October 31, 2022 • 35 mins
Squirrel Friends, she’s here! The Dancing Queen, Alyssa Edwards, drops by to chat about so much. What was going through her mind before stepping into the Werk Room for the time? Would she do another All Stars? Alyssa also shares touching stories from parents and fans, how much her grandmother meant to her, and her thoughts on anti-LGBTQ legislation in Texas. Plus, Alec and Loni are still comparing their follower counts.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hello, Hello, Hello, and welcome back to another episode of
Squirrel Friends, the Official RuPaul's Drag Race Podcast. I said
it perfectly, sure, I'm believable. I'm Alex Mapa and it
is my only job to introduce you to the Queen
of show business, Lonnie Love. Hello, Evan, how are you?
You know? It's been a weary We've lost some stars recently.
(00:28):
I was looking on the social media's and Robbie Coltrane,
who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, passed away.
Angela Lansbury, you know, Mrs Potts from Beauty and the
Beast passed away, all these great careers, and it just
makes me think, is entertainers. You know, when these people
pass away, that's their legacy. You know, the performances that
(00:48):
we've given will go on after us. And it's kind
of like all the people who are posting how much
they appreciated who they are is kind of like, huh.
It's just just made me think about that about what
we do. Yeah, definitely, and it's definitely important to highlight
them and to be grateful for their art and all
(01:10):
art form is great, and I'm glad that you and
I get to be in this type of space. We
are so fortunate. You know, how how long ago? What
did you do? Soul playing ten years ago? When it's on,
do you watch it and like think about who you
were when you were doing it? You know? What I
am really grateful for is when fans send me clips
(01:32):
and then and they remind me because you know, I've done.
I've done about fifteen films. And it's funny when when
like especially the new the new generation, they find clips
of me and they send it to me. I said,
that funny because you think because when you wrap a film,
you're like, I'm done, this is over. My time with
us is done forever, but the longer movie is out.
(01:53):
I always feel like the audience is that treasure, that
kind of entertainment or treasure that performance find it, will
find it and really kind of like keep it alive
and everything. So what kind of clips are people sending you?
They love the clips of me and so playing with
me and Monique. They loved the clip of when I
was in Paul Blart with me and Kevin James. And
(02:14):
that's why I love doing comedies. I just want to
do comedies to make people laugh, to make people escape
or you know what we do, like you know with
the talk show where we're promoting and we're uplifting other
people and just like what we're gonna do today, we're
gonna talk to my drank mom. Listen Ewards. I'm such
(02:35):
a huge fan of hers and she is a great conversationalist.
This is a person you do not have to encourage
to be interesting. And and we're such super fans of
drag Race. We watch every season and there's always one
queen like Alyssa. Edwards was the one who proved that
you don't have the win the show to win, like
she did not win, but it did not make her
(02:57):
any less of a star. She's come back. We're gonna
see what she has to say. Because squirrel friends, we
have to take quick break to practice tongue. Can you
do it? Can you do it? No? You have to show. Okay, Okay,
here we go. I can't do it very long. That's pathetic.
That was terrible. Sound Can you do it? It doesn't
(03:17):
sound like a tongue. That doesn't Okay, let's hear yours.
We'll be right back. Thank god, we have a Lissa
Edwards with us. We'll be right back. We have got
(03:38):
a treat for youth squirl friends. You know her from
her time on Drag Race Season five and All Stars too.
Since then, she's been a dancing queen all over the world.
But today she is here to get up in this podcast.
Gig Girl, please welcome to the program the legendary All
Listen Edwards. Hey, how all my squirrel friends out there? Okay,
(04:04):
I am doing everything I can to hold it together
right now because one thing, you don't know how many
times when I'm on the road and I'm on a
gig or I can't sleep that I go to YouTube
and I watch you lip sync, shut up and drive.
I think I hold the world record that lives rent
(04:25):
free in my head as the most spectacular lip sync
that's ever been done on the show. Thank you, thank you.
That absolutely definitely is one of my most memorable moments.
And you know where the funny is. That was not
planned by the way, everyone you know always asked, did
you talk Toiana like coordinate that? Not at all. I
(04:46):
mean we were in it to win it, like I
like to say, like old school Drag Race, I mean
especially All Stars to which was like the very first
season that rennounced we would all be voting each other
off the island out the work work, right. We were
like mega competitive, right. So it was one of those
moments where it was like, Okay, this is it. And
(05:09):
I remember looking over to her right before we walked on.
Actually it was it was the first time we made
eye contact and I could see it in her eyes
and she seen it in said girl, it's showed time.
And I mean and it was go time for real.
Because when we walked out the outfits, everything it made sense.
I mean, that is gosh, it's such a monumental drag
(05:33):
race moment, legendary, legendary. I always I've always loved the
point where you point at the day beginning and then
you look through the thing. I just obsessed. All right,
you were Monnie's drag mom. I want to hear about
and how that went well. I had so much fun
on Celebrity Drag Race when this whole concept and ideal
(05:57):
came about, and I remember World of Wonder the spokes
to giving me a call and asking me what I
thought and would I be interested in being a part.
I jumped right on it because I feel like I
love performing, expressing myself. I got into drag because you know,
I knew at sixteen I would be a choreographer, a teacher.
(06:17):
That would be the route that I would take. I
wanted to be the Steven Spielberg behind the scenes, like
creating all this magic and truly, Alec and Lonnie, I
never in a million years pictured myself to be center stage.
I thought that I just would always be the costume designer,
the set designer, the choreographer, writing these magical stories for
(06:38):
my dancers. You're a producer, sounds yes. And so when
when when I got this call and I was like, oh,
this is perfect. I already had, you know, two attempts,
um I lost twice. Maybe let's go around, you know,
as a coach, this would be like my calling and
it was. It was so much fun. It was so
much fun to see other people getting to experience all
(07:02):
of the magic that drag offered me. It was such
it was such a beautiful experience. I just want to
say that you were a great drag mentor a great
drag mom, because there are certain things as celebrities we
come in we don't know what to do, we don't
know how to handle ourselves. Of course, during that season,
Alec we had wonderful Tammy Roman. Tammy didn't know nothing
(07:25):
about drag, but when we have Vanessa Williams who knew it. Yeah,
Alyssa gave us the inside school. So she made sure
we knew certain things to do, from our makeup, from
our walk, from helping us choose the outfite. So I
just want to say I haven't been able to tell
you just thank you, thank you, thank you so much
(07:45):
for that. And with that said, you did so great
on All Stars, would you go back to maybe considering
doing another All Stars? Absolutely? I mean I'm a competitor
at heart. And I'll tell you I remember watching myself
on Telebate shown up my good girlfriend's house in Porny, Texas,
and I found myself giggling as I'm looking at the TV,
(08:06):
and I'm like, girl, is that really me? And she
said justin I've known you, said she were sixteen years old.
