RuPaul’s Drag Race Interview: Nina West: RuPaul’s 'Meh' Lip Sync Reaction Was Like a 'Gut Punch'

By Christopher Rudolph


Nina West has been auditioning for RuPaul’s Drag Race for the past decade, and she finally sashayed into the workroom for Season 11. She made it far, yet this week RuPaul asked the Columbus queen to pack her bags immediately after a lackluster lip sync. Nina discussed with MTV News about Ru’s reaction to her “No Scrubs” efficiency, her connection with tweens, and why filming Drag Race is like a Disney movie.


MTV News: I’m going to begin off with a hard-hitting question: How was Disney World?!


Nina West: Um, you know I’m obsessed, so it was naturally astonishing. It was sort of the best time for me to go, because I knew [my elimination episode] was coming and I was like, I require a day of just magic and suspension of disbelief — just allowing myself to have that. It was wonderful. I required it.


MTV News: What’s your preference ride at Disney World?


West: Oh my — this is the perfect interview ever! Are you kidding me? [Laughs]


MTV News: I’m asking the real key questions here.


West: Hello — naturally! This is the dirt you’ve been looking for! [Laughs] I’m a Haunted Mansion fan through and through. I think it’s the ideal ride in the world.


MTV News: Speaking of rides, let’s talk about Drag Race. How are you feeling today?


West: I’ve been really sort of dreading this. And then something group kind of happened within the past week where I’ve been like, you know, I can’t change this. I was with Raja [O’Hara] in Orlando, actually. I was talking with her and I was like, girl, what do I prepare for? And she was like, “You’ll be okay.” Then the episode aired, and this group kind of calm came over me. I was lucky enough to be in Columbus as soon as it happened for the viewing party — surrounded by people who’ve supported me for the last 18 years — and it also was a really astonishing, full-circle moment. I remember for the initial episode, I did the viewing party in Columbus, and it also was really emotional. I was so overjoyed. I felt like I’d done it. I’ve done it for Columbus, and I’m here.


Being in that same space last night with pretty much the same people, I was just defeat with so much pride. It was just astonishing. I, naturally, wish I was still in the competition. Getting so close [to the end], that’s also sort of bittersweet. Nevertheless I think the fan reactions and where I’m sitting today is pretty cute. People connect to me, and you also know, I wasn’t sure that they would. I’m not your most likely candidate for a tween or 14-year-old connection. You know what I mean? I don’t think I ever really anticipated [having] a connection with the fans. Because I’m older, and I’m a big man. [Laughs] I’m not your Aquaria. I’m not your Miz Cracker, even. I’m not small and thin and turning around fashion-forward looks. And I am thrilled that I regarding people. I’m thrilled that my drag was shown on such a large, huge stage — the stage for drag.


MTV News: You auditioned nine times, right?


West: Girl! Nine times.


MTV News: Were you just going to keep on auditioning up until you made it, or did you ever think of giving up?


West: I think I was going to not audition Whenever I was put into a nursing house. [Laughs] I’d be like, all right, I’ll give up on this dream. No, I’ll be truthful with you: It just sort became piece of my routine — my habit, my ritual. I’d be like, okay, I need to write this show or go into rehearsals this spring; I also need to do my Drag Race audition tape. It just became segment of my schedule. I think I became sort of resigned to the fact that they didn’t want me. And I think it was Detox who was like, “Girl, you want this. Do this one more time.” And I was like, oh God, I don’t know if I have it in me. Yet I did it, and I didn’t expect the call. Although I got the call. And that was really, really surprising. Like, oh my God! It was proof — like, in the event you don’t knock on the door, nobody’s gonna answer. I’m just thrilled that I get to live my dream. I mean, how several people mention they get to live their dreams? It’s sort of remarkable.


MTV News: What surprised you the most about filming Drag Race? Since you auditioned nine times, you need to know the show really well.


West: Oh my God — it’s like, know everything and also you know nothing! [Laughs] I’m like, oh, I know there’s going to be acting challenges; I know there’s going to be this and that. Yet, girl, it’s so different as soon as you’re in the pressure cooker of Drag Race and expected to perform. Holy hell. I mean, it is absolutely different being there as the stakes are so much higher. The cameras are rolling. It’s hot. You’re tired. You’re famished. People around you are bitching about hair being stolen. There’s so much going on, and you’re on sensory overload. I’m sure people watching at residence are like, “Oh, that’s easy, I may do that.” Nevertheless — girl. You get there, and holy shit. You’re like, this isn't at all what I expected. Because she's a machine, and she moves fast. While you hit “start” on that workroom entrance, you’re on, and you also don’t hit “stop” up until you’re gone. I’m someone who’s used to a tough schedule, to working all of the time, to doing abnormal things, and I thought I had all of the skills. At the end of it all, I was really honestly surprised that I, also, have some things to learn.


MTV News: I’m assuming we’ll visualize that rainbow pride runway outfit throughout Pride this year?


West: You know it! I’m the Grand Marshal of the Columbus Pride Parade this year! It’s a large honor. People don’t know – Columbus has one of the biggest Prides in the nation. And the fact that my hometown, my residence city, is honoring me in this way is really overwhelming. It’s humbling, it’s the perfect. Needless say you’re going to be able to see that rainbow pride outfit. Hello?!


MTV News: At the end of the lip sync for your life, once Ru was like, “Meh,” what did you think about her reaction?


West: Well, what did you think about that? [Laughs] For me, it was a gut punch. First of all, at that moment, I hadn’t lip synced although. It was my first lip sync. I know I’m a higher class of performer than what we saw on TV last night, and I know that I got emotionally caught off-guard. I’d just won the last challenge and was like, what’s happening? The kids mention shook. I was shook! And hearing Ru — the world’s biggest drag queen, the mother of all drag — mention “meh”... It was a gut punch. I didn’t do my best, and then hearing that, I was like, oh my God. You’ve got to be kidding me. You have one of the big lip syncs ever and maybe one of the worst lip syncs ever in the same season.


MTV News: You were saying on Untucked that you were sad this was the end of your Drag Race journey. Would you come back for All Stars?


West: Are you kidding me?! I would never mention no. You don’t mention no to RuPaul. I wanted this possibility this platform, and so they gave it to me. I need to be grateful. Hell yes, I would go back. I haven’t watched Untucked because I don’t know if I’m actually prepared to watch it however. I know I was tremendously emotional in the moment. I was sobbing. I was a blubbering disaster. You know, it’s crazy because needless to say, it’s the end of my journey. Nevertheless it was momentous even for me. It’s been almost a decade of my life poured into this, and yes it ended in a way that wasn’t how I saw it. On the other side of things, I’m like, okay, this isn’t so bad! I made it 11 episodes. On Season 11! Girl, it’s like fate. You know? I’m so grateful. Certainly I wanted to be there up until the end. Yet I feel grateful. I feel seen. I feel heard.


MTV News: Bringing it back to Disney: in case you had to compare your experience on Drag Race to a Disney movie or character, how would you compare it?


West: It’s like part Rapunzel in Tangled — a shut-in, frantic, absorbing this whole new world, not having any exposure to anything and then being like, oh my God, oh my God, sensory overload! — And then maybe a little Bing Bong from Inside Out. There’s a sort of playfulness to this, a bittersweetness to this all. I mean, he sobs candy tears. I want to cry candy tears! And [like Nina] he’s this vibrant, crazy character who’s order kind of imaginary and getting to reside in this world of cute make-believe. It’s sort of bittersweet, and I had to let it go.


RuPaul's Drag Race airs Thursdays at 9 p.M. ET on VH1.