Drag Race Underdog Aiden Zhane Felt Ganged Up On 'From Day One'

By Christopher Rudolph


While in her stint on RuPaul’s Drag Race, Aiden Zhane habitually stood out from the other females. Not only was she from “the middle of nowhere,” Georgia, nevertheless before being cast on Season 12, she wasn’t consistently performing drag for a crowd. Unlike her competitors, several of whom seasoned professionals from big cities, she was still working her day job as a line cook at IHOP.


On numerous occasions New York’s Brita Filter butted heads with Aiden, who was baffled that Aiden was never in the bottom two. Although the women would routinely gang up on the “mysterious” newcomer by accusing of her just coasting by, the spooky queen proved to be tough competition. Ru and the judges saw something special in Aiden: She survived the acting challenges, served kooky looks on the runway, eventually making it to Snatch Game. Yet it was her impression of Rocky Horror Picture Show star Patricia Quinn and her lukewarm Frozen runway look that finally sent her packing.


Following her elimination, Aiden discussed with MTV News about the lessons she learned while competing on Drag Race, what her backup choice was for Snatch Game,  and whether or not she’s still flipping pancakes.


MTV News: Hey, Aiden! And you made it to Snatch Game. How did that feel?


Aiden Zhane: Yeah, it felt good. I think Snatch Game is that point of every season that everybody is aware is coming. It's an iconic moment. So to prepare it that far is a fantastic feeling. Naturally, it would've been an even greater feeling to prepare it by way of the Snatch Game.


MTV News: Afterwards, back in the workroom, Heidi mentioned how Snatch Game was different than she thought it was going to be. Do you agree with that?


Aiden Zhane: I mean the complete show is different than what you think it's going to be.


MTV News: How so?


Aiden Zhane: Watching as a viewer and doing it are two fully different things. You could sit at house and judge these queens and mention, "Oh, this is what I would have done." Although being there in the moment and feeling the stress of the competition, it's a fully different situation. You could attempt to psych yourself up for it and prepare mentally nevertheless as soon as you get there, it's a wild ride.


MTV News: Yeah. I would think sitting on that Snatch Game set attempting to come up with witty answers could be pretty stressful.


Aiden Zhane: Yeah. And Snatch Game is all about improv. It's not scripted. You should react to the moment, so it's a tough challenge.


MTV News: and thus do you have any regrets about picking Patricia Quinn?


Aiden Zhane: Yeah, the fact that I got eliminated with her. Nobody goes to this competition not wanting to prepare it to the end. So, naturally, looking back and watching the show right now, you can't help nevertheless pick out things where you're like, "Oh, I wish I would've changed that, or I would've done this better." Needless to say, picking Patricia Quinn, and where my mind was at throughout that episode, I failed to deliver. So, in hindsight, wish I could go back and maybe pick somebody different or pick one of my backups. And maybe I would've done better, yet who knows.


MTV News: Who was one of your backups?


Aiden Zhane: One of my backups was Aileen Wournos.


MTV News: Oh, the serial killer.


Aiden Zhane: Yes, the serial killer. I had chosen her just because she completely plays into my darker side and my love for horror and just creepy things. Nevertheless she's also such a character. She's such a hillbilly. And I think she would just be such a crazy and fun person to play in Snatch Game.


MTV News: Have you reached out to Patricia Quinn or do you suggest that you're going to?


Aiden Zhane: I have not. Who is aware? I might tag her in something. Yet, no, other than that, probably not. I mean, I didn't do the greatest in the episode so we're already going to have the entire world judging me. We don't need Patricia judging me, too.


MTV News: Why did you pick Patricia Quinn in the initial place?


Aiden Zhane: Like I mentioned in the show, I have met Patricia Quinn and got a bit of experience knowing what a crazy and kooky woman she is firsthand. She's very open about her drug use in the past and why that's affected her, and she's just so fun and kooky. She's such a crazy old woman. And not only Rocky Horror being one of my first exposures to drag, overall, nevertheless knowing that about her, I thought she could be a fun person to play.


MTV News: How did you just be having lunch with her?


Aiden Zhane: Years and years back, there was a shadow cast here in Georgia who did a showing of Rocky Horror every Friday night. And she came out for Dragon Con in Atlanta one year, to open The Rocky Horror Picture Show. So we got to go out to lunch with her and talk with her and all of that.


MTV News:  it looked like a recurring occurrence on Untucked was the females ganging up on you. Did you feel that way?


Aiden Zhane: Yeah, to be truthful, from day one going into the competition. I went into it feeling insecure, just because I knew there were going to be women in this competition who came from New York, or who'd flashy drag pieces, or who'd years of experience of being on a stage and in front of crowds and have that confidence. And I did not have any of that. And immediately being picked out in that first mini-challenge because the weakest one of my order validated what I already felt. And yes it sort of just snowballed from there on with little things here and there, comments, different things that eventually all added up.


MTV News: Have you and Brita made amends since filming?


Aiden Zhane: Yes, we have. All of us, the complete cast, we have all discussed since filming the show single daily. So all of us are friends.


MTV News: Who did you get closest with on the cast? It was like Heidi and you also had a bond.


Aiden Zhane: While filming, yeah, Heidi was certainly somebody that I bonded with a little. I think we both shared the mutual story of being ladies from smaller towns. And we were also both picked out because the susceptible link in that first mini-challenge. So she, out of everybody, was somebody who knew how I felt in that situation more than anybody else could. So, who is aware? Maybe that's what sparked her moment in Untucked of her standing up for me.


MTV News: Speaking of small towns, what does your life look like right now post-Drag Race? Are you still living in the middle of nowhere? Were you able to quit your job at IHOP? What's going on?


Aiden Zhane: Well, I certainly quit my job at IHOP [laughs]. However now I am still living in that same small town. However my plan is to move to New York. I'm just going with the flow and riding out this crazy COVID-19 situation that we're all attempting to get through with each other and just seeing where it takes us.


MTV News: Where can fans find you since everything has been canceled? Are you doing any digital drag shows or do you have any plans to?


Aiden Zhane: Certainly my social media,and I have some things in the works. I haven't specifically signed up for any digital drag shows although. I haven't posted or reported anything about it nevertheless, however I'd like to do an order kind of “Scary Stories with Aiden” online moment where I sit down and read you guys a short story.


MTV News: Oh, I love that. I also love how you leaned into the full one wig thing. You're selling merch with one wig. I love how Coco Peru came to your defense. What do you've got to mention for all of the one wig haters out there?


Aiden Zhane: It's funny because, even prior to filming the show, I joked about how this was going to be a thing. Yes, I have other wigs. Yes, I can afford other wigs. Like damn. Although in case you don't like it, also bad, that's my drag. For me, it's one of my staple pieces. And at the end of the day I wanted it to be something that, immediately after I left the show, any time somebody thinks of Aiden Zhane, I wanted them to think of her in the same way that I do. I routinely picture her with that hair. So I don't think there's a solitary person who, once they think of me, is going to think of me any differently. And, you know what? Great.


MTV News: What's the one big lesson that Drag Race taught you?





Aiden Zhane: My biggest takeaway, I would mention, is certainly have confidence in yourself. Just know who you are and stay true to that at all times. There really are constantly going to be people who hope to tear you down, or people who never get what you do. Although those folks are constantly going to exist no matter what level of drag you're at. And don't pay it any mind. Just do what you love, know what you love, and stay true to it.