That is you every day, that is you, that is you,
and we all love it. And I said, I can't
believe that I was brave enough to do that, and
she was like, you know, I remember her just looking
at me giggling, And fast forward to All Stars too,
(08:26):
and she's like you didn't even realize your own magic
and power. And I'll tell you that experience made me
so proud because I told myself before I went in,
I was like, look, okay, I know that we want
to win the crown. And um, it's been It's been
my ultimate dream. As you could see, Miss u s a,
Miss America, Miss All American. God is the key to
(08:47):
the girlfriends. You can't see this, you can't see this
right now, but Alyssa Edwards is zooming with us from
a dressing room that is filled with her drag. It
looks like the pat Field closet from in the city,
like unbelievable. Oh my god, it looks like like a
pinball or sheet. It's so colorful. It is gay, yes
(09:10):
it is. And I'll tell you I loved pageantry. I
remember watching it with I have four sisters, and you
know my mother and grandmother was you know, pageantry is
big hid the South here and I got into pageantry
and really I just embodied the idea of the competition spirit.
And so it's always been my ultimate dream to have
(09:32):
that moment of roupe hole put that crown on my head.
I absolutely think that I would do it again. Because,
like I said, all starts to right. Before I walked
in the workroom, I said a little silent prayer. I said,
do you hea, my father, please be a lamp onto
my feet and a lot into my path. And I
right before I went in, I said, and don't forget
be gay as fun and I have good time. I
(09:55):
got that's gonna be my catchphrase, have a good time.
And I walked in and had so much fun. I
was talking to Lonnie earlier and I said that everybody
has a built in bullshit meter, and you brought your
his fuck. You brought your authentic self into the room.
And I've been to several drag cons and I see
all the lines, and there was something about you specifically
(10:19):
that captured the imagination of the drag race fan base.
The lines for you were the longest. And then I
was spying on you. You made eye contact with people,
You made sure everybody had a moment. I've watched you
on other media. I love how much you take care
of your family. I love what a great mentor and
(10:41):
teacher that you are to kids. Because we're gonna talk
about that in a bit. Because Texas is in the
middle of the whole thing right now where they're saying
drag queens are bad for kids, and I know that
you're an amazing dance teacher. Where does that nurturing part
of you come from? Have you always been like that?
I think I always have. You know, my father seven,
my mom has five. I'm the oldest. I've always been
(11:02):
the big brother. I've always been the one that was
yes and and honestly, like for as long as I
can remember, if like me and my siblings be played school,
I was the principal, you know. I was always in
that leadership role. And I think I was born with that.
I mean, that's why I'm very proud to say that
I'm celebrating twenty years of owning my dance school and
(11:24):
here in Texas and I'll tell you in Mesquite, Texas.
I was very nervous when all of this came about
when because I really am the real life Hannah Montana
of the Sky. Because nobody knew that after my jazz
classes at ten PM, I would be getting into this costume,
creating this larger than life character. Until the season five
(11:47):
promo came out, I was scared to death. I thought,
what are the people going to say? Am I going
to be judged. I don't know anything about Mesquite, Texas.
I've been to Paris, Texas as home of the rodeo,
and it's home of the barbecue, and now a to Edwards. Yeah,
but my question is, was it hard to grow up
as a Lissa Edwards in Mesquite, Texas? What's it like
(12:09):
for LGBTQ people there. I went to Westmisque High School,
home of the Fighting Wranglers, So we'll start there. Yeah.
That lets you know right there, right, Lonnie, That lets
you know right there. So I will say though I
had it not nearly as bad because I made a
promise to myself. I was always I know this is
gonna be hard to believe, but I was a shy,
introverted little kid. And but no, because it was like,
(12:32):
as queer kids, we grow up in our imagination because
the world is so hard on us that we kind
of like grow up seeing all the colors in our hand,
all the glitter in our head. It's an inner journey
that grows out absolutely and you know, well, no, that
is absolutely correct. And we also we come to reality
with who we are. And I realized very quickly, Okay,
(12:54):
there's really no one else like me. So here's the thing.
I didn't want any trouble with anybody. So I just
stuck to my and I minded my own business. I
went to my classes, I made good grades. And you know,
at that point I had an interesting dynamic with my father.
It was very masculine. He believes the boys where blue,
girls were pink. And then there's me, his first son,
(13:15):
and it just it was very hard with us to
understand one another. But I I luked out because I
had a mother, a father, and uncle all rolled into one.
And that was my grandnie, Miss mary Anne, and she
moved me in and the older I got, and you know,
I could be my authentic self with her and with
(13:37):
Miss mary Anne, Miss mary Anne my granny, Oh my gosh.
And she was fabulous and she's the definition of a
fierce Southern woman. I mean the hair was always quaffed
and nails were done, and she always had a ruge on.
And we went to we would go to Sunday school
at the West Mesquite Baptist Church every Sunday. I loved it.
I I those are some of my fondest men is.
(14:00):
As a child, I remember my grandmother taking me to
my very first jazz class, and so I'm very fortunate.
It's a blessing that I had a granny. You know
that was you just squirrel friends. You can't see this,
but as she's talking about Granny, you literally lit up
like a light bulb. That's your love for her. Truly
(14:20):
the breakout star of my life and my hero. And
you know, I remember, like I said, with the four sisters,
they polished their nails. I wanted to polish mine, and
my dad wasn't having no part of it, but my
granny was, so I could polish your nails. But nonetheless,
Mesquite just really is the quintessential Texas small town, Okay.
(14:42):
And this was at a time, you know, before we
had a handheld remote to the world, before we had
people like myself on television, and I just slid by
and I did the very best that I could do.
I didn't want to be noticed. So when this all
came about for me to go on drag race and
(15:03):
now the whole world is gonna know that I do
drag I remember my grandmother given me the courage to
stand up and be a leader and be the trend
setter and be that person that said, don't you're not
You're not justin. You were not born to blend in.
You were born to stand out, and that's your gift.
(15:24):
And so I'll never forget. I walked into the studio
the season five promo dropped and it was quite all
the parents are sitting in the lobby and my dance
school beyond belief, and I walked in and I said, well,
hello everyone, and everyone just kind of shook their heads like, well,
you see, I mean the mosquito was all in the mosquito, right,
(15:47):
I mean, mind you. I had had a dance company
on America's Got Talent in the Top two years before that,
so oh yeah, they're on the YouTube, yes, And then
well I had, I just had. You know, my little
kids were on it this last season, but go back
(16:07):
to season three, my studio was on there with my
older kids, and I remember I remember when they asked me, justin,
can we get you coaching the kids? I said, I
don't want to be on TV. I'm too nervous and
I'm gonna mess this up. Yeah, and so um the parents,
that feedback was overwhelming with yes, I want to. Oh,
(16:33):
I got The emails just started coming in and I
remember sitting at my desk. I was so emotional and
I got a parent email from one of the fathers
and he was like, justin, I want you to know
that I'm so very thankful and grateful that my daughters
get to study under someone that is so gifted and
so talented. And I just I remember this like it
(16:54):
was yesterday, and I I sat there going, how did
this happen to me? And I remember my grandmother saying like, look,
you were destined for this life that you don't even know.
