Ru comes in and tells the queens that today they are meeting with internationally renowned medium Char Margolis. After the reading Char has suggested that Ru pairs the queens together based on who will learn the most from each other. The pairs are:
Tina Burner & Rose
Denali and Olivia
Utica & Symone
Kandi & Gotmik
Its Ru’s favorite Maxi challenge: the one where you make over strangers into your own drag family, but this season, due to Covid, they are going to make over each other. They need to change your partner into their doppelganger.
On the runway joining Ru, Michelle and Carson is Loni Love. The clear winners are Utica and Symone who each win a $5,000 cash tip. The bottom two are Denali and Olivia with Denali Sashaying away.
It was a pleasure to sit down with Denali to dish on “Drag Race.”
HS: At what age did drag become an interest for you and how did you pick your name?
D: I was about 24 years old when I started to have an interest and I started drag at 26. I grew up in Alaska and there were a lot of feminine influences in my life. I wanted a name that honored that. My grandmother was a strong influence, and late on in life she was in the Denali center. So, I named myself after that. The word Denali means the Great One.
HS: How excited were you when you got the call that you were cast, and what was the first thing you did?
D: I was watching Shea slaying All Stars 5 when I got the call. I was four vodkas in, and I broke down. My boyfriend filmed it all.
HS: How hard was it to keep the secret that you were on “Drag Race”?
D: Due to the pandemic, I wasn’t seeing people as often, so it wasn’t too difficult. It was hard to keep it from the designers.
HS: Tell us about your “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 13 experience?
D: I was a part-time drag queen of 2 ½ years by the time I got on the show, and to make it for 10 competitive episodes on my favorite program was amazing. I am so proud of everything that I was able to showcase.
HS: Is there something you wish you had done differently?
D: A little advice for future girls who get on show, bring extra drag. I wish I had brought more stuff. I’m not sure if it would have helped me with my elimination, but it would have helped with other challenges.
HS: Without revealing anything you may know, who do you want to win and why?
D: It would be really important for Gotmik or Symone to win this season, since they have incredible representation.
HS: Are you still skating, and do you plan on incorporating skating into any of your future tours?
D: I am absolutely skating, but I haven’t been back to the rink in a while because of the Pandemic. I will absolutely be incorporating skating into my tours.
HS: Your 100% Pure Love Lip Synch put you into the Lips Synch assassin hall of fame and went viral. How do you feel about it?
D: That style of music means a lot to me, and it’s the proudest moment I had on the show!
HS: What’s your marital status?
D: I still have a boyfriend and we are going really strong. We are moving into a new apartment in April…I love that boy!
HS: What’s ahead for Denali?
D: I am ready and willing to tour once the world gets the green light. I am excited to meet all the fans.
For more information on Denali go to: Instagram.com/Denalifoxx
