In her GAY TIMES exit interview, Kiki Snatch reflects on her Drag Race UK journey and severe lip-sync smackdown against Actavia, as well as her thoughts on the result.
WORDS BY SAM DAMSHENAS
SPECIAL THANKS TO JASMINE ALOMA AND SOFIE VAN DE GRAMPEL AT THE BBC
“Not to toot my own horn, but hello? Like, beep beep?” Kiki Snatch says of her *impeccable* lip-sync smackdown on RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. Although her battle against Actavia to David Bowie’s funk-rock classic ‘Let’s Dance’ has been widely lauded as one of the British franchise’s best, Kiki was sadly Marcia Marcia Marcia-d – as in, sent unjustly packin’ when a “shantay you both stay” would’ve been apt. As the Saint-Lucian/London “cross-breed baddie” tells GAY TIMES: “When she was like, “Kiki Snatch, you snatched our hearts…” I was like, ‘Don’t do it. How dare you. Really, Ru?’”
The queens of UK season six appeared on The Graham Norton Show for their fifth maxi-challenge, before serving their best (how’s your…) head(?)piece on the main stage. In Kiki’s critiques, the panel highlighted her “performative” style in the challenge and lack of ‘refinement’ on the runway, resulting in her second bottom two placement. Despite her early departure, Kiki has undeniably showcased why she’s considered a drag icon in the London scene with her rousing powerhouse vocals and flawless lip-sync ability, as well as her quintessential “Ro’Sham Bo’Sham” energy.
Read ahead for our exit chat with Kiki, where she reflects on her season six experience, why she almost quit and fled set ahead of her lip-sync showdown and the iconic Scary Movie character she would’ve impersonated on the Snatch Game. Bonus: she also reveals which legendary UK alum she wants to throw down with in a future All Stars lip-sync.
Kiki, are you feeling Ro’Sham Bo’Sham?
I am always feeling Ro’Sham Bo’Sham, baby. It’s a good Ro’Sham Bo’Sham this time.
Well, I’m not feeling Ro’Sham Bo’Sham because of this elimination.
Ugh, chile. If anyone is feeling Ro’Sham Bo’Sham because of this elimination, I’m gonna throw some hands!
It’s despicable to me that, with the lip-sync that you gave, that you are no longer in the competition. That was not “sashay away” worthy. That was Hall of Fame worthy.
Not to toot my own horn, but hello? Like, beep beep? The musicality, the hitting of everything in a tightened corset, ballerina dress that was scratching me from the inside… What?
A lot of fans, including me, think that should have been a double save. Did you ever anticipate that RuPaul might say, ‘Shantay, you both stay’?
You know what, I did. I [thought] she was going to say, ‘Actavia, shantay you stay,’ and then ‘Kiki Snatch, shantay you stay.’ When she was like, “Kiki Snatch, you snatched our hearts…” I was like, ‘Don’t do it. How dare you. Really, Ru? Miss RuPaul Charles, did you really do that to me girl?’ And she did. She could have just been like, ‘Kiki, wait, no, hold on actually.’ I did think she was gonna do that, too… but she didn’t. So I was like, ‘You know what? Graciously, as a hood bitch would, I’m going to step to the side because if I don’t do it now, I’m going to throw some hands and burn this mother down. Lemme just leave. Get me out of the studio, thank you.’”
You looked quite emotional before the lip-sync started. Obviously, you switched it the fuck on when you needed to. So, what was going through your mind when you were standing on the stage opposite Actavia?
There was so many things, and there was also so much of nothing. There was just wind. All I could hear were the fans going and the ambience and the breathing of everybody. Then also it was like, ‘Bitch, just give up. You know what’s going to happen, how it’s going to go.’ Then also I was like, ‘I have to take this bitch down because there is no way I’m going anywhere. You’re going to give it your all.’ Also, [I was] thinking of the comments they had given to me on the stage. It was like, ‘You are you. You are not a character. You’re the best version of yourself. Don’t let nobody tell you otherwise, and show them who the fuck you are.’ So then I did. They still judged me and didn’t like it. I was robbed. I was robbed, but congrats to Actavia. She did shut it down… kind of!
It’s interesting – interesting to me, anyway – that both of your lip-syncs this season were to a male vocal. Not to be rude, but I was quite sad that we didn’t get to see you lip-sync to ‘Tension’ by Kylie.
Now… In the hotel room we have our little iPods. Obviously we can’t have our phones, so we can’t really listen to music. We have to listen to some [lip-sync] tracks. Chile, when I tell you I was in that hotel room like [starts dancing]. It would have gone off! That lip-sync, they should have let that happen. Can you imagine me dancing to ‘Tension’ by Kylie? Also, shoutout to Kylie because she sends me some wines and shit.
Despite your early exit, you provided fans with some incredible moments this season, from the ‘Let’s Dance’ and ‘Girls on Film’ lip-syncs to your girl-group performance. What was your standout moment?
The girl-group challenge, with that runway as well. That whole episode I was in my bag, I was in my lane. I write music, I sing, blah blah blah. Then, to just slink down that runway, body was golden and glittered! She felt cunty. Also, singing in the first episode, actually. There were so many standouts, raising that expectation of like, ‘Kiki’s going to dance the house down for the first [challenge].’ No, no, no, no. She’s got focus, too. It was like, ‘Surprise, surprise.’
I’m not sure if we’ve ever had a dancer who can also sing like you can? … we need more performance challenges!
Listen, why is it not a thing? Why is it not a thing? We’re going to call them and tell them they have to re-record the season.
We will have to call them and tell them to re-record the season.
You never know, All Stars might see an appearance from me! Depending…
I just spoke to Michael Mariuli about All Stars and she said it’s “about time” the UK has its own version, rather than UK vs the World. So, when you inevitably return, who would like to sashay into the werkroom with?
I know she’s done it a couple of times already, but definitely Vanity Milan.
A lip-sync between you two would end lives, I think.
The world would stop spinning and freeze over instantly. Gaggery! Can you imagine? We’re gonna make it happen just for the sake of it. I’ll just steal some of her looks and sabotage her.
Is there anything else you wanted to show viewers on UK season six that you didn’t get a chance to?
Well, other than Snatch Game… I was really excited about that. Luckily, I was able to do acting [challenges]. I sang, then the girl group. Maybe the makeover? Just to have a bit of fun and do someone else’s makeup. That would’ve been fun.
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Okay, Snatch Game… Who were you going to impersonate?
I was going to do Regina Hall [as] Brenda Meeks from Scary Movie.
I have been waiting for this for *donkey’s years*. That is all I want in this life…
Imagine?
There’s so many quotes!
Like, ‘I got you on candid camera now!’
You can just turn to another queen on the panel like, ‘I GOT YOU!’
There was so much I was going to do. I’m even in the wig now!
UK All Stars…
UK All Stars, here we go.
What’s next for Kiki Snatch?
Come see me at my DragCon booth! Straight after DragCon I go on tour with Lemon for her Afterparty Tour. I’m doing the whole thing, so snatch your tickets. Then, a few things I cannot yet disclose, so keep your eye out because she’s there!
You and Lemon in the same show? I hope you share the stage at one point because that would be everything.
I’m going to make it happen. I’m gonna make sure of it. We’re going to dominate and then might make some music together.
Drag Race UK season 6 is streaming in the UK on BBC iPlayer.
The post “Really, Ru?”: Drag Race UK star Kiki Snatch has thoughts on elimination appeared first on GAY TIMES.
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