Canada’s Drag Race
Episode 8 & 9 Lemon & Jimbo
In Episode 8, Jeffrey tells the 5 Queens that it’s time for Puppet Play, because why? Everyone loves puppets.
The girls pull out a puppet of one of their sisters, and then drag it up.
Lemon gets Priyanka
Priyanka gets Lemon
Jimbo gets Scarlet
Scarlet gets Rita
Rita gets Jimbo
In the end the winner of the mini challenge is Scarlet Bobo who wins a trip for 2 to Cuba courtesy of Air Canada vacations. Jeffrey then explains that since 2006 the Rainbow Railroad has secured 700 people freedom from persecution by bringing them to Canada. They then bring in five people who just moved to Canada from Rainbow Railroad and each of them are paired with one of the contestants. They have to make them over to be a drag family member. Since Scarlett won the mini challenge she paired the girls up.
The guest host this week is Amanda Brugel, and the runway look is “A Family Affair.” The winner is Priyanki whose prize is a donation of $10,000 to Rainbow Railroad in Priyanka’s name, which is enough to bring 1 LGBTQ person to Canada. In the end, the bottom 2 are Lemon and Rita with Lemon sashaying away.
It was a pleasure to sit down with Lemon for this exclusive Hotspots interview:
At what age did drag become an interest and how did you pick your name?
I have been dressing up since I was 2 years old, so I have always loved the fantasy of princesses and glamour. But I realized what drag was when I was 19, and I immediately took a love to it.
I kind of just said “Lemon” as a joke one day to my friends, and then immediately after I thought it was cute. It felt right as soon as I said it out loud.
How excited were you when you heard Drag Race was coming to Canada and how did you feel when you found out you were chosen?
I was so excited because I grew up in Canada, and there is so much untapped talent here. To be chosen was so exciting, but immediately I had to start planning. I was overwhelmed!
How did you prepare to go on Drag Race?
Honestly it was a lot of meditation and reminding myself to stay calm and grounded and of course getting outfits together and practicing my sewing.
How hard was it to keep the secret that you were on Canada’s Drag Race?
OMG, it’s very hard as everyone in the club was coming up and asking me.
Tell me about your Drag Race experience?
I had the best time ever, and I am so proud of how far I went and how hard I worked. I am so proud of the top 4, as they each have incredible qualities. It was so much fun to be a part of Canada’s Drag Race.
Now that you have been eliminated, is there anything you would have done different?
No, I don’t think there is anything I would have done different.
You have such a good stage presence, did that come from dance or was it natural?
I think it’s from being a dancer as I had such incredible training and teachers. It was much easier for me to handle the critiques on Drag Race, because it wasn’t something unfamiliar.
Are you still pursuing dancing, or are you just focusing on Drag?
I am doing drag full time now, but I think I would like to eventually merge the two.
What’s your marital status?
I’m so single but, I am not really looking.
What’s Ahead for Lemon?
Everything…I am going to tour the world and flip my kitty all over the place. I want to meet everyone who supported me on the show.
For more information on Lemon, follow her at: Instagram.com/Lemongivesyoulife
In Episode 9, we are down to the top 4, and Stacey comes in and tells then that in today’s mini challenge they will get screen tested. Actress Sabrina Jalees was called in to help them with the screen test, and she is casting for the role of local singer for a fictional project Sabrina is calling “O She Better Canada,” and she is looking for a scene stealer. The girls have 20 minutes to get into quick drag. The winner of the mini challenge is Rita Baga who wins a $1,000 gift certificate courtesy of Dirt Squirrel.
For the Maxi challenge, it’s a ball, The Snow Ball, where they have to present 3 looks: Executive Holiday Party Realness, Icy Walk of Shame and Ice Queen Eleganza (which they have to make from scratch).
The guest host this week is Michelle Visage and the winner, and first contestant in the finale is Scarlett BoBo, who wins a 7 day trip for 2 to beautiful Vienna courtesy of Air Canada Vacations. Priyanka is safe with Rita and Jimbo in the bottom two. After the lip synch, Jimbo Sashays away.
It was a pleasure to sit down with Jimbo for this exclusive Hotspots interview:
At what age did drag become an interest and how did you pick your name?
Growing up I was also interested in feminine, sparkly things, and when I was 5 my mom, for fun, put make up on me and I thought I was beautiful, and the love began. My dad tried to squash that, but the seed was planted. Later in life I performed as a crown and that allowed me to explore my feminine side. After that Drag was a natural.
Jim was my real first name and my dad would call me Jimbo and that’s how I got the name.
How excited were you when you heard Drag Race was coming to Canada and how did you feel when you found out you were chosen?
I was so excited when I found out it was coming to Canada, because that meant I didn’t have to move to America. Everyone told me I would be amazing on Drag Race, so when I had the opportunity to audition, I did.
I was over the moon when I found out I was chosen. It immediately became a c combination of extreme excitement and knowing I had to start getting ready immediately.
How did you prepare to go on Drag Race?
Making sure I had all the things with me that I needed to rise to the challenges, so I brought the best of everything I had.
How hard was it to keep the secret that you were on Canada’s Drag Race?
It was very difficult to have a dream come true and then to have to be so quiet about it. In addition, I changed so much from that experience and to not be able to share that with my closest friends was hard. I had to tell white lies to my friends until the cast was announced.
Tell me about your Drag Race experience?
It was everything I thought it would be, and more. The pace we film and make the show is staggering. Bering someone who works in film I was used to long days, but adding everything else in, and fighting for the crown made it hard and stressful. I did, however, try to take advantage of, and enjoy every moment I had there.
Now that you have been eliminated, is there anything you would have done different?
I would have made an outfit I could have danced in, but I didn’t think I would be in the bottom. I had all these things to look glamourous in, but they weren’t ideal to perform in.
I have to ask you about your Joan Rivers impersonation in Snatch Game. It was so good, and a well-deserved win. Do you impersonate her a lot?
That was only the second time I did the impersonation. That’s how I like things to be, fresh and to surprise myself. When things are new and exciting is when I get the most comedy and laughter. I went in being excited, and I channeled my inner Joan. I love Joan Rivers and I was so grateful to be able to do it, and honor her.
Your drag is over the top, and you call yourself Jimbo the Drag Clown, where does your inspiration come from?
It comes from inside of me. I have a love of all kinds of things: Horror movies, Beauty, Art, making people laugh, and that all mixes together to produce my drag. It’s ever changing and I am inspired by what brings me joy.
What’s your marital status?
I have a partner of many years and we have two kids. I am committed to an amazing person.
How do your kids respond to Jimbo?
Alex is very macho. He respects my career choice, but is not really into it. Casandra, loves it, and is a big fan of drag race.
What’s Ahead for Jimbo?
Total Global Domination. I am going to make a show called the “House of Jimbo” to showcase my world. It will be a comedy sketch show.
Is there anything else you want to say?
Yes, I would like to thank all of my wonderful beautiful fans that have showed so much support. I also want to remind them to support the remaining queens and the judges. Please love the unity and all the good things about the show.
For more information on Jimbo, follow her at: Instagram.com/Jimbothedragclown
