EDGE Interview: See Why 'Everybody Loves Jujubee'

If you've ever seen "RuPaul's Drag Race," and who hasn't, you've most certainly seen Jujubee – and often. The Boston-based drag performer was a contestant on Season 2, as well as Seasons 1 and 5 of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars" and spinoffs like "Drag U" and "Dragnificent!" She also appeared on "RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World" and the "American Idol"-like spinoff "Queen of the Universe." She is quick to point out that she holds the record for the most top 3 (finishes) so far and likes to refer to herself as "The highest-rated 3rd place drag queen in the world" and "the Susan Lucci of drag."

The self-proclaimed "second runner-up" (she thinks it sounds more fancy) has parlayed her appearances on "Drag Race" into an amazing career that has taken her to exotic places like the Philippines, South Africa and Mobile, Alabama, where the barbecue is especially good. Her journey from humble beginnings to drag stardom is fascinating, funny and heartwarming.

The next stop on this journey is Provincetown, where she will be debuting her new show "Everybody Loves Jujubee" at the Art House Theater on July 31-August 3. (For ticket information, follow this link). Soon after the show, and some much-needed time in her cherished garden, Jujubee will be making her Off-Broadway debut in "Drag: The Musical" beginning September 30 at New World Stages in New York City.

Recently EDGE had the chance to chat with Jujubee about her upcoming show in Ptown and her life in and out of drag.

EDGE: Tell me about the first time you did drag?

Jujubee: It was a Halloween party in Nashua New Hampshire at my friend Liz's friend's house. Drag wasn't planned but her friend Chris was a drag queen and he wanted to put me in drag. I felt really weirded out about it, but when he put makeup on me I was like 'oh my God. I felt pretty.' This was the first time in my life I felt beautiful. This brought out a different world for me. It just clicked. I created a character. Inside it felt weird and strange because I'm a boy and boys should always dress like boys and here I was dressed in girls clothes. But it had to continue.

Not soon after that Chris invited me to one of their shows at (I think) a restaurant called Icon. I was 16. They put me in drag and I guess when you're in drag they didn't check ids. I got to watch this drag show and thought this isn't that hard. They're just walking around lip-syncing. I did my first performance that night to Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel."

EDGE: How did you get the name Jujubee?

Jujubee: I did Monday amateur drag night at Access in Boston over and over until I won. And when I did, Mizery announced the winner is Jujubee. I was like 'who the hell is Jujubee, she's not on the roster.' Mizery came over to me and said "you're Jujubee now." I hated the name for years, but it started a different side of drag for me. Before it was just a hobby, but it was becoming more for me. I was working at Jacques, the original Manray and Access. I started to dabble more in makeup working at the MAC counter at Macy's and then "Drag Race" happened.

EDGE: How did you get to "Drag Race?"

Jujubee: Friends saw this new show called "RuPaul's Drag Race" that was auditioning people and told me I should make an audition tape. At this point I didn't want to do drag anymore. I was just busy working. I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, but it wasn't drag. I auditioned anyway and I got it. It's been an amazing ride. I knew I always wanted to be a performer but it's not the type of performance I would be doing.

I always thought it was icky and weird because I didn't know anything about it. Drag taps into the feminine part of my life. I've always been a really feminine man and I know in my heart that I am a man. But drag opened up my world. And when I got on Drag Race I got to reexperience the butterflies in the tummy feeling I got the first time I did drag.

EDGE: What was it like when you got there?

Jujubee: It was exciting for me. It was my first experience on a set. I'd never experienced anything like this before. They sequester you in a hotel. You're by yourself. They take your phone. It's like your first day at work when you want to be on your best behavior, but you can't ask questions because everything's a secret. The reality show begins as soon as you land. When I was on Season Two. We could only refer to it as a competition, not a show.

When you're not on set filming you are alone in your room. You can't leave your room. Whatever you need, they will bring to you. There was a person in the hallway making sure you didn't leave. Any getting to know each other happened on camera, which makes sense.

EDGE: How did you know what to bring in terms of outfits?

Jujubee: You pack four suitcases, and they give you a list of what you would potentially need. They never tell you for sure what's needed. Back then all the queens were just pulling from our own closets. I just borrowed things. I don't think I spent a dime. All of us were wearing clothes that we bought from the mall. Now designers are hired. Out of drag we were just wearing shorts and flipflops, now they're wearing Balenciaga.

EDGE: Do you have any idea about the competitions beforehand?

Jujubee: You get there that morning, and you don't know what they're going to do. I think now they get an idea of what's going to happen. They've all watched the show, you know the challenges. I don't know how to sew but I can thread a needle, turn the machine on. I did end up making the things I wore and didn't go home that day, so I guess it was okay. The secret to any of these shows is it has to last enough long for the runway.

EDGE: So nobody's hooking up after hours?

Jujubee: There's no fraternizing outside of on set. We're tired by the end of filming. When we get back home it's a fast dinner, more than likely it's fast food, and we just go to bed. We were too scared to break the rules in Season Two. We didn't know anything. I had a TV in my room, but never turned it on. I think we were there for 21 days and right in the middle of my first season Michael Jackson died. I didn't know until I got out. It was like being in rehab, only drag rehab.

EDGE: Do you feel like it has changed a lot since the beginning?

Jujubee: I think it's interesting how "Drag Race" has grown and become so mainstream now. For our community it's been here for 15 years. The mainstream media just noticed it when it started to win Emmys. And they continue to win them, so they know it's something great.

EDGE: Where do you get your clothes now?

Jujubee: I work with a few awesome designers. One recently is my friend Travis (M. Grant) who is a designer for theater. I met him when I was in "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" at the North Shore Music Theatre. I was the evil stepmother. I'm actually wearing one of the outfits he made me in the Ptown show. He's really classy. I like to think Jujubee is classy now. She used to be kind of slutty.

EDGE: I always thought she was classy.

Jujubee: Thank you. I think in the 80s I grew up watching those gowns that were way over the top and the big hair. That's very much my drag. Now that these new skinny girls are there, they look really great but it's like talking to a doorknob. The doorknob's unlocked but nobody wants to go in. When you do go in, it's a room with no furniture and one flickering light. (Giggles)

EDGE: Do they look at you as the old guard, competition?

Jujubee: Nobody sees me as competition. Everybody calls me Antie Juju, even if they're older. I have single aunt energy. You know, the one without kids. The one with cats. She doesn't drink anymore because she's had trouble with the bottle, but she'll buy you alcohol. She buys the best presents. She has money because she doesn't have kids. That's me. Philippine kids call me auntie in or out of drag.

EDGE: Are you competition for them?

Jujubee: Fuck yes, I am. But they don't have to think so. There's enough work for everyone, but when you want Jujubee you ask for Jujubee.

EDGE: What is your work life like now?

Jujubee: I'm working all the time and really happy about that. I have a great management team and they take great care of me. I now do this version of drag, the nightclub version, but you kind of outgrow it. I can't stay up really late anymore. It wears on you. I'm doing more theatrical projects. I'm at a place where I get to pick and choose what I do. Don't get me wrong, I'll go to the opening of an envelope. But I don't have to if I don't want to.

I joke around a lot but I am very very grateful that RuPaul chose me to be in the competition. It really did change the whole way my life has played out. I know I'm old, but I'm young. I have a lot of life left. It's been so awesome. I've gotten to see parts of the world I didn't really know existed. I never imagined performing in Cambodia, Singapore or South Africa. But I have because of "Drag Race." I got to perform in Mobile, Alabama. I never imagined that one. It was a very loving crowd. They have great barbecue there.