New York-based queen Kandy Muse knows what it means to be an All Star and she embodies the charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent of one. Kandy was the runner-up on season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and also runner-up on season eight of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars. Kandy is the mother of the iconic House of Muse featuring Xunami Muse, who competed on season 16 of Drag Race. She became an internet sensation after a photo of her sitting alone in a nightclub became the infamous “sitting alone in the VIP” meme – and also a song and video by Alaska.
Thanks to BetUs, we had the chance to talk to Kandy about her All Stars experience, who she thinks will snatch the crown and her upcoming appearances on Slaycation and House of Villains. We also put Kandy in the hot seat for another edition of the Socialite Seven. Get to know more about this fabulous meme queen.
What stands out to you about your experience on All Stars?
Oh God, you know, All Stars really is a moment where you get to go back and kind of refresh the fans’ minds about who you are as a drag artist, as an entertainer. You kind of get to come show off your new looks and your new aesthetic – if you've changed your aesthetics since your last season. It's another way of kind of like getting to see RuPaul again, because anytime I have an opportunity to go in front of RuPaul, I'm going to say yes.
When you did All Stars, what was the biggest challenge for you?
I think All Stars for me, the biggest challenge was, you know, I was a runner-up on my original season and the biggest challenge was not falling short of being runner-up again on an All Stars season because you want to come back and do your best, but when you've done your best the first time, it's kind of hard to keep up with that momentum, but you know, I think I did a pretty good job of being runner-up again. Obviously, I would have loved to have won the show but being runner-up twice doesn't hurt anyone.
Exactly. Now you are Xunami Muse’s drag mom and I got to interview her a couple weeks ago and she's a delight. She's got the makings of an all star. Do you want to see her compete?
I always say, obviously she's Miss Congeniality, so she's got a foot in for All Stars whenever she wants to do it. But, and I think, you know, she's already talking about how she would love to go back as soon as possible. One thing I told her was, when you go back this time around, just have fun. Let loose and just enjoy the moment. Drag Race is like summer camp. You're getting in drag. You're doing these silly challenges in front of RuPaul, having a good time, filming this TV show and really living out your dreams. Just enjoy it. I think sometimes the girls get caught up in the competition mode of it. Which, yes, it is a competition. But it's also like such a cool experience that you need to kind of just like take in.
Now, besides saying yourself, what do you think makes an All Star?
I think an All Star is someone who not only has done their work outside of Drag Race, that, you know, they've taken the platform that Drag Race has given them and kind of just shot up into stardom.
I think an All Star is also someone that knows who they are and is unapologetic about what they're bringing to the table. I think some people think that an All Star is a queen who's so popular and so famous. And yes, that could be true and part of it, but deep down really is. How well do you know yourself as a drag character? When you left Drag Race, how did you evolve? What did you take in from traveling the world?
What it was, you know, because obviously after Drag Race, we toured the world and stuff, and for me, for example, I've taken in so many aspects of people's drag and entertainment values from around the world where now when I went back to All Stars, I kind of felt like a real a well-rounded queen – because when I was in my original season, I was coming off of just doing my little bar gigs in Brooklyn and when I went back for All Stars and it was someone who had toured the world and has had the experience of meeting people. I think an All Stars is a queen who's a sponge, who's absorbing everything that's being thrown at her
Now, you had said on “The Pit Stop” that your top three were Gottmik, Angeria, and Plastique, and since there can only be one, if you had to make the decision, who would you crown for the season?
Oh my god, okay, I don't want to be biased because everyone knows Gottmik is my girl, my season 13 sister, but she has been slaying and has not stumbled at the challenges, so obviously I want Gottmik to win and I think she's gonna win, but honestly, Angeria has been surprising me. She was great on season 14 but she really came this time around and proved why she is on All Stars because it was just like, again, someone who went on their season did great, traveled the world, did their homework and came back even better than they were before.
It was recently announced that you were going to be on House of Villains season 2. You're not a villain. How did you end up on there?
You know, I like to call myself a little TV villain, but I'm not a “villain villain”. I think there have been worse villains than me, but you know, when House of Villains called for the opportunity, obviously there was just no way I'm going to say no to a TV opportunity.
