Drag Race icon Raven shares advice RuPaul gave her before her big judging gig
RuPaul had some wise words when it came to putting queens in the bottom. (Getty/Tasia Wells)
Drag Race legend and makeup extraordinaire Raven has revealed how RuPaul told her to put on her “big girl tucking panties” as she prepared to launch her own show.
Painted With Raven follows makeup artists as they compete in challenges for points, with the lowest performing contestant of the week ‘muted’ and unable to compete the following week.
The show premiered last November and Raven has revealed RuPaul gave her “plenty” of advice ahead of her turn as judge, particularly on how difficult it is to put queens in the bottom.
“It was difficult when it got to the part of having to put an artist in the bottom and then having to mute one on a weekly basis,” Raven told PinkNews.
“Ru being there for the first episode really put me at ease. Ru said ‘this isn’t the easy part. Put on them big girl tucking panties and do what needs to be done. It’s never easy to do. But it’s part of the job and the game’.”
Raven started painting RuPaul’s face for Drag Race back in 2017, with the pair since becoming good friends.
She’s now a regular on Drag Race UK and during the current season even sat on the judging panel for the first time when Ru was unable to film an episode.
Speaking about her judging stint, Raven said she was “itching” to take her seat on the main stage.
Something's different about the #DragRaceUK judges panel this week… ?
Our stunning judges are @michellevisage, Graham Norton, Raven, and @BoyGeorge ✨
Watch now on @bbcthree and @bbciplayer ? pic.twitter.com/PONRmDto6l
— RuPaul's Drag Race UK (@dragraceukbbc) November 3, 2022
“Although, once I did, I was quite nervous. I always get nervous before doing anything like going on stage or in front of a camera,” she said.
“This was a bit different. I was actually judging the queens in real-time. So it was much more different than doing an episode of Fashion Photo RuView. But I knew I needed to be honest and let them hear the things they may need to hear. All out of love and being constructive, of course.”
Despite the nerves, Raven added she would “absolutely” return as a Drag Race judge. For now, though, she’s enjoying sitting on her own judging panel on Painted.
“It isn’t easy by any means. But it’s something I feel I have spent years doing behind the camera… I like being the one to do the ranking and calling the shots, to an extent. Sometimes I may need a little help and some may not agree with my choices. But this is what I’ve worked for.”
Painted With Raven is available to watch on WOW Presents Plus every Thursday at 7pm.
