Last week, I had spoken with one of the most memorable queens from this season of RuPaul's Drag Race, Honey Mahogany. Now, in true TOTU style, I am flipping the table and speaking with the other half of the world's most shocking reality TV elimination, Vivienne Pinay. There was so much that the show didn't capture from her, but you bet your ass I got the story. Check it!
Let's start out with my favorite question: Was this your first time auditioning for RuPaul's Drag Race?
Actually
no. Season Five was my second time. I auditioned for Season Four and
didn't get the call back. I auditioned again the next year and it worked
like a charm.
Both you and Ivy Winters were from New York this season. Had you worked with her before the show?
I
had never worked with Ivy. I had never seen her around the city. You
know I had never heard her name, but New York is a big. There are a
million drag queens there. No, I didn't know her at all but I'm glad I
met her. We became close on the show.
What about the other New York queens from Drag Race?
Before
the show, no. Not many people know that I got my start because I am in
the beauty industry. I have been in it for nine years. My thing was not
going out every night or every week to perform. I didn't have a schedule
as far as going out and performing. New York is a place, too, where
it's hard to find a regular gig. I didn't know anyone personally that
had been on the show before, but now I do because I'm now in the circle.
What do you mean by you were in the beauty industry?
Ive
been a makeup artist and a hair stylist, mainly focusing on hair. I
started in Georgia where I am originally from. I started when I was
nineteen. I moved to New York, I was there for four years where I worked
at a salon in Soho. Mainly I was a hair colorist. My obsession with
beauty in general started when I was very very young. That is pretty much
where and how I got inspired to do drag. I love playing with makeup and
making people feel beautiful so I thought it was about time I made
myself feel beautiful.
You are beautiful. It's sad that everyone
keeps saying that you look like Jujubee. The bloggers just won't stop
with that. Was the comparison a blessing or a curse?
I
wouldn't say it is a blessing or a curse. I would just say that it was a
big coincidence. I am a very big fan of Juju's and she has been an
inspiration to me, but I never pulled from her look to be my
inspiration. I think a lot of people see Asian and the fact that we are
similar and automatically compare us. I think Juju is fantastic -- I'm
one of her biggest fans. I think she is beautiful, talented, and funny. I
take that as a compliment. But I think people have me a bit confused. I
would never in this world try and be anyone else. Not only that, but
there's only one Juju so it would be stupid for me to try. I think
people just see some similarities and instantly think that I'm trying to
be her. That is not the case.
During the first episode, you did
come off as looking a bit Jujubeeish. After that, though, I could see a
clear difference. Was this a conscious effort to make yourself look
different and did you expect so many people to draw this comparison?
Not
at all. I had never heard that until I got to the show and did my promo
shoot. One of the makeup artists that was there to do touch ups was the
first person to say I look like Juju. Originally I said it was a huge
honor, but until then I had never heard that. Actually now that I've
been on the show, Ive been compared to every single Asian queen who's
been on the show. I've even been compared to Phi Phi and Jiggly, and I
don't think I look anything like them or have the same personality as
them at all.
Here's a fan question for you: Max Archimedes
(@mrmaxlevitt) asks after seeing how the show is edited, do you agree
with the critiques?
Here's the thing. Editing is a good
thing and a bad thing. Obviously they needed to tell a story for
television. I think that I stand by everything I said and did, however a
lot of things I said and did was cut out of the show. There was a lot
of me that people did not get to see. People did not get to hear the
story I had to share. I really wish that had been shown. What I have
been through growing up is something I'm sure a lot of people have been
through or are currently going through, and part of being on that
platform is helping people. I wish that had been shown. I'm actually
pretty fun, sarcastic, and funny, and a lot of that was cut out, and so
now the whole world thinks I'm boring or bitchy and bitter. That is
completely not me at all.
Your story got cut? Can you share it with me?
What
I wanted to show the world, and not just as a pity party but to help
others, I've been through a lot and overcome it and so can others. I
dealt with growing up abandonment issues from my father, domestic
violence, growing up with a broken family, growing up gay in the south,
being Asian in a small town, and bullying. Dealing with alcoholism also
is in my family, and also being in a very long relationship with
someone who had an alcohol problem. After going through all of that you
have to step back and realize that "You know what? It's all about me
now. I've got to live my life to be happy." Nobody is going to make you
happy but you. I have learned from everything that I have gone through,
it's made me a stronger person. I have a great career, a great
boyfriend, and a great life. I just wanted to relay the message that you
can't let it hold you back. You have to live your life to make yourself
happy.
The way the show was pieced together, they showed you
looking very fed up in your final episode. Did this have an effect on
your poor lip sync performance?
They did cut out a lot of the lip
sync. Also as far as my actual lip sync goes, I need to say something.
Drag is not about lip syncing. It's not about being a bar queen or
pageant queen. There are so many aspects of drag that I don't think
people realize. America has opened their minds obviously with the show,
but I think everyone needs to open their minds just a little more and
see that drag is an art form. There is no right or wrong way to do it.
My whole thing had never been lip syncing. For people to accuse me of
being a weak lip syncer, I never claimed to be a big time entertainer. I
think a lot of people are trying to read me for something I never
claimed to be. As far as me being fed up, yes I was with a few of the
queens. I was tired and emotionally drained. Do I think it affected my
lip sync at all? No I don't.
Fan Straiden Boylan (@starstrukhayden) asks if you felt like you were giving your 110% during your time on the show.
I'm
going to be honest: no. A lot of it had to do with me not being
completely there. It's something I had dreamed of doing, being on the
show, but when you get there it's not what you'd think. It was just a
very new environment. Physically I was there, but mentally I froze up a
bit. I wish I had taken a deep breath and enjoyed being in the moment. I
wish I had tried to have more fun with it instead of being stressed the
whole time.
I know you've probably answered this a hundred
times already, but you were part of Drag Race history. I got Honey's
side, but how did you feel knowing that you were going home, but at the
same time people would always remember. How did you take the situation.
First
off, due to there being fourteen girls, I wasn't surprised. Everyone
was thinking that something like this would happen. It wasn't a huge
surprise, but I didn't know it wasn't me. At the same time, I am trying
to make everything positive, and now I am part of Drag Race history. I
am thankful for that. All that matter is that people are talking.
I
do a lot of research before I hope into these situations and people
just can't seem to get over that you don't pronounce the word "Pinay"
correctly.
Yes the way Filipino people say it is
Peen-eye, and I get that and have known that for years. I don't see it
as a big deal, but I don't want to insult the culture. The way I say it
is the way I've always said it. I feel like it sounds better paired with
Vivinne. If anyone thinks I did not know the "correct way" to say it,
they are wrong. I have a Filipino mom, so of course I know how it's
said. Secondly, everywhere I go people say Pinay anyway because that is
the way they read it. There would have been confusion, but either way
it's just my preference.
How has Drag Race changed the life of Vivinne Pinay?
It
has changed things dramatically. From the moment I found out I was on
the show, things changed. I'm so thankful for my boyfriend, too, because
his life has drastically changed, too. Both of our lives are all about
Drag Race for the past year. From filming, learning, growing as an
artists. We moved from New York to LA. Ive gotten attention, both
positive and negative. Everything has changed, and it's definitely for
the best. The show has made me known. They are seeing my talent and my
art.
Follow Vivienne on Facebook and Twitter to ask your own questions and get to know her. Want your question featured in an upcoming interview? Follow Taking Over The Universe on Twitter and Facebook for updates on who is next and who you can submit your queries to and get those burning questions answered!
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