Tyra Sanchez goes by many titles. She’s seen as a villainess, a bitch, a role model—and as a father. But now the Orlando resident and female illusionist can add one more title to the list—she’s the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Season 2.
Sanchez—also known as James Ross—has known for nearly a year what the rest of us just learned April 26—that she was the season two winner. But she had to keep the results a secret for months, even from her boyfriend, Taylor.
Plenty of talent surrounded the big finale of the Logo reality show as Sanchez, Raven and Jujubee battled it out for the coveted drag title. But only one could be the winner.
The day after the finale aired, Sanchez, 22, was in New York taking on interviews and posing for photo shoots. She took time out of her busy schedule to speak with her hometown paper about her experience and what her win means for her future and the future of her family.
How difficult was it for you to not share the big news of your win with your friends and family?
I wasn’t able to talk to anyone at all, of course unless it was with one of the girls. I had to keep it all to myself because I didn’t want to risk the chance of letting it out or being sued.
You told us before that your son had never met “Tyra.” Will that change now that you’ve won RuPaul’s Drag Race?
He still doesn’t know about Tyra and he hasn’t seen the show. I’m not sure how this will change the way I tell him but I know it won’t be as hard to tell him. I want him to be in his teens when he learns about Tyra so that he understands it better.
Was the overall experience of the show what you imagined?
It was a lot different—it was more exciting and fun. We had more challenges and more girls than they did in season one.
How was RuPaul during the show?
She talked to us more off camera than on. When she first comes to workroom or if the crew had to change batteries or tapes, she would talk to us more about personal stuff. Then she’d get in trouble if the cameras were off because they wanted everything on film. She was really fun and really good to work with.
How accurately do you think you were represented on camera?
That’s the real me on television. Unfortunately, you saw more of the bad than the sweet.
What do you say to people who refer to you as the villain or the bitch of the show?
I tell them, “Thanks and I love you.”
Surely you have some dirt to dish for your hometown fans.
There were slumber parties in Juju’s room every night, but I wouldn’t go. I would go straight to my room. I didn’t hang out so I don’t know what happened. They probably gossiped a lot and formed an alliance against me.
What does this win mean for you and your career in drag?
It means I can only get better. I’m going to challenge myself to do more things. I want to be in movies and TV shows but I don’t want to stop performing. This is going to let me better myself, my life and my son’s life.
Will you stay in Orlando?
No. I want a house in Orlando eventually, years from now, so I can always come home. But I want to live in Los Angeles, Atlanta or New York. My main goal is to live in L.A. because of Hollywood and the TV shows there. Atlanta would be nice too because so many new movies and shows are getting filmed there.
What are the possibilities out of drag for James?
My dream is to be an actor. Tyra is a bonus part of that. Now I can be in films and on television shows as James, as Tyra, or both.
You won Drag Race, and Coco Montrese is now Miss Gay America. Is drag hitting a new high point in Florida?
Drag has always been popular in Florida. I think the Florida girls are stepping up their game. We’re shining now because we also have Armini, who is Ms. Gay Continental and Roxxy Andrews, who is Ms. Continental Plus. People are finally realizing that Orlando has talent that shouldn’t be toyed with.
What is your ultimate goal for Tyra?
I want to see Tyra the same way as I see James. I want you to get Tyra when you get James. I want my own TV show and, this sounds stupid, but it can be like Hannah Montana. A sitcom like that would be hot—where I’m James during the day, but at night I’m an undercover girl. I know it sounds crazy. Or I’d like to have my own drama where I’m James, but every now and then there’s a local girl named Tyra who performs.
I want James and Tyra to become America’s sweetheart and to be in Hollywood at a lot of awards shows.
Life could change drastically for you. Do you think it will impact your relationship with your boyfriend?
It may be a challenge now, but it’s up to me to handle it in the correct way. I’ll be traveling a lot and I can try as much as I can to get him to travel with me, but he’s still in college. As long as I pay attention to him and my son, I think I’ll be A-Okay.
