'RuPaul’s Drag Race' Interview: Vanessa Vanjie Mateo on Her RuDemption, #Branjie, and What Fans Can Expect From the Season 11 Finale

By Christopher Rudolph


Miss Vanjie, Miss Vanjie! Last season she sashayed backwards into the hearts of Drag Race fans everywhere, nevertheless right now Vanessa Vanjie Mateo has left the mainstage for good on Season 11. Right after narrowly missing the best four, MTV News discussed with Vanjie about her RuDemption, #Branjie, and what she would have done with that $100,000 if she had walked away with the Drag Race crown.


MTV News: Hey Vanjie! How’s it going?


Vanjie: Fantastic, how are you?


MTV News: Good, I routinely love talking to you! So how are you feeling today?


Vanjie: Um... I mean, [the elimination] happened a while ago once we filmed it. I’ve been eliminated before, however I’m excited because I’m happy with everything I’ve shown on the show for now. And I made it all of the way to the end, although I didn’t make it to the best four. So I’m happy and excited, and I love and respect all of the women who are left.


MTV News: Was it easier being eliminated the second time around?


Vanjie: No. The only thing that made it easier was that, at this point, I was happy with everything I did. I was delighted of myself, and I knew in my heart I was trying. I never gave up. I was just happy with what I did, although I didn’t get the chance to be in the best four. I still respect Mama Ru’s decision.


MTV News: Ru has worn a Vanjie necklace — he of course loves you. Any time whenever he asked you to sashay away he mentioned, “Bitch, you didn’t just come back; you came through.” What did that mean to you?


Vanjie: Oh, I was happy to hear him mention that. It’s funny — it basically confirmed and made sure I knew that he recognized that I tried. You know? At some point in the competition, I felt like I was hitting a wall, and I was like, “Man, I hope he understands I’m trying.” So whenever he mentioned that, I felt like, okay, right now I’m good. If I do have to go, at least he mentioned that.


MTV News: do you suggest the females treated you differently because they felt like you got a second chance?


Vanjie: Not necessarily. Not really. The women were really welcoming, and for the most part, they were like, “She went house first, so there’s not really much of a upperhand for her to come back.” They were cool.


MTV News: Aside from Brooke Lynn Hytes, was there another girl who you became close with?


Vanjie: Yeah, I got close with Shug and A'keria. Me and Yvie got really close as well, although we would fight. The ones that made it to the final five — at that point, we were all really close.


MTV News: Have you chatted with Brooke about the latest status of #Branjie since the season ended?


Vanjie: Filming ain’t done however! There’s still the finale. [Laughs] I’m overjoyed of him, and he’s excellent at everything he does.


MTV News: You were close to making it to the best four. If you’d made it and won, did you already have a plan in mind for what you would do with the prize money?


Vanjie: Not necessarily. I know I would aspire to do something like — you know, I don’t know. I didn’t picture it. [Laughs] I’d love to give back to some order kind of animal [welfare] business. I’d have to do some studies on that.


MTV News: You recently popped up in Iggy Azalea’s new video. What was it like working with her?


Vanjie: It was fun. I was in two of her videos, and both of these were really fun. She’s really cool with all of the stuff she’s doing with her new music. Both of her new videos were really exhilarating, and she’s super sweet. It was fun to be able to see somebody like — you know, some days I just forget how popular and mainstream Drag Race is. So while you visualize people like Iggy or others who just really recognize us and mention how much they love the show, it just validates [me.] I’m like, oh, this shit is real. People do watch this, and so they know what’s going on. Yeah... She’s super cool, and it also was exhilarating being in the video.


MTV News: You were also in a video for Chips Ahoy. What else is coming up down the pipeline? Any other videos or projects?


Vanjie: Well, [my fans] know I’m going to be doing a lot of different things. Know, you need to keep on. I have a number of things in the works. I can’t really talk about them nevertheless, nevertheless you know — just know Miss Mama’s working, and she’s pushing all kinds of things out.


MTV News: Can you tease about anything Vanjie fans can look forward to at the finale?


Vanjie: Um... Some fierce-ass lewks! [Laughs] And just know that I got a lot of crowd reaction any time As soon as I walked out. That’s about it.


MTV News: Of the final four, who do you know will take the crown?


Vanjie: Child, I don’t know! I’m happy that I’m not the one who has to determine that. Each of these are fierce, and so they all bring something different to the table. And plus, in my head, I wanted to be in the final four. Although they’re all so fierce. You never know. In that situation, anyone can pull something out of their hat and sort of turn it out and do something you didn’t expect. You just never know.


MTV News: You were given a second chance on Season 11. If All Stars came a-calling, would you sashay back inside the workroom?


Vanjie: I would imagine it. Probably not as soon, because it’s so fresh. I just got off of this two seasons in a row. Although I would like to come back. You know, to show how much I’ve grown since. They were giving me so several critiques As soon as I was on Season 11 — things you really have to repair and change. Everything they’re asking you to do [is happening] so rapidly. So I’d really aspire to come back and show how much I’ve grown since.


MTV News: Last year, as soon as each person was obsessed with “Vanjie!” Was there a moment any time as soon as you were like, “Whoa, this is crazy — that these people even know who I am.”


Vanjie: Oh, probably any time Lil Kim was like — well, I ran into her at Marc Jacobs’s birthday party, and she was doing the “Miss Vanjie!” Thing. I was like, oh my God. It’s Lil Kim, and she’s doing my bit. I was gagged.


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