‘I’ve never had an audience reaction like I had in Melbourne’: Drag Race star Kameron Michaels
In February next year, several iconic RuPaul’s Drag Race queens will descend on Australian shores for the epic Werq the World tour.
Matthew Wade spoke with one of its stars, Kameron Michaels, about what fans can expect.
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When drag superstar Kameron Michaels made it all the way through season ten of RuPaul’s Drag Race – and placed as a runner-up behind winner Aquaria – she couldn’t have anticipated what life on the road would truly be like.
She’s currently on a four-day break in her hometown, but during a normal week she’s travelling from city to city every night, performing for enamoured fans and fitting in three hours of sleep, if she’s lucky.
But Michaels says it’s all worth it.
“I love seeing my fans and visiting them around the world, I have an amazing fanbase,” she says.
“It’s always great to be on the other side of the globe and to be at a mall, and see kids laughing in the corner before running up to Aquaria and me and asking for a picture with us.
“I don’t get a lot of sleep on the road, but performing is my passion so I love it.”
Michaels recently spent a lot of time on the Werq the World tour, a feast for Drag Race lovers that sees upwards of six queens put on powerhouse performances around the globe, hosted by icon and Drag Race judge herself, Michelle Visage.
The tour has traversed Europe, Latin America, and the United States, and will soon be arriving in Australia.
Michaels says it’s been fun to travel with her fellow sisters, as opposed to touring solo.
“There have been times where Aquaria and I have gone gangbusters and played video games all day,” she says.
“We all understand what each other’s going through, so if we’re tired, or just want to eat our feelings, we get it.
“I’ve bonded with Asia [O’Hara] the most on the tour so far, there are a lot of similarities in our personalities.”
With the popularity of Drag Race and the proliferation of new emerging queens, Michaels says drag has become a lot more accessible, and for the better.
“When things become more accessible the art improves,” she says.
“When I was younger YouTube tutorials weren’t available, but kids have access to so much these days, so we expect higher levels of drag.
“When I was doing drag in the beginning, the way to become a famous drag queen was to do a drag pageant.”
When it comes to the Australian Werq the World tour – which will visit Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide – Michaels says fans can expect a lot of high energy fun.
She’s hoping to put together a new number for her shows down under.
“Australian fans are some of the most happy and energetic we’ve ever had,” she says.
“I have to shout out Melbourne though – I’ve never had an audience reaction like we had in Melbourne… they were chanting my name for five minutes straight.”
The Werq the World tour will feature Michaels along with Sharon Needles, Eureka O’Hara, Detox, Asia O’Hara, Kim Chi, Violet Chachki, and host Michelle Visage.
Werq the World 2019
Canberra – Monday 4 February
Brisbane – Wednesday 6 February
Melbourne – Friday 8 February
Sydney – Saturday 9 February
Adelaide – Sunday 10 February
