I can’t believe how fast it went, but as I am writing this, RuPaul’s Drag Race season six has now been over for eight days. As I predicted (the first time in six years I made a prediction), Bianca Del Rio won. (Her interview was in last week’s edition.) As far as I am concerned, she was the clear winner and the best contestant in all six years of Drag Race (no disrespect to the plethora of talent that came before her). Having said that, the two runners-up were extremely talented and deserved to be in the top three. I am sure we will be seeing great things from both of them in the near future. Therefore, it was a pleasure to sit down with both of them for this exclusive Hotspots Interview.
At what age did female impersonation become an interest and how did you pick your name?
Adore: I started doing drag at 14. My brother had a friend named Adore, and I fought her for the name and won. I just looked up last names online and that’s how I picked Delano.
Courtney: There were occurrences throughout my childhood, but when I turned 18 I moved to Sydney and started doing drag. My drag sister is Vanity Fai and she and I were at a restaurant and we were planning my drag premiere. Vanity picked the names Courtney and then I said “Caught in the Act” and it became Courtney Act.
How many times did you apply to be on RPDR and how did it feel when you found out you were chosen?
Adore: I applied twice and it was amazing when I found out I was chosen.
Courtney: I had applied twice, but my visa wasn’t valid for the competition. World of Wonder and Logo changed their rules and I got chosen. The whole journey has been so surreal as I used to watch the show and pick my favorites. However, the experience was so amazing.
Tell me about your RuPaul’s Drag Race experience.
Adore: It was very surreal and a rollercoaster ride for me. However, I am very happy with how it played out.
Courtney: The actual experience was so much fun. Performing and doing drag is my passion and to get to come to work every day and perform alongside such amazing and talented people was an experience of a lifetime.
If it couldn’t be you, who did you want to win?
Adore: I wanted Bianca to win as she has a heart of gold and she has paid her dues and she deserved it.
Courtney: I would have been generally happy if either Bianca or Adore would have won as they are so talented and wonderful and we are all so different.
Tell me about the man behind your character.
Adore: I think he is the same, but a bit more chill. Adore gets away with things that Danny would never do.
Courtney: He is really not too dissimilar from Courtney. Courtney is just an extension of who I am with bigger shoes and hair.
Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you.
Adore: I am a hermit. Other than traveling, I just stay home alone and eat pizza and watch TV.
Courtney: I am a vegetarian.
How hard was it to keep the secret that you were in the top three?
Adore: I didn’t know until two weeks ago, as they kept the top four until then.
Courtney: I think it wasn’t as hard as I thought as it was kind of cool having a secret.
Who from the cast are you friendly with and who are you the closest with?
Adore: I’m the closest with Ben, Bianca and Courtney, and also Trinity.
Courtney: I’m friendly with everybody, but I am the closest to Bianca and Adore, but I generally love all of them and have a special relationship with Darienne and Ben.
What’s ahead for you?
Adore: I have an album coming out on June 3 and I am traveling all over the country.
Courtney: I just released a song and video called “Mean Gays” which was a lot of fun to make and I am working on an album. I will be travelling internationally soon. I am going to Life Ball and I can’t wait. I am also doing a one-woman show called “Boys Like Me” in New York over the summer.
For more information on Adore, go to adoredelano.com, https://www.facebook.com/AdoreDelanoOfficial or Twitter at Adoredelano. For more information on Courtney, go to CourtneyAct.com or Facebook, Twitter or Instagram at CourtneyAct.