And I I just I was so grateful. And so
that's a blessing. That's a blessing. I like that, you
(17:16):
know what, Mesquite accepted me and not only did they
accept me, but at this point in my life, they
began to celebrate me. And and that's the wind. That
is the wind. And then we watched it all on
TV and giggle, yeah, the win. And that's what when
we talk to our squirrel friends and we're talking to
Alyssa Edwards about growing up Mesquite, growing up wanting to
(17:40):
be that person, is finding that person. At least that
one person makes a difference, is somebody in your family
or maybe a friend or someone so that would really
really help. So you've gone from the small town of
Texas to traveling the world and how is the tour,
Elyssa Edwards the life love and lash. I mean, like
(18:05):
she said, what you've been Well, it started on the
West End. I got this call the West End was like,
we want, we want to share your life story live
and once again overwhelmed. I remember the producer was like
a founder story, so inspirational, and I kept my studio.
I got asked once in an interview, why did you
keep your studio You could have moved to Los Angeles,
(18:26):
you know, anywhere, And I said, because there were other
little Justin's like me in the scheme and this is
the home is where the heart is, and so for me,
it's always been that. And so when this producer saw that,
was like, I have to create this story live. And
I did a small run on the West End. Loved it.
Like I said, never in a million years did I
see this in my forecast. What is an audience in
(18:49):
the West End for the Alyssa Edwards show? Gosh, well,
overwhelming because it was a little bit of everything. I
remember I on opening night, I met a father that
was there that was gift did this ticket from his
wife and family for Christmas. It was that it was
this man and I thought, and he he comes to
greet me and he's like, thank you so very much,
(19:10):
and he's like, this is my wife, these are my daughters.
And I'm sitting here in my mind going, gosh, you know,
I love with RuPaul. At every finale, before he crowned someone,
he holds up a photo and says, what would you
tell little justin? You know, yes, because it was those
It's those moments that I would guess. I would say
(19:31):
you just wait this chapter thirty two, and um, the
man was so nice. He said, I watched your Netflix
docuseries Dancing Queen, and he goes, my daughter's my children,
they don't dance. But I don't know if I watched
it for the dancing as much as I found this
story within you that inspired me as a heterosexual man,
(19:57):
and so his whole family was there to see my
life storyline. Those are the moments that matter. I mean,
it's the it's the thing of like you know, Lonnie
and I talked about this a lot because we are
we are people who grew up mothered, you know, from
modest beginnings to like these mainstream entertainments of TV and film,
and when you grow up feeling different, there's not a
(20:18):
part of you as a kid that thinks I'm gonna
make it being this person. Like you said, you didn't
want to be noticed, you didn't want to you know,
you grow up and then you you find And that's
why I say people are enchanted by the truth. When
you are brave enough to share your authentic self and
the fact that this heterosexual father after the show comes
(20:40):
up to talk to you. I think that truth and
loving who you genuinely are, that's what crosses borders. That's
what brings people together. And because of that, you're so
important in Texas right now. What is your reaction and
what is the general feeling in Texas against all these
because I'm hosting the Family Equality Dinner fundraiser this weekend
and one of the things we're addressing are the anti
(21:01):
lgbt Q bills that are happening in Texas, and one
of them, specifically A dresses drag queens and kids. I
want to, well, I want to I want to finish
answering one question you asked. Literally, I go with my
life like the last this tour I just want to
tell you I did fifty three cities on the solo
tour and I'm picking it back up in May. I'm
(21:24):
going all over Europe. But it was a span from
here to Australia, North America, Canada, everywhere. And it truly
was a pivotal moment in my life because then I
started to realize my influence and my power and with
being a Texan. Gosh, I've always been so proud to
say that this is home for me, and the stars
(21:46):
at neither are big and bright, but I felt like
there was a dim. There was a dim and um,
the older, I don't want to say older, are the
more seasoned I found myself. I realized the power is
within me sharing And I'll tell you I've got another
interview request. And the interviewer says, if we're going to
talk about dragon children, you're the person to speak to
(22:10):
in Texas teaching children since you were seventeen years young.
And you know you are a drag performer, a household name,
and someone that's been a part of the Texas drag
history for quite some time now. But I would say
when I found out about this, I made a tweet
(22:32):
and the tweet wind viral and I want to read
the tweet actually because it's really um this this, this
really affected me. This really affected me because everyone at
my studio, they celebrate the magic of drag, the power
of drag, and I share that. I share that with them. Yeah,
(22:53):
I mean it's legislation. Just seems like a personal attack,
you know, because you're so great with the kids. It
was what wasn't it still is? And I wrote my thoughts,
and this was on June seven. I wrote my thoughts.
Number one, our god is a god of love. Number two,
parents are a child's first and most important teacher and
role model. Number three dragons and art form, which is subjective.
(23:17):
And number four, you, sir, have tweeted more about hashtag
drag than the loss at hashtag Vivaldi. Is this truly
about children or about politics? And what are your priorities?
Because for me, at the end of the day, when
I read this Brian Slatin, his bill he proposed, I thought,
(23:41):
this is unfortunate that so many children, just probably two
weeks before this, um, we have lost their lives. We're
seeing these stories, you know, of the families morning and
and this is what we're talking about. What we're talking
can give out the probably what percentage of children are
(24:03):
actually going to distract shows you know to go to school. Yeah,
you just said it. That's exactly what it was. And
I'll tell you, I feel like there's so many thoughts
that I have in my head that we're being judged,
we're being placed in a box, the stereotype, and I
(24:25):
had to find myself going, you don't. I love when
Michelle Obama once said, you know when they go low,
we go hi. That I live by that. Okay, But
then there's a part of this like, no, we need
to go lower at this point, okay, because enough is
enough with this. But you know, sometimes the way that
you just you beat these people at their own fighting
(24:46):
argument is you just you have to um Like Jennifer
Lewis says, we gotta get in the streets, just get
to the polls. We can't do this, no more online,
we can't do We just got to get to the polls.
I mean, we're time and place where these old men
with these old values they gotta go. And the crazy
(25:07):
thing is they'll get on here and say they're Christians,
and I just you're now hiding behind a religion right right,
it's it's transparent at this point. I mean, it's just
it's just transparent. I loved hearing your thoughts on this, Lonnie,
and I want to hear because we asked people this.
We know how hard all of you work and your
tour and everything. What was your shifting gears here? What
(25:31):
was your favorite city on this amazing tour of yours?
Oh my gosh, what blew you away? Opening night in Dallas?
Because I never I never get to do much here.
I do a lot of charity work here. Opening night
in Dallas, House of Blues, over sold Love in the room,
seeing seeing family friends. My dance kiddos were in the
(25:53):
opening number with me, sharing the stage with them. All
of their families were there. I remember as I got
on the bus, I was like starting to write in
my journal because I like, this is gonna be a
book one day. I thought, talk about a dream come
true like this all happened for me Alec and Launa
(26:14):
so quickly. I went on drag race at thirty two.
I'm forty two now. In ten years, in ten years,
my whole world change. You know, I never worked on
a drag cast. I wasn't on the cabaret cast. I
did drag for fun because it was my way of
being like this Superman Clark can't like Batman, wonder Woman.
(26:36):
And it also gave me a chance to get on stage.
