Losing is the new winning. Especially when you leaveRuPaul’s Drag Racea bigger icon than you entered. Such is the case for Season 17’sJoella, the “Slaysian Diva” or LA. The community icon came into the show talking a big game. With a brutally honest tongue, throwing shade, and reading the girls at every turn,Joella has defined why we viewers love watching a delusional queenshine in the Werk Room.
Bringing raw emotion to theUntucked, Joella has become the season’s meme queen thus far. After her now-iconic breakdown and subsequent monologue talking about being an icon of her community,Joella has capitizlied on the moment.Just look atthe Busted tee you can now own! Even though she’s an early out, Joella has become one of the breakout stars of the show. So, whatisit like being an icon of her community?: “It is so great because when you serve opulence, and you clock the busted bitches, it’s great having the drag delusion dynasty disease.”
Joella Explains Where Her Shade Comes From
COLLIDER: It’s safe to say we will never forget the Ella. It’s the LA icon herself, Joella! How are you?
JOELLA: I am so good this morning. How are you?
I am doing great now. After we chatted pre-season, I told our mutual friendAustiethat Joelle is like so cool. I need to hang out with her. You just proved that this season, you are just a fun, good-time gal.
JOELLA: Yes, ma’am, I’m definitely the ki. And I’ve definitely been told that a lot. I didn’t realize how true it was, but I’m definitely the ki and the life of the party.
If you could describe yourDrag Race17 journey in three words, what would they be?
JOELLA: Chaotic, roller coaster, and I would say dream, because it was a dream come true.
What has shocked you the most now that the season has been airing?
JOELLA: What shocked me the most was the girls’ genuine reaction to me because I didn’t realize I was making everyone that mad.
Let’s talk about your feedback to the girls. You were simply brilliant. You’re a dueling reads with Hormona. Giving your honest feedback to Lana when she said she wanted to hear it because she’s a big girl. Reading Acacia the house down boots about beating Hormona. It was all iconic. So Joella, is it the tea or shade? Are you just a brutally honest sister?
JOELLA: I think that I’m just a brutally honest person. I think it might be the way that I say things. Okay, so growing up, having Asian parents from Asia, I didn’t really fit socially with people up until middle school and high school. I took in a lot of media to kind of catch up. I feel like I started finding ways to talk and to speak in a certain way to not sound too Asian or too weird. And I feel like it’s affecting me up to this point where now almost everything I say is either funny or entertaining or the tone of it is in a certain way. I don’t know. I guess it’s good for TV, so that’s why I’m here.
It sure is! All right, so the premiere featured the appearance ofKaty Perry. What was it like sharing that moment with her in the Werk Room?
JOELLA: Oh my God. It was so insane because meeting her for a long time in my life was one of my biggest dreams. I just love her so much. Whether people understand it or not, I’m a very big Katy Perry fan. When I first met her, it was so insane to me. And then I met her like 20 times, and then she knew my name, invited me on stage, and that was already mind-blowing to me. And then I started doing drag, and then getting onDrag Racewas this mind-blowing dream come true. I was so gagged by it. I had to pinch myself every day. And then I get there, and then Katy Perry is also gonna be there. So in my mind, I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s like having two orgasms at the same time. I don’t know how else to describe it, but that is how it was. It was just two things I’ve dreamed of, I live for, I love. Two dreams come true, coming true at the same time. Making a third dream come true, which is having her be the guest judge on my season ofDrag Race. So insane.
Joella Talks About Being an Icon
You are a marketing genius. The Busted tee is brilliant. What I love about you is that you’re owning everything. How much fun are you having taking your time from the show and capitalizing on it?
JOELLA: I’m actually having a lot of fun because I didn’t realize that I would have this many moments or have this many things go viral. I didn’t. I thought it was only going to be like two or three.
What is it like being an icon in your community?
JOELLA: It is so great because when you serve opulence, and you clock the busted bitches, it’s great having the drag delusion dynasty disease.
I’m gonna say yourUntuckedbreakdown was iconic and will go down in history. I’m comparing it to Melinda Verga. What has it been like seeing all these memes and reactions that have resulted?
JOELLA: It’s honestly really cool because, as aDrag Racefan, you see all the memes, all the reactions, videos of all these girls. And, for years, I’ve always wanted to be one of them. And now, seeing myself become one of them is just a dream come true.
This week was all about some iconic moments in Drag Race herstory. You got to recreate the greatest hits. Do you have a favorite all-time moment that wasn’t featured?
JOELLA: I can’t remember if it was featured or not. I don’t think it was. But my favoriteUntuckedmoment, or just moment in Drag Race, isLaganja Estrangasaying, “When I’m with my friends, I do say, ‘Yes, Mawma.” And the wholeUntuckedscene. Which is brilliant.
