With her long legs, exotic features and edgy style, Rajais a force to be reckoned with!
This isn’t the talented makeup artist’s first time at the rodeo, he was responsible for adding the glamor to America’s Next Top Model – so he’s no stranger the world of reality TV and, with over 20-years of experience as a drag performer, he looks like he could be in for the long haul!
From Top Model to Top Queen on RuPaul's Drag Race – can this self-professed supermodel strike the right poses to become the tops in the drag world?
Socialite Life: What was it like to find out you made it onto RuPaul’s Drag Race?
Raja:I
was in shock, really. I spent some time on television just being the background
guy. So, when this opportunity came up, I was just like, “Oh my God! This is
finally my moment to actually shine and be in the limelight and showcase what I
do.” So, there was that initial panic, and then you go numb a little bit and
after that, it’s just full competition mode. I turned into this crazy,
bug-eyed, strong man drag queen. I was really into it, you know? There’s really
different levels of shock and emotion that happens when you find out you’re
going to be on RuPaul’s Drag Race.
SL: It seemed RuPaul’s
really raised the bar this year with the queens selected for this season. What
was your reaction when you saw your competition?
Raja: Well,
before I even met the queens, I knew what level of performance and style I had
and I assumed that everyone was going to be at my level, so I was ready. I had
my game face on and I was ready. And you know what? A lot of them really
challenged me and I was pretty shocked. I don’t mean to sound boastful, but I
am the oldest person in the competition and I’ve been doing it a lot longer, so
I wasn’t sure what level of drag I was going to be competing with and a lot of
them really did shock me – and a lot of them had less experience than I did.
SL: I know you’ve been doing drag for 20 years, how did you get your
start?
Raja: I
started out just as a teenage club kid, sneaking out of my parent’s house in
the middle of the night to go to clubs, so a lot of my drag and experimentation
happened from just being a crazy little club kid. There was a lot of Saran Wrap
costumes and trash bag costumes and duct tape costumes and you know, just being
a crazy little artistic kid, that’s how drag started for me – and it evolved to
what it is now.
SL: How would you describe Raja’s style?
Raja:I
think Raja’s very eclectic. She’s very provocative. I think she’s fashionable.
I really put a lot of focus in drag on style – that’s really my thing. I love
wearing clothes and I love fashion.
SL: Do you model as Raja?
Raja: I
do. I have and I do.
SL: Do you also model as a man? You’re very handsome!
Raja: Ummm…yeah. I haven’t really done a lot of it, I’ve really placed a lot of
focus as far as modeling on the female part – just because it’s so much fun and
the clothes are a lot more fun. But now, I think I’m starting to feel a little
more comfortable in my male skin – if you will – and I think I would look
into doing more stuff like that.
SL: How would you describe your performance style?
Raja: I
think my performance style is very different. I like to perform and really sort
of seduce an audience and I like to feel an emotion. I love music and I love
feeling an emotion through music – and that’s what I want to translate. I’m not
always a celebrity impersonator doing pop music; I really like to find
interesting music from different places.
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SL: What do you enjoy the most about performing?
Raja: I
enjoy giving a little piece of theater – creating a vignette is always fun, so
it’s different for me.
SL: What was it like working with RuPaul?
Raja: Working
with Ru was great. I grew up with RuPaul and he’s always been an icon to me and
someone that I admired – and secretly I wished he was my personal mentor – and
I just think it was really great to have that experience to work with someone
who is a pioneer at what they do, a person who is so legendary and so amazing.
It was an absolute privilege.
SL: In addition to RuPaul, are there any other performers who
inspire you?
Raja: I’m
inspired a lot by people like Dita
von Teese – who
is a personal friend of mine – and people who do raise the bar and push the
limits a little bit. I love Leigh
Bowery. Those are definitely some of the people I admire – and
Ru, definitely RuPaul.
SL: Since you’re a veteran, this question may not be relevant, but
did you take anything new away from your experience on the show?
Raja:Yes,
I learned a lot about myself from this process. I learned that I am a harder
worker than I thought I really was, because the whole time I was there it was
really more about challenging myself as an artist and really showcasing exactly
what I did as a creative person. That part was really enlightening for me – it
really opened my eyes to so many different parts of me I didn’t realize were
there.