Like I said, I wanted to create the dances and
celebrate others. So he was getting my kicks, you know,
of performing. I never thought it would be anything more
than that. I never thought that I would be sitting
here now talking about the opportunities that I shared. But
you know, LISTA, I get the feeling that you feel
like it's still It's like it's unbelievable to you. How
(27:00):
is that feeling? I mean, where is that feeling coming from?
I feel like it was it was never gonna happen,
or no one would accept you. What is that feeling?
I think a little bit of everything. I never I
just if somebody would have said, justin what do you
think you'll be when you grow up? I would a
dance teacher. And then when I opened the studio, I thought,
this is it. You did it, you made it, Okay,
(27:21):
fother it myself, and I thought, I'm gonna live happily
ever after, and I'm going to invest my time in
my work in my choreography, and then it was like, oh,
wait a minute, there's a whole that you don't even
know about. My gosh, it just like the next thing
I know, Netflix is filming this docu series about me
(27:43):
in my life and my dance school, and in a
very short amount of time, it sounds like it sounds
out of a canon. This is what I wondered was
watching you. How do you run your dance studio and
be Alessa Edwards at the same time, like, how do
you hit the road? Who's my sending the store? And
teach many I am a man that wears many hats,
(28:04):
a man that wears many hats right now, and I
think I've become a professional juggler because I'll tell you,
I think sometimes you know, you get what you put out,
you get back. And I have an amazing faculty. I
have a faculty that believes in the dream of beyond belief.
(28:27):
They understand the foundation that it was built upon, and
they are just beautiful humans. And so when I'm gone,
I have very trustworthy people that help. But let me
tell you, there are many times I'm in that tour
bus on you know, a zoom, teaching a little kid.
You know choreography, and I think there was you know,
(28:49):
at the beginning, it was trying because like I would
hear parents say, we come to the studio for you,
for your expertise, and and I was like, there were
many nights. Okay, there's one of you, but we want
to explore this other side, this Alssa Edwards character. And
here's the thing into the tour. I got home the
next day, I'm at the studio and I love it.
(29:12):
I love I love it. The kids get out of
school at three o'clock, they're at the studio. I'm there.
You know, I woke up today, I got my I
still got my workout, you know, to top on. I'm
if I'm not there, I am building choreography. It's a
blessing because you know, here's the thing. I'm living the dream.
(29:33):
I'm doing things that I love, that I love so
I never feel out like that I'm working. In fact,
my next tour competition ends on a Saturday. I fled
to London on Sunday morning and I wouldn't have it
any other way. That's unbelievable. I mean, you're definitely sound
like you you're giving me the eldest kid energy like
(29:54):
I'm in charge. Everybody listened to me. So we're actually
nearing the end of fabulous interview. It's been so great
talking to you. Inspiration, inspirational. My takeaway from this is
that every kid, every person on the planet, no matter
who you are, needs that one person in their lives,
whether they're young or old, who looks at the essence
of them and says, I love you just the way
(30:16):
you are, and you matter and you're valuable. And what
I love about your journey is how much you share
that with everybody else. So I think the question on
all our squirrel friends minds right now is when Rihanna
does the Super Bowl, are you gonna be next to
her during shut up? And I tweated her I've treated
her and I tweeted, I tweated hashtag clothes mouths don't
get fed. Okay, I'm putting it in the universe. I'm
(30:39):
manifesting it. And I told Rihanna, look, if you need
some queens to help carry on shut up and drive legacy,
but we got you cover Tatiana already. Okay, you know
she's seen it. She's seen it. She did know Brihanna
has seen it. Do you know if she's seen your
shut up until that, I don't know, but she is
a fan, so I mean, I'm sure she loves drag
(31:01):
and she celebrates she. I mean, we'll talk about being inclusive.
I mean, if anybody were to do it, it would
be Rihanna. Well, you know, let's give Rihanna's social media
info just in case you Yeah, when people when people
want to follow you, where can Squirrel Friends find you
on your socials? Alyssa Edwards underscore one on Instagram and Twitter,
(31:26):
and um, I'm still trying to get into the TikTok.
I know, I'm so you you guys want to listen
to this. I started when I got on Drag Race.
I remember after the season by they were like giving
us information. They're like, oh, you get on social media.
I didn't even have an Instagram. Roxy Andrews made my
Instagram show. She was like, listen, you have to have
(31:50):
I said, girl, don't about Tom for that. I gotta
go teach a jazz class. Oh you know we are
we here at Squirrel Friends, Annie and I and every
of your our listeners. We are fans of you professionally,
personally and just spending time with you today. It's clear
why you are weere you are and why you know
(32:11):
you bring a percent of yourself. And thank you for
all you do. Thank you, children to the art for
being you a Lissa Edwards. We love you so much,
and thank you for being my drug mom a pleasure,
and truly thank you guys for all the positivity that
you'll bring into the world and all the happiness. I
just I think we need we need more people like
(32:32):
you all. So thank you for having me today. Thank you,
Thank you well as We'll talk to you soon. Okay,
by you, guys. I love you you too much. Love
oh Lonnie. That was an inspirational conversation. Like I said,
(32:55):
I met a listen and I was able to get
close to her when I was doing celeb Drag Race
and just a wonderful, warm human being, and I could
understand the teaching. You know, she just wants to inspire
and teach and was very methodical and making sure we
had steps and things like that, and so you know,
(33:17):
I'm not surprised by hearing everything that she's doing working
with children, because basically, with me and Drag, I become
a child. So but I love the story about the
granny and you know as girl friends. If there's somebody
you love in your life right now, somebody is specialty,
whether it's a child or a spouse, or a sibling
(33:37):
or cousin, and you care about them. Tell them today.
And also you never get over the fact that, like
I'm sort of like Alyssa in a way where I
can't believe I'm doing this. I can't believe that I'm
doing a movie, or I can't believe that I'm working
with an aleg Mapa, somebody I saw in high in
(33:59):
college and high school with college on television. It's just
you never know where your life will take you, whether
you're in performing arts or not. You can, you know,
try to start your own business. You don't know where
it's going to take you unless you really put your
all in it and you just do what you love.
And I think that that was the message I got
from a lista today. Do what you love and be
(34:20):
your genuine self. So remember to show our queens love
on social media. Where can people show their love to
Lonnie Love on social media? Please show me love on
Twitter Atnie Love l O and I l O v
E on Instagram, at comic Lonnie Love on Instagram and
I'm also on TikTok at Lonnie Love seven. I have
(34:41):
a lot of fun videos. I'm starting to you know
what about you. You can find me at Alec Mapa
on Instagram and Twitter, and I'm pleased to report that
since we've been doing school Friends, I have gained four
thousand followers. Look at you. Thank you everybody. I'm not
quite at one million yet like Lonnie Love, but I'm
grateful everybody follow one point seven. You can listen to
(35:06):
his girl Friends, the official Rufpol's Drag Race podcast on
the Heart Radio app one point seven or wherever you
get your podcasts. Like this episode, I need to get
to two million. Make sure to rate and view us
five stars. Please and tell a friend, Please tell a friend.