During my season, I was scrutinized about being a villain and a lot of people have a lot of opinions. So, it was kind of a way of being like, ha ha, yeah, I could be a villain, but look where it landed me, in a house with some of the most iconic villains in TV history, with some of the most iconic reality stars in reality show history. And to be there was just out of this world and I cannot wait for people to watch it. It is such a different side of Kandy, and it was such a different experience from RuPaul's Drag Race, you know, being in a house filming 24 hours is not the easiest thing to do. But, I am super excited for everyone to watch.
I wrote a post a couple weeks ago when they announced that Slaycation was coming. And I know it's a way off, but can you tell me a little bit about what we can expect on Slaycation?
Yes, Slaycation is so fun. It's airing this winter. And honestly, it's where they take the six Ru girls and put us in a house in an exotic destination, aka an hour out of Toronto.
But it's going to be so fun – it's like you've never seen Ru Girls before. We're in a house, which the fans have been asking for for a long time. They want to see the Ru Girls do like a Big Brother type of situation. And this is that. We are there. We have little competitions throughout our stay in the house. We're also creating a performance. We're all creating a song. And then at the end of it, we perform for the town. It's fun. It's wholesome. There's drama. It's funny. It's lovable. There are some deep, deep topics. There's a lot of tears. It's going to be really exciting. I think for the wintertime, it's going to be a very awesome show. You're going to stay home, do your hot chocolate and watch Slaycation. It's going to be incredible, honestly.
Besides Slaycation and House of Villains, what else is going on with you that you would want to promote or let us know about?
Oh my god, well, this winter I'll be going on tour with Xunami Muse. We'll be announcing a tour real soon. And yeah, I mean next year I have a lot of projects I filmed this year that will be airing next year. Yeah, you know, just stay tuned. There's just, there's really a lot to come that I'm on NDAs for, but I'm excited to just show the world that I'm not going anywhere.
Kandy Answers the Socialite Seven
What are three things you can't live without?
Okay. Three things I can't live without. My Summer Fridays, cherry flavored lip balm. My spray on deodorant. We can't live without that. And then I want to say my cell phone.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve? Oh my god, you know what? Small talk at like a nightclub – because we both know we're not interested in what we each of us have to say. Let's just cut the conversation. Let's just go about our business. You know, I'm just like we're trying to fill in the dead space. Sometimes it's okay to not talk. Sometimes it’s okay to be quiet, you know?
What is your most treasured possession?
Oh my god, my most treasured possession. So, on my wall, you can't see it back there, I have the werk room wall cut out and it's framed. But then I also have next to me my Critics Choice Award and my MTV Movie Awards for Drag Race season 13. So, I have a few Drag Race awards and memorabilia that I've stolen from the werk room that are my prized possessions.
If you could wake up tomorrow with a superpower or a talent that you don't already possess, what would it be?
Oh, okay. A superpower, I think I would have to say mind control. And a talent that I didn't have. Ooh, maybe like, honestly, I'm jealous of people that can do like backflips and cartwheels and stuff because that all looks really cool. I could never. I would break a bone.
If you wrote your autobiography, what would you want the title to be?
It would be “Kandy Muse. The Muse.” or “Kandy Muse, Your Muse.” Something along those lines.
What overused word or phrase would you like to eliminate forever?
I'm trying to think. 'cause there definitely is one. Overused word or phrase…Oh God. I don't know. Because, you know what? I'm also someone that uses and overuses words and phrases. I'm someone that when I catch on to a new phrase, I'm saying it over and over and over again until I'm not saying it anymore.
What is the best piece of advice you've been given?
Oh my God. The best piece of advice was from RuPaul and it was specifically on Drag Race. I applied it to everything in life. It was, you're already here, you got the job, now do your best. And in the sense that like when you're given an opportunity, sometimes you may doubt yourself and overthink. And sometimes we have what is that phrase? Imposter syndrome, you know, and that's only because as humans, we're our worst critics and sometimes we don't think that we deserve certain things and it's like, no, you've got the job. You’re here – now make do with what it is that you have and make the best of it.
Follow Kandy on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and on her website.
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