Heidi N. Closet, Drag Race Queen Of Many Names, May Have A New One In Store

By Christopher Rudolph


Heidi N. Closet turned RuPaul’s Drag Race viewers into a bunch of “closet cases.” That’s what she calls her fans, by the way.


The North Carolina queen from the tiny town of Ramseur might have seemed like the least-polished girl once she sashayed into the workroom on the Season 12 premiere. Although Heidi proved to be a queen to keep an eye on, gaining confidence every episode, week immediately after week.


although Ru hated Heidi’s full name, and would propose new stage names for her, you can tell that Ru got a kick out of Heidi’s humor and her catchphrases like, “I’m blessed and rather favored.” Heidi might have grown because the weeks went on, however she struggled in the Snatch Game any time once she chose to portray Drag Race superfan, and judge, Leslie Jones.


She finally won a maxi challenge as soon as she sold her Heidi Hydrates lotion on the Droop challenge, nevertheless over the course of the season, Heidi had to lip-sync for her life four times. She slayed the lip syncs, performing songs like Alex Newell’s “Kill the Lights,” which is a track to which she often performs live. Nevertheless the final time she went up against Jaida Essence Hall, she was sent packin’ — yet not before RuPaul called Heidi a “superstar.”


MTV News caught up with Heidi and asked about her drag beginnings, what surprised her the most about being on Drag Race, what she really thinks of her nickname, and her plans for being in the live-action remake of Disney’s Hercules.


MTV News: Hi Heidi, how are you doing?


Heidi: I'm great. Blessed and rather favored.


MTV News: I want to get to Drag Race, yet I first wish to ask about your drag beginnings. Since you're from Ramseur, and that's such a little town, what was the opening drag show you went to?


Heidi: the initial drag show I ever went to was actually at my eldest sibling's birthday party. She was having it at a club in North Carolina, which is unfortunately right now closed down. I had just turned 18 I was like, "Oh my God, yes. This is what I came here for. This is the context I need. This is proving that I can visualize myself doing and I want to do it." As well as a few months later, there I was, on stage for the very first time.


MTV News: You've mentioned that the opening three years of your drag career are “mysterious.” Why are they mysterious?


Heidi: Oh honey, she was doing something — I don't know if it may would be classified as drag, although it was something. I like to mention I was playing in drag. She was just playing with it and not really taking it seriously. Just having fun, goofing off and stuff. And one day I sat down, I was like, "You know what? Think I'd like to create this a career." And that's whenever she got serious.


MTV News: Is that once you got into pageants?


Heidi: Yes it is. That's Whenever I began doing pageants because, honestly, in North Carolina it's hard to break in. You should prove yourself. And pageants are one of the big places to do it, which is why I began doing them. And then Whenever I began winning them, it felt good.


MTV News: Is there a drag scene in Ramseur?


Heidi: No. Unless you count the chickens. Yet the closest drag scene is only like 30 minutes away in Greensboro, North Carolina. That's where I got my start.


MTV News: and also you mentioned that your name Heidi N. Closet came from all of the closeted men in your town who would attempt to “get your goodies.” Have you heard from those males since you've been on Drag Race?


Heidi: Only a couple. Yeah. They were like, "Hi, congratulations on that." I would mention, "Oh, thank you. I appreciate you, and I celebrate you on this day. Have a nice day, sir."


MTV News: and also you were working at a gas station?


Heidi: Oh, don't remind me. Yes.


MTV News: So, i'm guessing you're not working there anymore?


Heidi: No, I actually quit. I quit my gas station job throughout the audition process. Basically I put all my apples or oranges or whichever fruit you want in one basket, also it was Drag Race.


MTV News: And then it worked out.


Heidi: It did.


MTV News: RuPaul was not a fan of your name. Did you think it was bad before going into the competition?


Heidi: No, I thought it was rather pretty, honestly.


MTV News: And Ru kept giving you nicknames. Did the other females give you any other nicknames or name tricks or anything?


Heidi: They didn't really give me any names. They sort of just laughed each time I would try and come up with one of my own.


MTV News: Are you thinking about doing an official name change?


Heidi: I mean, that might come to fruition. You're going to have to keep a lookout on that. You may visualize what occurs with that real soon hopefully.


MTV News: With Drag Race it's actually rare to be able to see a queen grow in confidence over the weeks right before your eyes. Did you feel that while in filming or was it something that you only right now visualize while watching the episodes?


Heidi: The funny thing is I didn't visualize myself growing in confidence Once I was there because I habitually felt I was confident. Nevertheless looking back at it, I saw how unconfident I was at the starting. And I was like, "Wow. Why did I not believe in myself the full time? What was I thinking?"


MTV News: And did you step it up because you were against these other professional queens or was it certain challenges?


Heidi: Well, I had a very small financial range to get ready for the competition. And then that very beginning day, those females began pulling out all these things and saying how much they had spent on everything. Some women spent upwards of $50 thousand and I'm just like, "Well, I spent $4,000 to get here, so that's all right."


MTV News: Did I read that you picked up curtains from the side of the road for the cape runway?


Heidi: Yes, my cape outfit. The black catsuit itself was a pair of curtains on the side of the road.


MTV News: Come on, roadkill!


Heidi: From the road to the runway! It just takes a bit of sewing thread and desperation.


MTV News: What did you think was the hardest challenge for you?


Heidi: The challenge that I think I personally did the worst in was Snatch Game. I just remember being in my head so much while in that challenge. I may have done so much more. I wish I had.


MTV News: In the one-queen show you impersonated your family members. Were you worried about what they're going to think of that? Do they watch the show?


Heidi: They watch it and no, I'm not worried because they know it's true. They know I only speak truth.


MTV News: So you've been called the “heart of the season.” How's that feel?


Heidi: It feels astonishing. In my family member, we don't want to be Miss Congeniality or anything. So going into it and being imagined the heart of the season, that’s astonishing. I think it's me being my true, authentic self, really being open to all of the critiques, and routinely just attempting to have a positive outlook on everything.


MTV News: What surprised you the most about filming?


Heidi: How cold it is. It's so cold. I was like, "Oh, it's in Los Angeles. I'm going to wear bootie shorts. I'm going to look beautiful on TV." And then half the season, you visualize me in short shorts as well as a sweater because it's so cold. And I'm just like, "Well, I got to wear these short shorts because it's all I brought with me really, nevertheless we're going to put on this sweater."


MTV News: And you’re a big Disney fan, right?


Heidi: Oh, I'm a large Disney fan. I love Disney.


MTV News: Particularly Hercules?


Heidi: Yes. It is one of the big soundtracks of all time. It's astonishing. That's any time As soon as I knew I was a queen, watching those Muses sing.


MTV News: And right now they're creating a live-action version. We have to prepare you one of these Muses.


Heidi: I'm down! What do I have to do? Where do I sign up?. That's what I need to know. America wants to know!


MTV News: Where can fans visualize you next? Do you have any assignments coming up or where can we get more Heidi?


Heidi: Well, I have another Digital Drag Fest show coming up. And hopefully, you'll be seeing me on some TV shows because I want to break into TV. Hopefully, some of those side assignments that I have been working on will come to fruition really, really soon.


MTV News: Is there a particular TV show you would love to be on?


Heidi: I've routinely loved Big Brother. I would love to go to the Big Brother home. Yet just do an appearance or converse with people because voting people out is also scary.