You're gonna be a two billion by the time this
air is. You can catch up on past episodes of
(35:27):
Rufold's Drag Race and All Stars on Paramount Plus. You
have a great week, Alec, I'll see you soon, you too,
see you see it b Bye.
Hello, Hello, Hello, and welcome back to another episode of
Squirrel Friends, the Official RuPaul's Drag Race Podcast. I said
it perfectly, sure, I'm believable. I'm Alex Mapa and it
is my only job to introduce you to the Queen
of show business, Lonnie Love. Hello, Evan, how are you?
You know? It's been a weary We've lost some stars recently.
(00:28):
I was looking on the social media's and Robbie Coltrane,
who played Hagrid in the Harry Potter films, passed away.
Angela Lansbury, you know, Mrs Potts from Beauty and the
Beast passed away, all these great careers, and it just
makes me think, is entertainers. You know, when these people
pass away, that's their legacy. You know, the performances that
(00:48):
we've given will go on after us. And it's kind
of like all the people who are posting how much
they appreciated who they are is kind of like, huh.
It's just just made me think about that about what
we do. Yeah, definitely, and it's definitely important to highlight
them and to be grateful for their art and all
(01:10):
art form is great, and I'm glad that you and
I get to be in this type of space. We
are so fortunate. You know, how how long ago? What
did you do? Soul playing ten years ago? When it's on,
do you watch it and like think about who you
were when you were doing it? You know? What I
am really grateful for is when fans send me clips
(01:32):
and then and they remind me because you know, I've done.
I've done about fifteen films. And it's funny when when
like especially the new the new generation, they find clips
of me and they send it to me. I said,
that funny because you think because when you wrap a film,
you're like, I'm done, this is over. My time with
us is done forever, but the longer movie is out.
(01:53):
I always feel like the audience is that treasure, that
kind of entertainment or treasure that performance find it, will
find it and really kind of like keep it alive
and everything. So what kind of clips are people sending you?
They love the clips of me and so playing with
me and Monique. They loved the clip of when I
was in Paul Blart with me and Kevin James. And
(02:14):
that's why I love doing comedies. I just want to
do comedies to make people laugh, to make people escape
or you know what we do, like you know with
the talk show where we're promoting and we're uplifting other
people and just like what we're gonna do today, we're
gonna talk to my drank mom. Listen Ewards. I'm such
(02:35):
a huge fan of hers and she is a great conversationalist.
This is a person you do not have to encourage
to be interesting. And and we're such super fans of
drag Race. We watch every season and there's always one
queen like Alyssa. Edwards was the one who proved that
you don't have the win the show to win, like
she did not win, but it did not make her
(02:57):
any less of a star. She's come back. We're gonna
see what she has to say. Because squirrel friends, we
have to take quick break to practice tongue. Can you
do it? Can you do it? No? You have to show. Okay, Okay,
here we go. I can't do it very long. That's pathetic.
That was terrible. Sound Can you do it? It doesn't
(03:17):
sound like a tongue. That doesn't Okay, let's hear yours.
We'll be right back. Thank god, we have a Lissa
Edwards with us. We'll be right back. We have got
(03:38):
a treat for youth squirl friends. You know her from
her time on Drag Race Season five and All Stars too.
Since then, she's been a dancing queen all over the world.
But today she is here to get up in this podcast.
Gig Girl, please welcome to the program the legendary All
Listen Edwards. Hey, how all my squirrel friends out there? Okay,
(04:04):
I am doing everything I can to hold it together
right now because one thing, you don't know how many
times when I'm on the road and I'm on a
gig or I can't sleep that I go to YouTube
and I watch you lip sync, shut up and drive.
I think I hold the world record that lives rent
(04:25):
free in my head as the most spectacular lip sync
that's ever been done on the show. Thank you, thank you.
That absolutely definitely is one of my most memorable moments.
And you know where the funny is. That was not
planned by the way, everyone you know always asked, did
you talk Toiana like coordinate that? Not at all. I
(04:46):
mean we were in it to win it, like I
like to say, like old school Drag Race, I mean
especially All Stars to which was like the very first
season that rennounced we would all be voting each other
off the island out the work work, right. We were
like mega competitive, right. So it was one of those
moments where it was like, Okay, this is it. And
(05:09):
I remember looking over to her right before we walked on.
Actually it was it was the first time we made
eye contact and I could see it in her eyes
and she seen it in said girl, it's showed time.
And I mean and it was go time for real.
Because when we walked out the outfits, everything it made sense.
I mean, that is gosh, it's such a monumental drag
(05:33):
race moment, legendary, legendary. I always I've always loved the
point where you point at the day beginning and then
you look through the thing. I just obsessed. All right,
you were Monnie's drag mom. I want to hear about
and how that went well. I had so much fun
on Celebrity Drag Race when this whole concept and ideal
(05:57):
came about, and I remember World of Wonder the spokes
to giving me a call and asking me what I
thought and would I be interested in being a part.
I jumped right on it because I feel like I
love performing, expressing myself. I got into drag because you know,
I knew at sixteen I would be a choreographer, a teacher.
(06:17):
That would be the route that I would take. I
wanted to be the Steven Spielberg behind the scenes, like
creating all this magic and truly, Alec and Lonnie, I
never in a million years pictured myself to be center stage.
I thought that I just would always be the costume designer,
the set designer, the choreographer, writing these magical stories for
(06:38):
my dancers. You're a producer, sounds yes. And so when
when when I got this call and I was like, oh,
this is perfect. I already had, you know, two attempts,
um I lost twice. Maybe let's go around, you know,
as a coach, this would be like my calling and
it was. It was so much fun. It was so
much fun to see other people getting to experience all
(07:02):
of the magic that drag offered me. It was such
it was such a beautiful experience. I just want to
say that you were a great drag mentor a great
drag mom, because there are certain things as celebrities we
come in we don't know what to do, we don't
know how to handle ourselves. Of course, during that season,
Alec we had wonderful Tammy Roman. Tammy didn't know nothing
(07:25):
about drag, but when we have Vanessa Williams who knew it. Yeah,
Alyssa gave us the inside school. So she made sure
we knew certain things to do, from our makeup, from
our walk, from helping us choose the outfite. So I
just want to say I haven't been able to tell
you just thank you, thank you, thank you so much
(07:45):
for that. And with that said, you did so great
on All Stars, would you go back to maybe considering
doing another All Stars? Absolutely? I mean I'm a competitor
at heart. And I'll tell you I remember watching myself
on Telebate shown up my good girlfriend's house in Porny, Texas,
and I found myself giggling as I'm looking at the TV,
(08:06):
and I'm like, girl, is that really me? And she
said justin I've known you, said she were sixteen years old.
