea why ANYONE would support him. 

What are your predictions for America and the world in 2025?

My prediction is that Bianca Del Rio will continue providing comic relief in these stressful times and will not be deterred by any asshole politicians. I predict she will bring her Dead Inside comedy tour to Hawaii, the Philippines, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand in 2025. I’m no fortune teller, but I’m pretty sure tickets to that tour will also be available at biancadownunder.com.

So what can we expect from the Dead Inside tour when it touches down in New Zealand?

I always say expect the unexpected. After a couple of drinks, you never know what’s gonna come out of my mouth. Part of the show is scripted, but even that can change based on current events. I started this tour in February 2024 and have performed 107 shows across the U.S., Canada, Europe and South America. A lot has happened since then. The show has evolved quite a bit. A large part of the show is audience interaction. There’s a different audience every night, so the show changes every night. 

I’ve heard that the show has a loose focus on what life is like for an ‘older drag queen.’ Was it Trixie Mattel who inspired this?

Maybe if the show was about life for an ugly drag queen. Yes, there are references to life as an ageing drag queen, but it was inspired by a dear friend of mine who roamed the earth with the dinosaurs, Lady Bunny. 

How will you celebrate your 50th birthday?

By the time my 50th birthday comes around (in June), I’ll have toured my show for over a year, all over the world. I’ll celebrate my birthday by resting my ageing feet, lying next to the pool at home with a cocktail in hand. 

Is touring life just sex, drugs, drinking and rock n roll?

The only part you got right is drinking. I’m a lucky bitch to get to travel the world performing to great audiences whose humour is just as rotted as mine, but it’s far from glamorous. There’s a reason it’s called drag. You drag your luggage from home to an airport to a hotel to a theatre and back to the hotel to another airport to another hotel to another theatre, and repeat that over and over and over. And it’s a LOT of luggage. I’m too old now for all the sex, drugs, and rock n roll. I’d rather sleep. But I still drink. I’m not giving that one up!

What’s the craziest experience you’ve ever had on tour?

During one of my tours, we had a bus that had a shower in it that we didn’t use. So, we stored boxes of merch in it. While we were driving, the movement of the bus caused the boxes to sway and turn the handle of the shower on. This was in the middle of the night, so no one noticed until someone got up to go to the toilet and noticed the floor was wet. They opened the door to my bathroom in the back of the bus, and water was pouring out of the shower. The boxes were soaking wet and falling apart. All the T-shirts and hats were soaking wet. We had to pull over in the middle of the night to ring everything out and clean up the mess. 

You’ll be in New Zealand for at least five nights on the tour. What do you plan to do here?

I wish I could say something exciting, but I have shows on 3 of those days and travel the other days. My schedule doesn’t leave much time for anything else. My show days consist of more than just performing the show. It takes time to unpack all of my drag (makeup, wigs, costumes). Then we deal with sound and lighting. Then I get in drag. Then I have a meet and greet with about 100-150 people. Then I change my wig and costume and go over my notes for the show. Then I perform the show, get out of drag, and pack everything up. From start to finish, it’s a 10–12-hour process.

What have been the highlights of your previous trips here?

The people! I absolutely love Kiwis. They get my sick sense of humour and are such great audiences. Getting to meet them and share laughs with them is the highlight of every trip down under.

Have you watched Drag Race Down Under, and if so, what are your thoughts?

Sadly, I have to be honest and admit that I have not watched much of Drag Race Down Under. I don’t have time to watch all 527,000 seasons of every franchise of Drag Race. I just catch the highlights on social media.

Do you think Drag Race is past its peak?

Gurl!! Drag Race is everywhere now! I touch on this topic in my show, but how could I say it’s past its peak when they’re continuing to add more franchises and seasons? It’s spreading faster than chlamydia in the koala community. 

Would you ever be willing to compete on Drag Race again on an All Winner’s Season?

Would you quit your job and go back to high school? No. I had a great time doing it when I did, and it completely changed my life, but I have no interest in stopping what I’m doing and going back. When you get away with murder, you don’t return to the scene of the crime. 

What/Who excites you in the drag scene as we close 2024?

Just the fact that drag is being exposed to more and more people all over the world. With more exposure, maybe politicians in Florida and Tennessee will eventually see that drag isn’t a threat. It’s just entertainment, so they should focus on more important shit.

Bianca De Rio’s Dead Inside World Tour touches down in Auckland on Thursday, 13 February, at Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, Wellington on Saturday, 15 February, at The Opera House and Christchurch on Monday, 17 February, at James Hay Theatre. Tickets on sale at biancadownunder.com