There’s a reason fan favorite “RuPaul’s Drag Race” finalist Rosé is billed as “equal parts razor-tongued comedian and remarkable vocalist.” She is.
Prior to securing a top four spot in the drag competition’s 13th season in 2020, the entertainer dazzled audiences on “The Voice” and “America’s Got Talent.” She did so as one third of Stephanie’s Child, her live-singing drag trio with “Drag Race” sister Jan Sport and “Nailed It” winner Lagoona Bloo.
The girl group continues to release new music, which Rosé has also done solo since her “Drag Race” debut. Never far from the spotlight, Rosé’s also appeared on the Paramount+ series “iCarly” while reuniting with European audiences around the globe for Voss Events’ 2022 “Werq the World” tour.
Before its North American leg kicks off in Florida this July – including a stop at Hard Rock Live Orlando July 9 and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tampa July 10 – Rosé helped honor 20 years of Pride in St. Petersburg. She performed at Cocktail June 26 for Cock’d N Loaded during St Pete Pride’s Pride in Grand Central Street Carnival in The Grand Central District, the celebration’s birthplace. View photos below.
Watermark spoke with Rosé about werqing the world, what fans can expect from local performances and entering her self-described “supermodel phase” ahead of her St. Petersburg performance.
WATERMARK: What are your thoughts on the current state of drag?
ROSÉ: Well, I think the current state of drag as a whole – and let’s center that around “Drag Race” as it’s the most influential and visible form of drag for the world to see – is that we’re in a really interesting place. I was thinking about this earlier, actually, because of this legislation in Texas trying to prohibit children from being exposed to drag queens, which is absolutely ridiculous and horrifying.
I think that we’ve gotten to a point with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” where the franchise is so enormous. There are so many legs of it in different countries that are providing access for the people of planet Earth to see what this art form is and to see the stories and the art of so many queer people. I think it’s so accessible that conservative people have become wildly threatened by us – and I think that’s really exciting.
We’re at a point where we’re the reason that we’re facing such sudden, giant waves of oppression again as queer people – because we’re able to be more comfortable. I think that the cause of that is drag, and because of “Drag Race.” So it’s a scary time but it’s an exciting time. I know that I’m very proud to be at the forefront of all of that as a queen from “RuPaul Drag Race.”
What about Rosé? Where do you find yourself?
For me personally, honey, I’m proud to always seek something new every day and to try new things, just in my everyday life and as far as my career and my art goes. I think I’ll always be a dynamite, firecracker live entertainer, that’s who I am and what I’m known for, but I don’t know if you’ve been noticing, but I think I’ve gotten really hot. (Laughs.)
I was just posting something on Instagram and I could not believe how supreme I am in drag. So it’s definitely my supermodel phase of my career, and I say that confidently because I’m going to be in my mid-30s soon. I don’t think models can work too far along after that. So we’re definitely in my modeling era, long may it live.
What surprises you about that?
Abso-fucking-lutely nothing. (Laughs.) Actually, to be honest with you, what surprises me about that is that when I started drag, I had so much support from friends and family and audiences really loved what I had to bring to the table because of my background in performance and because of my confidence – but I do have a set of very masculine physical features, especially facially, and nobody really ever thought that I could be a beautiful woman. But everyone stands corrected as I have just said, because I am now a beautiful female supermodel. That is very surprising for some people, but if you work hard at your makeup and start wearing beautiful human hair wigs, anything is possible – and there’s chapter one of my autobiography, so thank god you have your recording software. (Laughs.)
What was it like touring with Werq the World overseas?
I just got back from Madrid where I was having a ball. That’s where we closed the tour. We were all over Europe for the last six weeks and it was a dream come true for me. It was so exciting. A lot of the time, it was like you wake up in a new city every single day. This first leg of this tour this summer has been so exciting because I’ve been performing onstage since I was a kid, but I’ve never had such enormous audiences in the palm of my hand. It’s so wonderful, special and rewarding to get to sing and dance for so many people at once. The energy that we create, both the performers and the audiences in an evening of drag, is really special.
Have you had any particularly rewarding or challenging interactions with fans?
Rewarding, constantly, because the true fans of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and of me personally, I’ve found that they’re often so excited in an overwhelmed way to meet me and to speak with me and to see me on stage live. When that happens daily, it’s such a humbling part of my routine where I’m like, “Wow, I’m really doing this. This is my life. This is where I am every day and this is really cool.” So that has been absolutely rewarding, just to see how excited people get to see me.
Well, you’re in a supermodel phase.
(Laughs.) Oh, honey! Honey, exactly. They get to see me. I mean, get your earplugs out, because I sound terrible, but wow, wow, do I look good.
Where do you feel more at home, the recording booth, on the stage or on the screen?
That’s something that I love about drag. There are so many different outlets as a performer to kind of explore and take advantage of. I think I continue to be reminded in my life that the stage and performing live for an actual audience is where I’m at home. There’s an energy you get as a live performer from an audience that really is difficult to replicate, and while on-camera work is equally exciting, it’s a very different experience and process.
For “iCarly” specifically, I learned that because it was my first time being on a series like that. We would rehearse scenes and then we would do a producer run and suddenly the room was full of creatives and they would laugh. They would laugh at us when we said something funny and my performance was completely different once I heard laughter. So I think that the dialogue between an audience and a performer is something very special, something very sacred and it speaks to who I am as an artist.
Before you Werq the World in Tampa and Orlando you’ll help St. Petersburg celebrate 20 years of Pride. What can fans expect from your performances?
What you can always expect from Rosé is a little bit of dancing and a little bit of singing. I can never grace the stage without leaving those two things out there for everyone. It’s what people expect and it’s what they deserve. (Laughs.)
Why do you think it’s so important to celebrate our authenticity and Pride right now?
Well, the answer is very clear. It’s more important than ever because we are literally under attack by different predators every day. I mean, in Texas where I grew up, they’re trying to prohibit and criminalize drag queens being exposed to children. They’re saying that we’re grooming kids. I remember before I did drag, I remember being in New York the summer where marriage was legalized for gay people. It is strange to now feel like we are moving backwards.
We’ve had so much wonderful time and phases of this country since then to see people more easily come out of the closet and celebrate and be who they are, and people are trying to take that joy and that right and experience away from us.
There are many ways in which I believe we need to stand together and fight, but drag is clearly a threat to people and I think threaten we shall, because there is absolutely nothing wrong with drag. It is for everyone. It is inspiring for everyone. I think it’s a great thing for kids to be exposed to, because it’s centered in being who you are – void of everybody else’s opinion. I think that we’re in a place right now where it’s very necessary to pull out your pantyhose and your lipstick and take a walk on the street.
What else do you want to share with fans?
It’s Pride month so I’m going to be all over the place. I think mostly in the U.S. … but for the rest of the year, I’m basically on the road. So you’re going to see a couple of different things and I always love to put together a really big, exciting production number. So look out for some Rosé spectaculars coming to the stage near you!
Learn more about Rosé at OMGHeyRose.com. Voss Events’ “Werq the World” ft. Rosé and more will be held July 9 at Hard Rock Live Orlando, located at 6050 Universal Blvd., and July 10 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, located at 5223 Orient Rd. in Tampa. For tickets and more information, visit VossEvents.com/Werq-The-World-Tour.
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