That is you every day, that is you, that is you,
and we all love it. And I said, I can't
believe that I was brave enough to do that, and
she was like, you know, I remember her just looking
at me giggling, And fast forward to All Stars too,
(08:26):
and she's like you didn't even realize your own magic
and power. And I'll tell you that experience made me
so proud because I told myself before I went in,
I was like, look, okay, I know that we want
to win the crown. And um, it's been It's been
my ultimate dream. As you could see, Miss u s a,
Miss America, Miss All American. God is the key to
(08:47):
the girlfriends. You can't see this, you can't see this
right now, but Alyssa Edwards is zooming with us from
a dressing room that is filled with her drag. It
looks like the pat Field closet from in the city,
like unbelievable. Oh my god, it looks like like a
pinball or sheet. It's so colorful. It is gay, yes
(09:10):
it is. And I'll tell you I loved pageantry. I
remember watching it with I have four sisters, and you
know my mother and grandmother was you know, pageantry is
big hid the South here and I got into pageantry
and really I just embodied the idea of the competition spirit.
And so it's always been my ultimate dream to have
(09:32):
that moment of roupe hole put that crown on my head.
I absolutely think that I would do it again. Because,
like I said, all starts to right. Before I walked
in the workroom, I said a little silent prayer. I said,
do you hea, my father, please be a lamp onto
my feet and a lot into my path. And I
right before I went in, I said, and don't forget
be gay as fun and I have good time. I
(09:55):
got that's gonna be my catchphrase, have a good time.
And I walked in and had so much fun. I
was talking to Lonnie earlier and I said that everybody
has a built in bullshit meter, and you brought your
his fuck. You brought your authentic self into the room.
And I've been to several drag cons and I see
all the lines, and there was something about you specifically
(10:19):
that captured the imagination of the drag race fan base.
The lines for you were the longest. And then I
was spying on you. You made eye contact with people,
You made sure everybody had a moment. I've watched you
on other media. I love how much you take care
of your family. I love what a great mentor and
(10:41):
teacher that you are to kids. Because we're gonna talk
about that in a bit. Because Texas is in the
middle of the whole thing right now where they're saying
drag queens are bad for kids, and I know that
you're an amazing dance teacher. Where does that nurturing part
of you come from? Have you always been like that?
I think I always have. You know, my father seven,
my mom has five. I'm the oldest. I've always been
(11:02):
the big brother. I've always been the one that was
yes and and honestly, like for as long as I
can remember, if like me and my siblings be played school,
I was the principal, you know. I was always in
that leadership role. And I think I was born with that.
I mean, that's why I'm very proud to say that
I'm celebrating twenty years of owning my dance school and
(11:24):
here in Texas and I'll tell you in Mesquite, Texas.
I was very nervous when all of this came about
when because I really am the real life Hannah Montana
of the Sky. Because nobody knew that after my jazz
classes at ten PM, I would be getting into this costume,
creating this larger than life character. Until the season five
(11:47):
promo came out, I was scared to death. I thought,
what are the people going to say? Am I going
to be judged. I don't know anything about Mesquite, Texas.
I've been to Paris, Texas as home of the rodeo,
and it's home of the barbecue, and now a to Edwards. Yeah,
but my question is, was it hard to grow up
as a Lissa Edwards in Mesquite, Texas? What's it like
(12:09):
for LGBTQ people there. I went to Westmisque High School,
home of the Fighting Wranglers, So we'll start there. Yeah.
That lets you know right there, right, Lonnie, That lets
you know right there. So I will say though I
had it not nearly as bad because I made a
promise to myself. I was always I know this is
gonna be hard to believe, but I was a shy,
introverted little kid. And but no, because it was like,
(12:32):
as queer kids, we grow up in our imagination because
the world is so hard on us that we kind
of like grow up seeing all the colors in our hand,
all the glitter in our head. It's an inner journey
that grows out absolutely and you know, well, no, that
is absolutely correct. And we also we come to reality
with who we are. And I realized very quickly, Okay,
(12:54):
there's really no one else like me. So here's the thing.
I didn't want any trouble with anybody. So I just
stuck to my and I minded my own business. I
went to my classes, I made good grades. And you know,
at that point I had an interesting dynamic with my father.
It was very masculine. He believes the boys where blue,
girls were pink. And then there's me, his first son,
(13:15):
and it just it was very hard with us to
understand one another. But I I luked out because I
had a mother, a father, and uncle all rolled into one.
And that was my grandnie, Miss mary Anne, and she
moved me in and the older I got, and you know,
I could be my authentic self with her and with
(13:37):
Miss mary Anne, Miss mary Anne my granny, Oh my gosh.
And she was fabulous and she's the definition of a
fierce Southern woman. I mean the hair was always quaffed
and nails were done, and she always had a ruge on.
And we went to we would go to Sunday school
at the West Mesquite Baptist Church every Sunday. I loved it.
I I those are some of my fondest men is.
(14:00):
As a child, I remember my grandmother taking me to
my very first jazz class, and so I'm very fortunate.
It's a blessing that I had a granny. You know
that was you just squirrel friends. You can't see this,
but as she's talking about Granny, you literally lit up
like a light bulb. That's your love for her. Truly
(14:20):
the breakout star of my life and my hero. And
you know, I remember, like I said, with the four sisters,
they polished their nails. I wanted to polish mine, and
my dad wasn't having no part of it, but my
granny was, so I could polish your nails. But nonetheless,
Mesquite just really is the quintessential Texas small town, Okay.
(14:42):
And this was at a time, you know, before we
had a handheld remote to the world, before we had
people like myself on television, and I just slid by
and I did the very best that I could do.
I didn't want to be noticed. So when this all
came about for me to go on drag race and
(15:03):
now the whole world is gonna know that I do
drag I remember my grandmother given me the courage to
stand up and be a leader and be the trend
setter and be that person that said, don't you're not
You're not justin. You were not born to blend in.
You were born to stand out, and that's your gift.
(15:24):
And so I'll never forget. I walked into the studio
the season five promo dropped and it was quite all
the parents are sitting in the lobby and my dance
school beyond belief, and I walked in and I said, well,
hello everyone, and everyone just kind of shook their heads like, well,
you see, I mean the mosquito was all in the mosquito, right,
(15:47):
I mean, mind you. I had had a dance company
on America's Got Talent in the Top two years before that,
so oh yeah, they're on the YouTube, yes, And then
well I had, I just had. You know, my little
kids were on it this last season, but go back
(16:07):
to season three, my studio was on there with my
older kids, and I remember I remember when they asked me, justin,
can we get you coaching the kids? I said, I
don't want to be on TV. I'm too nervous and
I'm gonna mess this up. Yeah, and so um the parents,
that feedback was overwhelming with yes, I want to. Oh,
(16:33):
I got The emails just started coming in and I
remember sitting at my desk. I was so emotional and
I got a parent email from one of the fathers
and he was like, justin, I want you to know
that I'm so very thankful and grateful that my daughters
get to study under someone that is so gifted and
so talented. And I just I remember this like it
(16:54):
was yesterday, and I I sat there going, how did
this happen to me? And I remember my grandmother saying like, look,
you were destined for this life that you don't even know.