It is pretty brilliant. What was it like working with your team? And is there anything you would have done differently in this challenge?
JOELLA: Working with my team was amazing because they were all such hard workers and very great team members. I feel like something I wish I would have done different is bring a different runway. And that’s what I would have done different.
Let’s talk about the comforter. I need to know the history behind it.
JOELLA: So actually, the back of it wasn’t supposed to just a pure airbrush painting. It was supposed to just be different fabrics sewn in together to make it look like it was actually quilted. And then have every piece of those airbrushed a solid color to make it look like a bunch of quilt pieces makingRu’s face, if that makes any sense.
That would have been very cool. I love that.
JOELLA: Yeah.
You had a really special moment in the Werk Room discussing how you wanted to be more in touch with your culture in your everyday drag. How has that conversation with Onya inspired you today?
JOELLA: So actually, it inspired me a lot because the first time I really did something very cultural was my entrance look. I don’t know why I chose that to be the moment I did that. I think being Asian has been something that’s always been such a big part of myself, but I’ve always tried to run away from because of the reaction I got growing up being Asian. And I feel like everyone always just sees being Asian as something that’s so strong within my personality, my persona. So I guess when I got casted, it was when I was getting woken up to that. And when I was starting to actually become proud of being Chinese. I think after I did that entrance look and then being there for a few weeks, when I talked to Onya about that, what she said, it really touched my soul. I don’t know, it reminded me that even though sometimes things in the past have made me feel ashamed. Being Asian, being Chinese will always be a part of me. It’s a very strong part of my identity, and it has shaped the way that I am today. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I was never Chinese or Asian.
I love that.
JOELLA: Because I’ve spent so much of my life wishing I was white, but I can say today,I’m so happy that I’m not. I’m happy that I’m Asian.
Yeah, you definitely inspired a lot of people this season. So congratulations on that.
JOELLA: Thank you.
You were feeling it again this week inUntucked. You walked away, and then you had Hormona sit with you. How important was it to just have her there and hold your hand?
JOELLA: It was really important because I’ll be honest, in that moment, I felt very ignored. Things I was saying when I was there were very real. Very real struggles that I was going through at that time. I had been going through, and I hadn’t been honest with myself. With the people around me. And in that moment even though I was telling myself, “Girl, why are you doing this on TV?” I needed that moment because it was the first time I needed to take care of myself. And I’ll say, I’m taking insulin now for my diabetes. I mean, I’m not sure what was shown from what I said, but this is what I can say from what I did say, I have slowed down with the substance usage. I have taken care of myself. I have been watching what I eat, what I drink more. I went to the doctor. Got prescribed to insulin. I’m taking new meds now for my diabetes. And yeah. I’m taking care of myself like I said I was. I’m just in a much better place in my life than I was a few months ago.
I love that. Congratulations. That’s amazing to hear.
“I Am Ready for the World To See That I Was in the Top!": Lucky Starzzz Breaks Down Tough ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 17 Journey
The cartoon queen with an artistic flair sadly becomes the Porkchop of ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 17.
Joella Spills the Tea on Her Sisters
We’re gonna play a quick round of tea time. I’m gonna give you a name of one of your Drag Race 17 sisters, and you’re gonna give me the first word or phrase that comes to mind. Are you ready?
JOELLA: Yes.
All right, let’s begin withLucky Starzzz.
JOELLA: Whoa, whoa. We’ll do that. Whoa.
JOELLA: Sickening.
Suzie Toot.
JOELLA: Crazy.
JOELLA: Absolute bonkers.
Crystal Envy.
JOELLA: Type A.
Lexi Love.
JOELLA: Insanity.
Jewel Sparkles.
JOELLA: Ding!
Lydia B Kollins.
JOELLA: I don’t know. Oh, I would have. Let’s just put that.
Alright. Kori King.
JOELLA: I would have to say for her, I would have to say buffoonery.
Lana Ja’Rae.
JOELLA: Sex.
Onya Nurve.
JOELLA: Charismatic, charisma.
Hormona Lisa.
JOELLA: The devil
Acacia Forgot
JOELLA: my sister. That’s my LA sister.
And finally, Joella.
JOELLA: Busted.
Well, my final question is, now that you’ve been on Drag Race, what is the next dream for Joella?
JOELLA: The next dream for Joella is to just push drag into mainstream as much as possible. And to just grow as much as possible. I feel like there’s no limit on what I can do, and from here, it’s just up.
I love that. Well, congratulations on an amazing run, and I can’t wait to hang out in LA with you and acacia and Austie!
JOELLA: Yas!!!
RuPaul’s Drag Race
RuPaul’s Drag Raceairs Fridays at 8:00pm on MTV.RuPaul’s Drag Race: Untuckedairs immediately after. Previous seasons ofRuPaul’s Drag Raceare available to stream on Paramount+.