SL: What do you think separates you from the rest of the queens on
the show?
Raja: I
think I have a different insight and a different philosophy to drag. I
definitely look at drag in a different way than most people do – and most
of the people I was competing with. For me it’s a higher art form than they actually
understand it as.
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SL: Is drag your full-time career?
Raja:No,
I’m actually a makeup artist as well.
SL: I saw something on some random Internet site, so I’m not sure
about the reliability of this bit of information, but have you done makeup for Adam Lambert?
Raja: Yes,
I’m Adam’s friend and personal makeup artist, I guess. And I also worked on America’s Next Top Model for eight seasons as the lead makeup
artist.
SL: Do you think being a professional makeup artist gave you an
advantage on Drag Race?
Raja: Not
necessarily. I think I definitely had a different insight on what happens in
reality TV. I understood that there were cameras there all of the time, so I
think I was less afraid of that, or maybe no, that could be wrong. I think I
was more afraid of it – because I was more aware of it. I’d been around a lot
of the cameras from doing Top Model and stuff so it did become a little
intimidating.
SL: You’ve performed with the Dreamgirls Revue, which includes a lot
of Drag Race alums. Did they give you any advice?
Raja: Oh,
absolutely. I’m really close friends with Ravenand Morgan McMichaels – we’ve known each other for many
years. I’ve been around a lot longer than them and I’ve actually gotten to see
them grow as drag queens and performers – and as men. But yeah, they were able
to give me a lot of advice. My big concern was that I’m going to have a lot of
haters – as much as I’m going to have fans, I’m probably going to have a lot of
people who are going to dislike me, and I was afraid of that – and they gave me
a lot of great advice about that and that’s really what our conversations were
like.
SL: What kind of advice would you give to aspiring drag queens?
Raja: I’d
say think outside of the box, definitely follow your gut instincts and it’s
okay to say “F**K you!” It’s totally okay – you don’t have to be likable all of
the time. Just do what you do and it’s okay to say “F**k you”.
SL: What is your top beauty tip?
Raja:I’d
say always wear false lashes. I just remembered there was a moment a few days
ago when I was about to do a show, and I couldn’t find my false lashes in my
bag and I freaked out and I thought to myself, “Oh my God, this must be the
most important thing of my makeup!”, because I wouldn’t freak over anything
else but if I don’t have my eyelashes, I’ll lose my mind.
SL: In your drag career, have you ever had a moment when you “f**ked
it up”?
Raja: Yeah,
definitely. There’s been a lot of times. I love the nightlife, I love to boogie
and I love to drink and I love being out in the club and there have been times
when I probably drank a little more than I needed to and I f**ked it up!
(Laughs) I’m getting a lot better with that.
SL: What are you hoping to get from being on the show?
Raja:You
know, I think I want younger kids who are coming up as queens or young little
freaks or the little social misfits and the little f**gots in their schools
that get picked on – I really want them to know that they can hang on, it’s
going to be okay and one day….You can continue doing what you do and be your
own person and have a life that is glamorous and it’s fun and beautiful and you
can create and always express yourself. I really wanted to leave a legacy, I
didn’t just want to fade away and disappear one day and not have anyone
remember who I am, and this is the perfect way to do it and the perfect way to
get the message of positivity to young kids who are having a hard time. That’s
it, that’s all I really wanted to say.
SL: Did you make friends on the show?
Raja: Absolutely!
A few of us made some really great alliances within the competition and we try
to keep in touch all of the time and we’re still gossiping and we’re sorority
sisters at this point. I’ve definitely made some great friends.
SL: As far as your career goes, what are your future plans?
Raja: I’m
really going to enjoy the fact that I’m going to get to travel more, traveling
is definitely one of my favorite things to do. It’ll be fun to go around the US
or perhaps even the world – because I’m not looking at Drag Race as just being
America’s drag superstar, I feel that with the exposure we’re given that it
could actually be global. I’m looking forward to traveling, I’m looking forward
to performing, I’m looking forward to expressing myself in front of millions
and millions of people.
SL: Is there a way for fans to get in touch with you?
Raja: You can follow me on Twitter (@sutanamrull), Instagram and on Facebook.
Socialite Life debuted back in 2003. SL Flashback showcases some of our favorite content from years past. This article was originally published on January 16, 2011.