And I I just I was so grateful. And so
that's a blessing. That's a blessing. I like that, you
(17:16):
know what, Mesquite accepted me and not only did they
accept me, but at this point in my life, they
began to celebrate me. And and that's the wind. That
is the wind. And then we watched it all on
TV and giggle, yeah, the win. And that's what when
we talk to our squirrel friends and we're talking to
Alyssa Edwards about growing up Mesquite, growing up wanting to
(17:40):
be that person, is finding that person. At least that
one person makes a difference, is somebody in your family
or maybe a friend or someone so that would really
really help. So you've gone from the small town of
Texas to traveling the world and how is the tour,
Elyssa Edwards the life love and lash. I mean, like
(18:05):
she said, what you've been Well, it started on the
West End. I got this call the West End was like,
we want, we want to share your life story live
and once again overwhelmed. I remember the producer was like
a founder story, so inspirational, and I kept my studio.
I got asked once in an interview, why did you
keep your studio You could have moved to Los Angeles,
(18:26):
you know, anywhere, And I said, because there were other
little Justin's like me in the scheme and this is
the home is where the heart is, and so for me,
it's always been that. And so when this producer saw that,
was like, I have to create this story live. And
I did a small run on the West End. Loved it.
Like I said, never in a million years did I
see this in my forecast. What is an audience in
(18:49):
the West End for the Alyssa Edwards show? Gosh, well,
overwhelming because it was a little bit of everything. I
remember I on opening night, I met a father that
was there that was gift did this ticket from his
wife and family for Christmas. It was that it was
this man and I thought, and he he comes to
greet me and he's like, thank you so very much,
(19:10):
and he's like, this is my wife, these are my daughters.
And I'm sitting here in my mind going, gosh, you know,
I love with RuPaul. At every finale, before he crowned someone,
he holds up a photo and says, what would you
tell little justin? You know, yes, because it was those
It's those moments that I would guess. I would say
(19:31):
you just wait this chapter thirty two, and um, the
man was so nice. He said, I watched your Netflix
docuseries Dancing Queen, and he goes, my daughter's my children,
they don't dance. But I don't know if I watched
it for the dancing as much as I found this
story within you that inspired me as a heterosexual man,
(19:57):
and so his whole family was there to see my
life storyline. Those are the moments that matter. I mean,
it's the it's the thing of like you know, Lonnie
and I talked about this a lot because we are
we are people who grew up mothered, you know, from
modest beginnings to like these mainstream entertainments of TV and film,
and when you grow up feeling different, there's not a
(20:18):
part of you as a kid that thinks I'm gonna
make it being this person. Like you said, you didn't
want to be noticed, you didn't want to you know,
you grow up and then you you find And that's
why I say people are enchanted by the truth. When
you are brave enough to share your authentic self and
the fact that this heterosexual father after the show comes
(20:40):
up to talk to you. I think that truth and
loving who you genuinely are, that's what crosses borders. That's
what brings people together. And because of that, you're so
important in Texas right now. What is your reaction and
what is the general feeling in Texas against all these
because I'm hosting the Family Equality Dinner fundraiser this weekend
and one of the things we're addressing are the anti
(21:01):
lgbt Q bills that are happening in Texas, and one
of them, specifically A dresses drag queens and kids. I
want to, well, I want to I want to finish
answering one question you asked. Literally, I go with my
life like the last this tour I just want to
tell you I did fifty three cities on the solo
tour and I'm picking it back up in May. I'm
(21:24):
going all over Europe. But it was a span from
here to Australia, North America, Canada, everywhere. And it truly
was a pivotal moment in my life because then I
started to realize my influence and my power and with
being a Texan. Gosh, I've always been so proud to
say that this is home for me, and the stars
(21:46):
at neither are big and bright, but I felt like
there was a dim. There was a dim and um,
the older, I don't want to say older, are the
more seasoned I found myself. I realized the power is
within me sharing And I'll tell you I've got another
interview request. And the interviewer says, if we're going to
talk about dragon children, you're the person to speak to
(22:10):
in Texas teaching children since you were seventeen years young.
And you know you are a drag performer, a household name,
and someone that's been a part of the Texas drag
history for quite some time now. But I would say
when I found out about this, I made a tweet
(22:32):
and the tweet wind viral and I want to read
the tweet actually because it's really um this this, this
really affected me. This really affected me because everyone at
my studio, they celebrate the magic of drag, the power
of drag, and I share that. I share that with them. Yeah,
(22:53):
I mean it's legislation. Just seems like a personal attack,
you know, because you're so great with the kids. It
was what wasn't it still is? And I wrote my thoughts,
and this was on June seven. I wrote my thoughts.
Number one, our god is a god of love. Number two,
parents are a child's first and most important teacher and
role model. Number three dragons and art form, which is subjective.
(23:17):
And number four, you, sir, have tweeted more about hashtag
drag than the loss at hashtag Vivaldi. Is this truly
about children or about politics? And what are your priorities?
Because for me, at the end of the day, when
I read this Brian Slatin, his bill he proposed, I thought,
(23:41):
this is unfortunate that so many children, just probably two
weeks before this, um, we have lost their lives. We're
seeing these stories, you know, of the families morning and
and this is what we're talking about. What we're talking
can give out the probably what percentage of children are
(24:03):
actually going to distract shows you know to go to school. Yeah,
you just said it. That's exactly what it was. And
I'll tell you, I feel like there's so many thoughts
that I have in my head that we're being judged,
we're being placed in a box, the stereotype, and I
(24:25):
had to find myself going, you don't. I love when
Michelle Obama once said, you know when they go low,
we go hi. That I live by that. Okay, But
then there's a part of this like, no, we need
to go lower at this point, okay, because enough is
enough with this. But you know, sometimes the way that
you just you beat these people at their own fighting
(24:46):
argument is you just you have to um Like Jennifer
Lewis says, we gotta get in the streets, just get
to the polls. We can't do this, no more online,
we can't do We just got to get to the polls.
I mean, we're time and place where these old men
with these old values they gotta go. And the crazy
(25:07):
thing is they'll get on here and say they're Christians,
and I just you're now hiding behind a religion right right,
it's it's transparent at this point. I mean, it's just
it's just transparent. I loved hearing your thoughts on this, Lonnie,
and I want to hear because we asked people this.
We know how hard all of you work and your
tour and everything. What was your shifting gears here? What
(25:31):
was your favorite city on this amazing tour of yours?
Oh my gosh, what blew you away? Opening night in Dallas?
Because I never I never get to do much here.
I do a lot of charity work here. Opening night
in Dallas, House of Blues, over sold Love in the room,
seeing seeing family friends. My dance kiddos were in the
(25:53):
opening number with me, sharing the stage with them. All
of their families were there. I remember as I got
on the bus, I was like starting to write in
my journal because I like, this is gonna be a
book one day. I thought, talk about a dream come
true like this all happened for me Alec and Launa
(26:14):
so quickly. I went on drag race at thirty two.
I'm forty two now. In ten years, in ten years,
my whole world change. You know, I never worked on
a drag cast. I wasn't on the cabaret cast. I
did drag for fun because it was my way of
being like this Superman Clark can't like Batman, wonder Woman.
(26:36):
And it also gave me a chance to get on stage.
Like I said, I wanted to create the dances and
celebrate others. So he was getting my kicks, you know,
of performing. I never thought it would be anything more
than that. I never thought that I would be sitting
here now talking about the opportunities that I shared. But
you know, LISTA, I get the feeling that you feel
like it's still It's like it's unbelievable to you. How
(27:00):
is that feeling? I mean, where is that feeling coming from?
