With only five girls left in Season 7, this week’s mini challenge’s point was to prove that you know what the other queens are going to say, using puppets. This was a hysterical challenge and in the end the witty Ginger Minj won. For the maxi-challenge the “gurls” had to create their own runway eleganza using “Hello Kitty” items. About midway through the challenge, Ru came in and told the remaining contestants there is a surprise: they have to make a second look and turn themselves into a character that Hello Kitty would be proud to call her BFF. Violet killed the challenge and was the clear winner, and Katya and Kennedy were in the bottom two. The Russian bombshell, Katya, sashayed away. 
At what age did drag become an interest and how did you pick your name?
Three years old. Seriously, I started dressing in drag at that young age, as I was a girly boy. I would put a T-shirt on my head and pretend it was a wig. I started performing in drag when I was 22. I got my name from a composite of any old Russian women and Zamolodchikova (my last name) is the last name of a Russian gymnast. I like it because it was really long and hard to pronounce.
How many times did you apply to be on RPDR and how did it feel when you found out you got chosen?
This was my fourth time applying and I had almost given up, because my video for season six, in my humble opinion, was amazing. When I found out I got cast this season I completely freaked out. I think I actually pissed myself a bit….It was amazing.
Is there an additional pressure now that RuPaul has been on for six seasons?
I think there is more scrutiny and the challenges seem to have gotten more difficult. There is a bigger audience so you are much more under the microscope.
Tell me about your RuPaul’s Drag Race experience.
It was a mixture of joy and terror. It was extremely exhausting and very difficult, but it’s one of those things that have divided my life. Now there is life before and life after Drag Race…it’s huge for me.
Who do you want to win?
I am torn between Ginger and Violet because they both deserve it for opposite reasons and they complement each other perfectly. Ginger is so talented in acting and singing and Violet killed the runway. They are the perfect yin and yang so I would be happy if either one won!
Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you.
I let a homeless vagrant stay with me for longer than I should have.
Tell me about the man behind Katya.
Brian is a neurotic fearful spaz but he is really friendly and nice. He is a trained yoga teacher and loves Kung Foo. He is pretty shy, and doesn’t ever want to have children.
What’s ahead for Katya?
I am doing a one-woman show, and I am also going to do another web series, and of course travel the world.
For more information on Katya Z. visit her website, WeLoveKatya.com. You can also catch her on social media at facebook.com/welovekatya; Twitter or Instagram @ Katya_Zamo; tumblr/momsgoldteeth; or on youtube.com/WeLoveKatya.
