So far in every season of the popular Logo series RuPaul's Drag Race, a Floridacontestant has placed in the top three. In Season 4, which launches Monday, Jan. 30, local eyes are again turned to Florida and to local contestant Alisa Summers, aka Alex Hernandez, who is a regular at The Honey Pot in Ybor City every Friday night.
Read Alexa Mateo’s advice for the new crop of drag racers!
Summers follows the traditions of Fort Lauderdale's Rebecca Glasscock, second runner up in Season 1, Orlando's Tyra Sanchez, who won Season 2, and Tampa's Alexis Mateo, who was second runner up in Season 3.
RuPaul, alongside returning judges Michelle Visage and Santino Rice, will again decide who will stay or â┚¬Å”Sashay away,â┚¬Â among 13 female impersonators looking for the title of â┚¬Å”America's next Drag Superstar.â┚¬ÂÂ
We caught up with Summers, who in his introduction clip online and in the first episode reveals he's destined to win because of his full package (not that one) containing â┚¬Å”beauty, hair, body and titties,â┚¬Â dishes about his experience, opening his own Drag Depot, and the Tampa drag scene.
WATERMARK: What can we expect from this season? Is there a bit of behind the scenes scoop that might enhance our viewing of this season?
ALISA SUMMERS: You know I can't be talking about the details but I can say that the talent and budget this season is just ridiculous. And of course, there's going to be plenty of drama. Be ready for it. Thirteen strong drag queens in one room. There'll be lots of shade and lots of seething going back and forth but in the end, I ended up with 12 new sisters. It's catty and shady on TV but those are my sisters.
It seems that every season has a group of more elitist drag queens, for example last season's â┚¬Å”Heathersâ┚¬Â vs. â┚¬Å”boogers.â┚¬Â Did that happen this season? If so, what group were you in?
To be honest with you, yes. From episode one, there was a group of six or seven of us that just cliqued immediately [because of] our drag styles and how we view our own performing techniques. Even the ones that weren't in that clique, we all got along, for the most part. We may have thrown a little shade in the confessional.
Do you think you were portrayed accurately?
All I've gotten to see is what the public has seen. I'm eager to see how we're all portrayed. I mean, especially how we look on camera. Although, from what I've seen in the past, I know [the producers] are going to take things I said and paint me as the cocky one.
Who was your favorite guest judge? Why?
The most shocking was Elvira! She's somebody I grew up watching. Elvira: Mistress of the Darkâ┚¬â€ÂI wore that tape out. When they said, â┚¬Å”the guest judge this week will be â┚¬Å”Elvira: Mistress of the Dark,â┚¬Â we fell out. [Laughs] She is just as stunning in person as she is on TV. She has not aged at all. Then, having people from Glee and Modern Familyâ┚¬â€Âshows you watch on a regular basisâ┚¬â€Âto have them sitting there in front of you, judging you, is just amazing.
How does Tampa fare in the drag department?
It's a hot mess of talent around here. Every little gay boy wants to be a drag queen.
Do you perform anywhere in the area?
I'm on cast at The Honey Pot on Fridays and Saturdays. I'm the house girl there, so I'm the only one there every week, along with a rotating cast of three other girls. We get all kinds of talent from across the country. I have a drag mother, Jocelyn Summers, but I've really learned drag from everywhere. I've learned by watching different kinds of talent. You've got your â┚¬Å”body girls,â┚¬Â your â┚¬Å”tranny girlsâ┚¬Â and your â┚¬Å”dancing girls,â┚¬Â that do the splits and the kicks. I'm really blessed to be working with so many different types of talent.
So what made you decide to enter and how did you nail the audition?
Actually, I was supposed to be on Season 3. I was selected as an alternate, just in case one of those girls didn't show up or something happened. So, when this year came around, I said â┚¬Å”this is my year. I am doing this.â┚¬Â I went through the whole casting process again and thankfully, it worked out this time!
What I did was, I looked at my video from last year and critiqued it. I asked myself, â┚¬Å”what can I show the judges that I've improved upon or that I've done that will show that I've gone the extra mile and I can be â┚¬ËœAmerica's Next Drag Superstar?'â┚¬Â I focused on my growth since last year. Even people at [the production company] World of Wonder were like, â┚¬Å”Wow, girl, you've grown so much since last year!â┚¬Â I just replied, â┚¬Å”Why, thank you, baby. I'm so glad you noticed.â┚¬ÂÂ
You never stop learning drag. There's always something new you can learn. I try to live by that motto. I try to continue to be a better entertainer and person.
I don't want to be one of those drag performers that does the same routine over and over. Who's going to want to see that? I don't want people to ever say, â┚¬Å”Oh, that's Alisa. She's just going to put on a pony-tail and do Beyonce.â┚¬Â That's not ok with me. [Laughs]
Are your Tampa Queens cheering you on?
The response from Tampa's been great! I'm getting a lot of support locally–Facebook messages, emails. It's been crazy. I really didn't expect [the recognition] so quickly.
Who is your favorite performer from Drag Races past?
I'm going to have to say Alexis Mateo. She's been my sister since before she appeared on Season 3. I love Yara Sofia and Mariah. I just recently met Carmen Carrera and she was amazing! I'm a big fan of a lot of the girls from Season 2. Since the announcement of Season 4, JuJu Bee and I have been chatting. Everybody's so family-like. I now have like 50 sisters.
That's surprising. It seems like a lot of the girls have such strong, competitive personalities?
It's the producers that paint us all crazy on TV, girl.
How has your life changed since recording the show?
Since filming a couple of months ago and knowing it's about to air, I've just been making sure I continue to stay on top of my game. However, I always feel there's room for improvement, so I make sure I don't go out there, looking half-assed.
There's been a lot of growth, not only look-wise but even as a person. After an experience like [Ru Paul's Drag Race], you have to look at things differently; you have to realize you're going to be getting lots of attention. So, you can't go around being a hot, drunk-ass mess.
You need to sustain a level of professionalism. That's something I've been prepping for since I got back. When I start traveling with the show and people see me at their bar, working for them, I'm the complete package. I'm professional, I make sure everything and everybody's taken care of.
What is your ultimate vision for your career as a performer?
Ultimately, I'd like to break into some sort of television work. Being on the set of Drag Race and recording and having filming schedules, I liked that. I like things hectic and fast-paced. I work best under pressure. Some girls released songs. I'd love to do that.
One of my dreams is opening my own Drag Depot. There are places that sell stuff that drag queens need but they want to rape you on the prices. This is not a cheap business to do. So, I would like to be there for the girls that are just starting out and help them do it. Drag is fun to me and it's my life right now. I want others to be able to have a positive experience with it as well.
More Information
WHAT: RuPaul's Drag Race
WHEN: Mondays at 9 p.m. on LOGO