I feel like it was it was never gonna happen,
or no one would accept you. What is that feeling?
I think a little bit of everything. I never I
just if somebody would have said, justin what do you
think you'll be when you grow up? I would a
dance teacher. And then when I opened the studio, I thought,
this is it. You did it, you made it, Okay,
(27:21):
fother it myself, and I thought, I'm gonna live happily
ever after, and I'm going to invest my time in
my work in my choreography, and then it was like, oh,
wait a minute, there's a whole that you don't even
know about. My gosh, it just like the next thing
I know, Netflix is filming this docu series about me
(27:43):
in my life and my dance school, and in a
very short amount of time, it sounds like it sounds
out of a canon. This is what I wondered was
watching you. How do you run your dance studio and
be Alessa Edwards at the same time, like, how do
you hit the road? Who's my sending the store? And
teach many I am a man that wears many hats,
(28:04):
a man that wears many hats right now, and I
think I've become a professional juggler because I'll tell you,
I think sometimes you know, you get what you put out,
you get back. And I have an amazing faculty. I
have a faculty that believes in the dream of beyond belief.
(28:27):
They understand the foundation that it was built upon, and
they are just beautiful humans. And so when I'm gone,
I have very trustworthy people that help. But let me
tell you, there are many times I'm in that tour
bus on you know, a zoom, teaching a little kid.
You know choreography, and I think there was you know,
(28:49):
at the beginning, it was trying because like I would
hear parents say, we come to the studio for you,
for your expertise, and and I was like, there were
many nights. Okay, there's one of you, but we want
to explore this other side, this Alssa Edwards character. And
here's the thing into the tour. I got home the
next day, I'm at the studio and I love it.
(29:12):
I love I love it. The kids get out of
school at three o'clock, they're at the studio. I'm there.
You know, I woke up today, I got my I
still got my workout, you know, to top on. I'm
if I'm not there, I am building choreography. It's a
blessing because you know, here's the thing. I'm living the dream.
(29:33):
I'm doing things that I love, that I love so
I never feel out like that I'm working. In fact,
my next tour competition ends on a Saturday. I fled
to London on Sunday morning and I wouldn't have it
any other way. That's unbelievable. I mean, you're definitely sound
like you you're giving me the eldest kid energy like
(29:54):
I'm in charge. Everybody listened to me. So we're actually
nearing the end of fabulous interview. It's been so great
talking to you. Inspiration, inspirational. My takeaway from this is
that every kid, every person on the planet, no matter
who you are, needs that one person in their lives,
whether they're young or old, who looks at the essence
of them and says, I love you just the way
(30:16):
you are, and you matter and you're valuable. And what
I love about your journey is how much you share
that with everybody else. So I think the question on
all our squirrel friends minds right now is when Rihanna
does the Super Bowl, are you gonna be next to
her during shut up? And I tweated her I've treated
her and I tweeted, I tweated hashtag clothes mouths don't
get fed. Okay, I'm putting it in the universe. I'm
(30:39):
manifesting it. And I told Rihanna, look, if you need
some queens to help carry on shut up and drive legacy,
but we got you cover Tatiana already. Okay, you know
she's seen it. She's seen it. She did know Brihanna
has seen it. Do you know if she's seen your
shut up until that, I don't know, but she is
a fan, so I mean, I'm sure she loves drag
(31:01):
and she celebrates she. I mean, we'll talk about being inclusive.
I mean, if anybody were to do it, it would
be Rihanna. Well, you know, let's give Rihanna's social media
info just in case you Yeah, when people when people
want to follow you, where can Squirrel Friends find you
on your socials? Alyssa Edwards underscore one on Instagram and Twitter,
(31:26):
and um, I'm still trying to get into the TikTok.
I know, I'm so you you guys want to listen
to this. I started when I got on Drag Race.
I remember after the season by they were like giving
us information. They're like, oh, you get on social media.
I didn't even have an Instagram. Roxy Andrews made my
Instagram show. She was like, listen, you have to have
(31:50):
I said, girl, don't about Tom for that. I gotta
go teach a jazz class. Oh you know we are
we here at Squirrel Friends, Annie and I and every
of your our listeners. We are fans of you professionally,
personally and just spending time with you today. It's clear
why you are weere you are and why you know
(32:11):
you bring a percent of yourself. And thank you for
all you do. Thank you, children to the art for
being you a Lissa Edwards. We love you so much,
and thank you for being my drug mom a pleasure,
and truly thank you guys for all the positivity that
you'll bring into the world and all the happiness. I
just I think we need we need more people like
(32:32):
you all. So thank you for having me today. Thank you,
Thank you well as We'll talk to you soon. Okay,
by you, guys. I love you you too much. Love
oh Lonnie. That was an inspirational conversation. Like I said,
(32:55):
I met a listen and I was able to get
close to her when I was doing celeb Drag Race
and just a wonderful, warm human being, and I could
understand the teaching. You know, she just wants to inspire
and teach and was very methodical and making sure we
had steps and things like that, and so you know,
(33:17):
I'm not surprised by hearing everything that she's doing working
with children, because basically, with me and Drag, I become
a child. So but I love the story about the
granny and you know as girl friends. If there's somebody
you love in your life right now, somebody is specialty,
whether it's a child or a spouse, or a sibling
(33:37):
or cousin, and you care about them. Tell them today.
And also you never get over the fact that, like
I'm sort of like Alyssa in a way where I
can't believe I'm doing this. I can't believe that I'm
doing a movie, or I can't believe that I'm working
with an aleg Mapa, somebody I saw in high in
(33:59):
college and high school with college on television. It's just
you never know where your life will take you, whether
you're in performing arts or not. You can, you know,
try to start your own business. You don't know where
it's going to take you unless you really put your
all in it and you just do what you love.
And I think that that was the message I got
from a lista today. Do what you love and be
(34:20):
your genuine self. So remember to show our queens love
on social media. Where can people show their love to
Lonnie Love on social media? Please show me love on
Twitter Atnie Love l O and I l O v
E on Instagram, at comic Lonnie Love on Instagram and
I'm also on TikTok at Lonnie Love seven. I have
(34:41):
a lot of fun videos. I'm starting to you know
what about you. You can find me at Alec Mapa
on Instagram and Twitter, and I'm pleased to report that
since we've been doing school Friends, I have gained four
thousand followers. Look at you. Thank you everybody. I'm not
quite at one million yet like Lonnie Love, but I'm
grateful everybody follow one point seven. You can listen to
(35:06):
his girl Friends, the official Rufpol's Drag Race podcast on
the Heart Radio app one point seven or wherever you
get your podcasts. Like this episode, I need to get
to two million. Make sure to rate and view us
five stars. Please and tell a friend, Please tell a friend.
You're gonna be a two billion by the time this
air is. You can catch up on past episodes of
(35:27):
Rufold's Drag Race and All Stars on Paramount Plus. You
have a great week, Alec, I'll see you soon, you too,
see you see it b Bye.
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