'Drag Race' Interview: Kahanna Montrese on Avoiding Workroom Drama and Feeling Her 'Bring It On' Fantasy

By Chris Rudolph


On this week's episode of RuPaul's Drag Race, the queens had to show off their acting skills any time once they divided into teams and starred in the film classics, Why It Gotta Be Black, Panther? and Good God Girl, Get Out! Nevertheless soon after a so-so turn in the acting challenge, and also a horny runway lewk, it was time for Kahanna Montrese to follow in Soju's heels, and sashay away.


Immediately after her elimination, MTV News chatted with the Las Vegas-based queen about her time on the show, if Silky really brought all of the drama, and what words of suggestions her drag mother, Coco Montrese, had for her before she walked into the workroom.


MTV News: Hey Kahanna! How are you feeling today?


Kahanna Montrese: I'm feeling really good, man. I've derived a lot of love since the show. I'm just proud. Truly. Watching the episode last night was really intense, although I had fun watching it. It was a good episode!


MTV News: In the acting challenge you were given a tiny part with only two lines. Any time while you realized that, did you think that was your death sentence?


Montrese: Not a death sentence! [Laughs] knew Once I saw how small my role was I thought, "Okay this is going to be tough. I'm really going to have to work on hard on this." What I didn't realize, I was so focused on my part, I totally neglected Mercedes. I let her down because I may have helped her in that situation so we both shined. That's what required. We required to work as a team to prepare that part super strong. It's a learning lesson. It taught me to look outdoors of myself and ensure my team, as a whole, is strong.


MTV News: The episode showed a lot of drama around the females and Silky. Is that how it really was in the workroom?


Montrese: I'll be truthful, I wasn't really engaged in a lot of the drama, that's not my vibe. Every time I was with Silky — and I was with her most of the time — it was a lot of fun! So any time Once I saw it on TV, it was shocking because we were not putting that energy out at all. The females were probably just intimidated by her. Any time Silky walked into that workroom so confident, I think it got to a lot of ladies, and so they didn't know how to stage name it. Although the energy that she put out helped each person be more engaged. Let's be real, the season picked up as soon as Silky got airtime.


MTV News: Since it's the starting of the season there really are so several women still. Was it on your mind attempt to be noticeable from the pack?


Montrese: For me it wasn't so much to outshine the women to get airtime, yet the pressure for me was being Coco's daughter. I feel folks are usually going to compare me to her. That got in my head.


MTV News: Coco has done Drag Race twice. What opinions did she have for you?


Montrese: she is a strong competitor, so on her season she was in straight competition mode, and she didn't remember to have fun. That was her biggest segment of opinions for me. She mentioned, "I'm not asking you to create top five or to win the show. I'm just asking you to go there, be yourself, and really take it all in." Looking back, I wish I had done that. It's one of these situations that any time while you walk in you forget everything that was told to you. It's so much to take in. I should have had more fun! I got the call [to be on the show] because they believe in my drag, so let me show that.


MTV News: I loved your zodiac runway look, nevertheless those ram horns must have taken up a lot of room in your suitcase!


Montrese: Those horns, baby! I'm the horniest on the season, so I had to showcase that! I'm overjoyed of my horns!


MTV News: Is there a certain look you're sad you won't get to show off on the show?


Montrese: Oh, for sure. I'm not sure if I can spill the tea on that, nevertheless it was crazy because every look I brought soon following the zodiac sign challenge was so sickening! I didn't even get to present my really good stuff! Nevertheless you will visualize those looks on the road.


MTV News: And that lip sync! You were doing back flips, and jumping all over the stage!


Montrese: I was feeling my Bring It On fantasy! For me, cheerleading was a large segment of my childhood, it was a way I got to express myself creatively. Tumbling was stress relief for me. It was a way for me to let go. I wanted to show the world who I am, what I do. I'm a performer, that's what I bring onstage, so I'm so glad that I got to show that.


MTV News: On Untucked, you got really emotional reading your goodbye letters from the other queens. What was going through your mind in that moment?


Montrese: Before Drag Race I took drag as just a job. Go to the gig and go residence. If I was there in the workroom, you had no choice however to bond with the other ladies because we were stuck with each other through these really long days. They became family member. To get those letters was so validating for me. This was more than just a competition. This was more than work. If I was reading those letters, I thought, "This is my family member, man. They really have my back."


RuPaul's Drag Race airs Thursdays at 9/8c on VH1.