RuPaul’s Drag Race alum Katya Zamolodchikova has opened up about one of the show’s most iconic behind-the-scenes moments – the fiery exchange between RuPaul and season seven finalist Pearl – revealing it was “more tense, and more awkward” in person than what aired on television.
Though Drag Race season seven isn’t often ranked as a fan favourite, it’s packed with standout queens like Trixie Mattel, Violet Chachki, Kennedy Davenport, Ginger Minj, and Katya herself. But one moment that continues to be discussed years later is Pearl’s infamous confrontation with RuPaul during a Werk Room walkthrough.
After weeks of critiques, Pearl confronted RuPaul, saying:
“You told me I had no personality.”
What followed was a long, uncomfortable silence, until Pearl, breaking the tension, asked:
“Is there something on my face?”
It’s a moment etched into Drag Race history – and, according to Katya and Trixie Mattel on their podcast The Bald and the Beautiful, it was far more intense off-camera.
“I know that RuPaul has never encountered a single drag queen willing to talk to her the way [Pearl] talked to her,” Trixie said, reflecting on the moment during their recap of episodes five and six.
“It’s wild,” Katya added. “It was more tense and more awkward than it was on television.”
The queens explained that Werk Room walkthroughs are carried out in near-total silence, with all contestants able to overhear any exchange. That meant everyone got a front-row seat to the drama.
“This was so f**king uncomfortable, it was so tense, it was insane,” Katya said. “RuPaul was so angry. It was like, crazy.”
The All Stars 2 finalist also revealed that Pearl left the room following the incident:
“For a while, enough to be concerning, enough to be dramatic. She was p****d off! People were dogpiling on her. Imagine being told you had no personality. But she does!”
Meanwhile, Drag Race fans can still get their fix post-All Stars 10, with Drag Race UK vs. The World season 3 on the horizon, the Drag Race UK season 7 cast just announced, and Drag Race Philippines: Slaysian Royale now airing. And yes, whispers of the All Stars 11 cast are already doing the rounds.
